New York City -
The lawyers were the only winners Wednesday in the nasty court battle between Rosie O'Donnell and her former magazine publishers.
Minutes after the two sides rested rested their cases New York State Supreme Court Justice Ira Gammerman shocked the court, ruling that neither side had proved their case.
"It seems to me ... we're just dealing with bragging rights here, who wins and who loses," Gammerman said. With his ruling, neither side wins, although O'Donnell could still ask the court to order publisher Gruner+Jahr USA to pay her legal fees. Going into court Wednesday O'Donnell told reporters her legal fees amounted to about $8 million.
G+J sued O'Donnell for $100 million after she walked out on Rosie Magazine following a dispute over control of the publication. The former talk show host countersued for $125 million claiming G+J violated its contract with her by taking control away.
But, Gammerman had none of it.
In his ruling, Gammerman said there was no evidence or testimony during the contentious trial indicating that either side had caused the other to suffer damages.
Both parties invested money, the magazine lost money, and then it folded, he said. "There's no evidence that the magazine would have made any money at all," he said.
On the courtroom steps O'Donnell declared victory.
"I want to thank my Wife Kelly Campenter, and mother and all the strangers.... who stood up for me here," she said, before giving a plug for Taboo the musical she is producing which opens tomorrow on Broadway.
During the acrimonious trial G+J's lawyers painted O'Donnell as an evil vicious boss. Former staffer Cindy Spengler, a cancer survivor, testified that O'Donnell suggested she was lying about goings-on at her the magazine and told her liars get cancer. And, O'Donnell's lawyers got the chief financial officer for G+J to admit that he recommended cooking the books in order to keep O'Donnell on board.
by Doug Windsor
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2003
Minutes after the two sides rested rested their cases New York State Supreme Court Justice Ira Gammerman shocked the court, ruling that neither side had proved their case.
"It seems to me ... we're just dealing with bragging rights here, who wins and who loses," Gammerman said. With his ruling, neither side wins, although O'Donnell could still ask the court to order publisher Gruner+Jahr USA to pay her legal fees. Going into court Wednesday O'Donnell told reporters her legal fees amounted to about $8 million.
G+J sued O'Donnell for $100 million after she walked out on Rosie Magazine following a dispute over control of the publication. The former talk show host countersued for $125 million claiming G+J violated its contract with her by taking control away.
But, Gammerman had none of it.
In his ruling, Gammerman said there was no evidence or testimony during the contentious trial indicating that either side had caused the other to suffer damages.
Both parties invested money, the magazine lost money, and then it folded, he said. "There's no evidence that the magazine would have made any money at all," he said.
On the courtroom steps O'Donnell declared victory.
"I want to thank my Wife Kelly Campenter, and mother and all the strangers.... who stood up for me here," she said, before giving a plug for Taboo the musical she is producing which opens tomorrow on Broadway.
During the acrimonious trial G+J's lawyers painted O'Donnell as an evil vicious boss. Former staffer Cindy Spengler, a cancer survivor, testified that O'Donnell suggested she was lying about goings-on at her the magazine and told her liars get cancer. And, O'Donnell's lawyers got the chief financial officer for G+J to admit that he recommended cooking the books in order to keep O'Donnell on board.
by Doug Windsor
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
