Atomic Spunk: FormlessOne: Iceberg659: FTFA: Monnin points to a Miss USA contract clause giving top pageant officials the power to pick the top five finalists and the winner, but a company official calls that a catch-all that's never been used.

Catch-all for what?

In case the normal methodologies cannot be performed, that rule provides a last resort to ensure that finalists and a winner can be selected. It's never been used.

What we see here is a lesson in reading comprehension on the part of Monnin, a lesson that just cost her five million bucks. She saw that in the contract, misconstrued it as "hey, they're just pickin' em - it's fixed!", and then ran her friggin' mouth off in the media, screwing the pageant's reputation to the tune of $5M+. The arbitrator realized her mistake, realized she was an idiot, and made her liable for the $5M she cost the pageant organization.

I see nothing untoward or unfair here. The takeaway, of course, is "be damned sure of your facts before you call someone a liar and a cheat in front of the whole world."

IIRC, that's not the way it went down. I believe she actually saw a list of names before some of the the judging rounds had even finished, then was surprised when every woman on the list advanced. Now that Trump has won the suit, she's trying to find something she can use to justify an appeal. Unfortunately, this doesn't like it'll be good enough.

Can a judgement like this be discharged in a bankruptcy? Because even if she turned over every cent she earns for the rest of her life, she probably would never be able to repay it.

Miss Florida saw the list of names and shared it with other contestants. She later claimed it was a joke. A different contestant came forward anonymously to also confirm Sheena Monnin's story. It's gotta to suck to be right (or at least think you're right) and get screwed by arbitration like this.

Seeing the list of the top five just before the top five are announced isn't a big deal, because obviously someone needs to know to announce it. But seeing the list of the top five before the top sixteen are announced is a huge deal, because it's mathematically improbable and/or indicates that the celebrity judging doesn't really count. But they've got pretty good lawyers, and the contracts are structured such that the penalties for speaking out in a way they don't want are obviously huge. That said, a choreographer spoke out a few years ago about how some girls were hand picked and it made the news. I'm not sure exactly why Trump went after Sheena but not that choreographer.

FormlessOne: Iceberg659: FTFA: Monnin points to a Miss USA contract clause giving top pageant officials the power to pick the top five finalists and the winner, but a company official calls that a catch-all that's never been used.

Catch-all for what?

In case the normal methodologies cannot be performed, that rule provides a last resort to ensure that finalists and a winner can be selected. It's never been used.

What we see here is a lesson in reading comprehension on the part of Monnin, a lesson that just cost her five million bucks. She saw that in the contract, misconstrued it as "hey, they're just pickin' em - it's fixed!", and then ran her friggin' mouth off in the media, screwing the pageant's reputation to the tune of $5M+. The arbitrator realized her mistake, realized she was an idiot, and made her liable for the $5M she cost the pageant organization.

I see nothing untoward or unfair here. The takeaway, of course, is "be damned sure of your facts before you call someone a liar and a cheat in front of the whole world."

IIRC, that's not the way it went down. I believe she actually saw a list of names before some of the the judging rounds had even finished, then was surprised when every woman on the list advanced. Now that Trump has won the suit, she's trying to find something she can use to justify an appeal. Unfortunately, this doesn't like it'll be good enough.

Can a judgement like this be discharged in a bankruptcy? Because even if she turned over every cent she earns for the rest of her life, she probably would never be able to repay it.

Muta: Here is what I don't understand about the American legal system:

Rush Limbaugh can call a private citizen a slut on national radio, a charge that is unprovable unless he knew the amount of sex she was having was beyond say, the 4th standard deviation on the promiscuity bell curve, and not get into any legal trouble.

On the other hand, this woman makes a reasonable assertion based on her observations and she gets her ass handed to her in a court of law.

Two factors.

1-When she signed up for the contest she signed up for binding arbitration (which should be illegal imho), this screws whoever isn't the bigger party who arranegs the arbitration.

2-who ever has better laywers in cases liek this is likely going to win.

Here is what I don't understand about the American legal system:

Rush Limbaugh can call a private citizen a slut on national radio, a charge that is unprovable unless he knew the amount of sex she was having was beyond say, the 4th standard deviation on the promiscuity bell curve, and not get into any legal trouble.

On the other hand, this woman makes a reasonable assertion based on her observations and she gets her ass handed to her in a court of law.

LOL @ Mandatory arbitration clauses. LOL @ Agreeing to any arbitrator put forth by The Donald's attorney.

Gosling: FUN FACT: Monnin did not make it out of preliminaries in the pageant; a round that advanced the top 16.

So you're saying she wouldn't have had a problem if her name had been on the list other contestants attest exist? Eh. Such is life. And these have always been rigged, since the dawn of time. Nothing new here.

I always figured these beauty pageants weren't for regular people. Once you get up to a certain level, it's just a way to subcategorize women into breeding/mistress material for the ultra wealthy and connected.

Calling it:

The sponsor that dropped the $5M has Trump connections. After a certain amount of time, the sponsor will "responsor", but it's going to cost Miss Nosy Datass.

Again, The Donald Must Be Appeased.

/he probably also has a backup plan for meddling kids and their goofy dogs

FormlessOne: Iceberg659: FTFA: Monnin points to a Miss USA contract clause giving top pageant officials the power to pick the top five finalists and the winner, but a company official calls that a catch-all that's never been used.

Catch-all for what?

In case the normal methodologies cannot be performed, that rule provides a last resort to ensure that finalists and a winner can be selected. It's never been used.

What we see here is a lesson in reading comprehension on the part of Monnin, a lesson that just cost her five million bucks. She saw that in the contract, misconstrued it as "hey, they're just pickin' em - it's fixed!", and then ran her friggin' mouth off in the media, screwing the pageant's reputation to the tune of $5M+. The arbitrator realized her mistake, realized she was an idiot, and made her liable for the $5M she cost the pageant organization.

I see nothing untoward or unfair here. The takeaway, of course, is "be damned sure of your facts before you call someone a liar and a cheat in front of the whole world."

Like saying someone wasn't born in this country when he has a birth certificate to prove it?

You know, I would totally care more about this thread if there were pics.