Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Rosie O'Donnell's Lawyers Calling Final Witnesses
Aired November 10, 2003 - 15:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: There have been some funny moments in the rosie O'Donnell's lawsuit, but today a judge may get the last laugh. The breach of contract dispute between the comedienne and the publisher of her defunct magazine is expected to go to the judge today.
CNN's Mary Snow live outside the courthouse in New York with the latest -- hello, Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Miles. Yes, Rosie O'Donnell's lawyers calling their final witnesses as this case winds down. You know, we have heard a lot about brash behavior in this trial. Today, the focus is on bookkeeping.
This, as O'Donnell entered the courtroom today after she finished up two days of testimony on Friday. When she arrived this morning, she spoke to reporters outside the courthouse saying she feels confident about a victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSIE O'DONNELL, FMR. TALK SHOW HOST: The nerves are gone as soon as I was able to tell my story. I am quite happy with the progress of the trial and I am looking forward to Judge Gammerman's (ph) decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: Now, today the focus really has been on financials. And the CFO, Larry Diamond, of Gruner + Jahr USA, was called to the stand to talk about a clause that would have enabled either Gruner + Jahr or Rosie O'Donnell to walk away from their contract if there was a loss of more that $4.2 million by the end of June 2002.
Larry Diamond, the CFO, was asked about an e-mail that he sent to his bosses, asking them to manage the financials in order to keep publishing "Rosie" magazine, to make it look as those sales were better. He was asked about that today and his bosses, particularly the CEO of Gruner + Jahr, was asked about it in a deposition, saying that the company does not manage books or manipulate numbers. But that is really one of the key things that O'Donnell's lawyers are focusing on to try to show that there had been intent to fudge those numbers in order to keep O'Donnell at the magazine -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Mary Snow, in Manhattan, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 10, 2003 - 15:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: There have been some funny moments in the rosie O'Donnell's lawsuit, but today a judge may get the last laugh. The breach of contract dispute between the comedienne and the publisher of her defunct magazine is expected to go to the judge today.
CNN's Mary Snow live outside the courthouse in New York with the latest -- hello, Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Miles. Yes, Rosie O'Donnell's lawyers calling their final witnesses as this case winds down. You know, we have heard a lot about brash behavior in this trial. Today, the focus is on bookkeeping.
This, as O'Donnell entered the courtroom today after she finished up two days of testimony on Friday. When she arrived this morning, she spoke to reporters outside the courthouse saying she feels confident about a victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSIE O'DONNELL, FMR. TALK SHOW HOST: The nerves are gone as soon as I was able to tell my story. I am quite happy with the progress of the trial and I am looking forward to Judge Gammerman's (ph) decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: Now, today the focus really has been on financials. And the CFO, Larry Diamond, of Gruner + Jahr USA, was called to the stand to talk about a clause that would have enabled either Gruner + Jahr or Rosie O'Donnell to walk away from their contract if there was a loss of more that $4.2 million by the end of June 2002.
Larry Diamond, the CFO, was asked about an e-mail that he sent to his bosses, asking them to manage the financials in order to keep publishing "Rosie" magazine, to make it look as those sales were better. He was asked about that today and his bosses, particularly the CEO of Gruner + Jahr, was asked about it in a deposition, saying that the company does not manage books or manipulate numbers. But that is really one of the key things that O'Donnell's lawyers are focusing on to try to show that there had been intent to fudge those numbers in order to keep O'Donnell at the magazine -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Mary Snow, in Manhattan, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
