Mel Gibson has been embroiled in an unusual number of lawsuits lately. A couple years ago, one astrologist went searching for planetary explanations for this, coming to the conclusion that “challenging planetary systems” were why “Mel Gibson is being sued by everyone” (as she put it).
I’d say bad behavior probably had more to do with it, but it does seem like the planets are now lining up in a less “challenging” manner for Mel, as suit after suit is finally getting resolved.
For example, in August, a threatened civil lawsuit by Gibson’s ex-girlfriend over domestic violence issues was dropped in the context of a larger custody and financial settlement. Then earlier this month, Mel decided to settle a lawsuit brought by a guy named Nader Sherif, “who claim[ed] -- at the behest of Mel -- he invested his life savings in a company called Green Rubber, which developed technology to devulcanize rubber so old tires could be recycled.” TMZ reported that Sharif said, “Mel promised [he] could sell his stock back to the company at any time and get his money back, and he further claimed Mel promised to personally write him a check if the Green Rubber refused.” I guess things didn't work out so well for Green Rubber.
And speaking of Sherif[f]s, remember that little 2006 incident, when Deputy Sheriff James Mee arrested Gibson for a DUI while also enduring anti-Semitic slurs like, “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world”? Mee ended up suing the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for retaliation (actually, that charge was dropped) and a hostile work environment “because he resisted requests to remove the actor's anti-Semitic slurs from an initial arrest report.” Note that,
The Sheriff's Department was criticized for its handling of the incident. The Office of Independent Review, a department watchdog, found that Gibson was given special treatment, including being allowed to leave the station without giving a required palm print and without signing a statement agreeing to appear in court. He was also driven to the tow yard by a sheriff's sergeant.
Well, today Mee settled his case for $50,000. Not that this suit was against Gibson directly but the case could have served as a embarrassing rehash of his incredibly bad behavior. Lucky for Gibson, several rulings by the judge in the case already benefited him, including, “block[ing] attorneys for Deputy James Mee from showing the jury a video of Gibson being booked into jail and a 30-second TV ad he made supporting the Sheriff's Department three years before his arrest.” And Gibson would likely not have been forced to testify, either.
Who knows, maybe the stars really are finally aligning for Mel. We can only hope!
Comments