'Lawyers ruin everything.' Was Sony's cancellation of 'The Interview' the smart legal move?

Now that Sony has pulled “The Interview” from theaters, there’s a question of why. Could it be that the way the U.S. handles lawsuits explains it?

Attorney and National Review Online columnist AJ Delgado writes:

Guys, Sony is DELIBERATELY, UNNECESSARILY going scorched-earth in its response for insurance-claim reasons. They're not stupid.

— A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) December 18, 2014

Ultimately, I think much of the decision to yank the film stems from lawyers' advising theatres/Sony not to risk it. (cont)

— A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) December 18, 2014

If a screening IS attacked, and persons harmed = lawsuits against Sony for "ignoring the threats."

Bottom line: lawyers ruin everything.

— A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) December 18, 2014

And she’s not alone with this analysis. Trial attorney and Townhall contributor Kurt Schlichter has more:

I'd love for theaters to tell the NKs to piss off. But then I won't get sued if one of the theaters gets hit. Our tort law encouraged this.

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) December 18, 2014

I bet they'd prefer not to risk 10s of millions that a jury will agree they aren't liable. Plus defense costs. @VanWagoner @chasrmartin

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) December 18, 2014

Duty, breach, causation and damages. You wanna be your livelihood some judge deny summary on duty? @VanWagoner

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) December 18, 2014

They might be insured for the cancellation. @GomesBolt @Sony

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) December 18, 2014

There’s also the the legal threat Sony faces from its employees who were hacked. One lawsuit has already been filed and maybe Sony pulled the film not based on any threat of violence at a theater, but as a way to limit their liability in future employee lawsuits? The hackers have threatened to release more employee records on Christmas:

Contrarian take: not sure Sony had better option available than withdrawing "The Interview," given ongoing threat to employees.

— The Nats Won The World Series (@EsotericCD) December 17, 2014

Was "movie theater" threat spurious? Likely (but oh the liability if not…). But Sony also has responsibility to its employees.

— The Nats Won The World Series (@EsotericCD) December 17, 2014

But now that Sony has caved to the demands of the hackers, have the hackers actually called a truce?

So far as I can tell, the hackers have NOT retracted their Christmas Surprise message, even after #Sony pulled #TheInterviewMovie.

— Lady Goodman (@LadyGoodman3) December 18, 2014

Now that Sony has caved I wonder if the emails leaks and the "Christmas Surprise" will stop. That's why they let theaters out of their deal.

— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) December 18, 2014

We’ll see what happens on Christmas Day.

***

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'Lawyers ruin everything.' Was Sony's cancellation of 'The Interview' the smart legal move?

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