In 1996, Richard Jewell was thrust into the spotlight when he was falsely accused of planting a bomb at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. While he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing, the media had already branded him as a suspect and his life was never the same. In response to this, Jewell took legal action against several parties involved in the story.
Jewell fist filed a lawsuit against NBC for defamation of character, after anchor Tom Brokaw suggested that Jewell was likely responsible for the bombing. After months of negotiations, NBC agreed to pay Jewell $500,000 in order to settle out of court. Following this settlement, Jewell also filed lawsuits against CNN, The New York Post and Piedmont College (his former employer) for allegedly supplying false information about him to newspapers and the FBI.
Jewell also made claims against The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), which had originally reported on his connection to the bombing. The AJC/Cox fought back against his lawsuit and refused to retract their story. In the end, all three cases were settled out of court.
Though it’s been over twenty years since Richard Jewell’s fateful experience at the Olympic Park bombing, his story still serves as an important reminder of how reckless media coverage can be damaging and life-altering for those being reported on. It also reminds us of how important it is to ensure accuracy in reporting – something that news outlets should strive for so that stories like Richard Jewell’s never happen again.
Did Richard Jewell Receive a Settlement?
Yes, Richard Jewell did receive a settlement. In December 1996, NBC negotiated a settlement with Jewell for a reported $500,000. CNN and ABC also settled with Jewell, along with Piedmont College which Jewell had sued for allegedly supplying false information.
Source: wikiwand.com
Did Richard Jewell Sue the Federal Government?
No, Richard Jewell did not sue the federal government. After being cleared of any involvement in the 1996 Olympic bombing, Jewell and his attorney Lin Wood focused their legal efforts on the media outlets that had incorrectly linked him to the bombing. He filed suits against NBC, CNN, and the New York Post for defamation of character, and all were settled out of court. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was not sued by Jewell but did fight back against his suit.
Compensation for Richard Jewell
Richard Jewell received a settlement of $500,000 from NBC after they refused to retract a statement from Tom Brokaw that suggested Jewell was responsible for the bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The settlement was reached in the form of an apology and a monetary payment.
Richard Jewell’s Lawsuit Against NBC
Richard Jewell sued NBC for defamation due to the network’s reporting on the aftermath of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing. NBC aired a segment whch suggested that he was a suspect in the bombing and that he fit the profile of a lone bomber. The report included interviews with anonymous law enforcement sources and alleged that Jewell had been treated as a hero by authorities in order to divert attention away from him being a suspect. Jewell argued that this report was false and defamatory, as he had never been officially named as a suspect or charged with any crime. He sought damages for defamation, emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
What Has Become of Richard Jewell?
Richard Jewell is no longer alive. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 44. Before his death, he worked as a police officer in Pendergrass, Georgia and as a deputy sheriff in Meriwether County, Georgia. After his exoneration from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing, Jewell became an advocate for the wrongfully convicted and spoke out about maintaining civil liberties. He was also an outspoken critic of the media’s role in his wrongful conviction, testifying at a Senate hearing in 2000 that “the media trampled on my rights with total disregard.” In 2003, he published his autobiography entitled “The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, The FBI, The Media and Me”. His legacy lives on through the work of many organizations dedicated to providing legal assistance to those who have been wrongfully convicted.
Source: slate.com
Was Richard Jewell a Police Officer Following the Atlanta Olympic Bombing?
No, Richard Jewell was not a cop after the bombing. He was cleared as a suspect in the Olympic bombing more than a year later and then hired to fill one of two vacancies in the five-officer department by Police Chief Paige McNeese. Jewell had been working as a security guard prior to his hiring as an officer.
FBI Apology to Richard Jewell
No, the FBI did not apologize to Richard Jewell. In fact, the FBI’s investigation of Jewell was a source of great distress for him and his family. After three months of intense scrutiny, the FBI sent Jewell a letter clearing him of any involvement in the bombing that killed one person and injured 111 others. Despite this exoneration, Jewell never received an apology from the FBI for their actions. He is still fighting for acknowledgement and an apology from the agency who wrongfully accused him of a crime he did not commit.
The FBI’s Treatment of Richard Jewell
The FBI performed a thorough investigation of Richard Jewell, who was initially suspected of being the bomber of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Park bombing. Starting in July 1996, the FBI searched Jewell’s home and questioned him multiple times over a period of three months. During this time, they also leaked information to the press that he was a suspect and insinuated his guilt. This caused extreme public scrutiny and ruined Jewell’s reputation, even though he had never been charged with any crime. Furthermore, the FBI leaked false information to the press abut his involvement with other criminal activity. Ultimately, no charges were filed against Richard Jewell, and in October 1996, the U.S. attorney issued an official statement saying that he was not a suspect in the bombing case.
Accuracy of the Richard Jewell Movie
The movie Richard Jewell is generally considered to be fairly accurate in its depictions of the events surrounding the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing and the aftermath. The film takes a few creative liberties to dramatize the story, but overall it maintains a consistent accuracy with the facts.
The movie largely follows the timeline of what actually happened, portraying how Richard Jewell was initially hailed as a hero for discovering the bomb and then quickly became a suspect in the case. It also accurately shows how he was subject to intense scrutiny from both law enforcement and media outlets. It further depicts how his reputation was severely damaged during this time.
There are some details that were changed for dramatic purposes, such as his relationship with his mother beig more strained than it actually was, as well as some composite characters being used to condense certain aspects of the story together. Additionally, real-life people like Bobi Jewell and Kathy Scruggs were depicted differently than they actually were in reality.
Despite these changes, Richard Jewell remains true to most of what happened and thus can be considered an accurate portrayal of this tragic episode.
Source: roughdraftatlanta.com
Richard Jewell’s Employment After the Bombing
After the bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Richard Jewell worked for a number of small law enforcement agencies in Georgia. He was employed as a deputy sheriff for Meriwether County from 2005 until his death in 2007. Prior to that, he worked for Floyd County Police Department and Piedmont College Security. He also held positions with Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, Environmental Protection Agency and Americus Police Department.
Death Toll of the Richard Jewell Bombing
Two people died in the Richard Jewell bombing, which occurred on July 27, 1996 at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The first victim was Alice Hawthorne, who was killed when the pipe bomb detonated. The second victim was Melih Uzunyol, who died of a heart attack after being injured in the explosion. Security guard Richard Jewell had discovered the bomb and worked to clear spectators from the area before it detonated.
The Verdict of Richard Jewell’s Case
Yes, Richard Jewell was found to be innocent of any involvement in the Centennial Park bombing investigation. After exhaustive probes suggested he could not have planted the bomb based on his whereabouts that night, the U.S. Justice Department formally cleared him as a suspect in October 1996. Despite this exoneration, the damage to his reputation was already done and could not be reversed.
Did Richard Jewell Become a Police Officer?
No, Richard Jewell did not become a cop. After the Olympics, he applied for police work all over the state but was unable to find a job. Despite finishing near the top of his recruitment class, he was passed over by different departments in various jurisdictions. As a result, Jewell was never able to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer.
Source: vox.com
Conclusion
In the end, Richard Jewell sued several news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, the New York Post and Cox Enterprises (owner of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), as well as his former employer Piedmont College. All of these cases were settled out of court and resulted in monetary settlements for Jewell. NBC settled with a reported $500,000 while the other lawsuits remain unknown. Despite this financial victory, Jewell was denied justice in the form of an official retraction by NBC. Jewell’s case serves as a reminder of the power of news organizations and how easily innocent people can become targets in a media frenzy.
