Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

'Rosie' Lawsuits

Aired November 11, 2003 - 09:16   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Tom O'Neill, senior editor for "In Touch Weekly," a contributing writer formerly of "Rosie" magazine. Tom is here with AMERICAN MORNING.
Nice to see you. Good morning to you.

You think this was a significant change in this trial, and good news for her.

TOM O'NEILL, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Very good news. The cavalry has comes to Rosie's rescue, because before now, Bill, she did a lousy job making her case. The case was all based on this issue of editorial control, whether or not she had it. The contract states that the company had veto power, which meant she never had editorial control. Even if she thought she did, Thursday and Friday when she took the stand, she was incapable of citing a single example of anything that got in the magazine she disapproved of. So there went her whole case. Suddenly, it looked as if her ship was sinking.

And, boom, yesterday, everything turned when new memos and new testimony came in on the business side.

HEMMER: And you're talking about the legal angle of this. And so much of the talk has been about her personality, and how she's played herself to the public in front of the microphones outside.

The judge said he'd have something to say on Wednesday. What portends that?

O'NEILL: Well, the case will wrap on Wednesday. We don't know if that final verdict will come in on that day. Some people say it could take as long as a week or two beyond that. But the change now is this. It was an addendum, by the way, filed in this case. This was not the main case on the business side. A memo was introduced as evidence yesterday, that shows the executives of this firm conspired -- really, it says in bold print in this memo, hey, guys, let's manage these numbers so that the losses of this magazine do not exceed $4.2 million on an annual basis, because if it does, then that kicks in this clause where Rosie can get out of this business contract.

However, here is the caveat, Bill, Rosie knew none of this when she walked away from the deal. So is it appropriate or not? And this is what the whole case will probably hang on.

HEMMER: Are you hearing talk of a settlement? And if so, does it come or not? O'NEILL: It looks as if a settlement deal has been struck behind the scenes. This is not confirmed. But the problem at this point is the issue of confidentiality. When this is all over with, Rosie wants to talk, and they said, zip it.

HEMMER: Let me ask you something. I'm not quite sure how much this goes to the legal proceedings right now here in New York City. You worked for that magazine for a while, freelancer, right? What was the atmosphere like there?

O'NEILL: Yes. It was very, very tense. Rosie did not have the love of her staff. She was always throwing hissyfits and tantrums. But on the other hand, these are sophisticated editors who know that this is quite normal really in the showbiz community. It's not in the more decorous country club atmosphere of publishing, but Rosie comes from that tradition. Also, she's an expressive, you know, loud person, so they expect...

HEMMER: People liked working for her in.

O'NEILL: No, they didn't. And she was not as helpful as you might think in terms of getting celebrities for the cover, and she certainly was no diplomat. But she wasn't there a whole lot. She often ran that magazine via e-mail. But they were pretty nasty e- mails.

HEMMER: Well, ultimately, this case won't be decided on personality.

O'NEILL: I hope not.

HEMMER: It will be decided on the letter of the law and the judge will have the final say.

Tom, thanks. Good to see you.

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 11, 2003 - 09:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Tom O'Neill, senior editor for "In Touch Weekly," a contributing writer formerly of "Rosie" magazine. Tom is here with AMERICAN MORNING.
Nice to see you. Good morning to you.

You think this was a significant change in this trial, and good news for her.

TOM O'NEILL, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Very good news. The cavalry has comes to Rosie's rescue, because before now, Bill, she did a lousy job making her case. The case was all based on this issue of editorial control, whether or not she had it. The contract states that the company had veto power, which meant she never had editorial control. Even if she thought she did, Thursday and Friday when she took the stand, she was incapable of citing a single example of anything that got in the magazine she disapproved of. So there went her whole case. Suddenly, it looked as if her ship was sinking.

And, boom, yesterday, everything turned when new memos and new testimony came in on the business side.

HEMMER: And you're talking about the legal angle of this. And so much of the talk has been about her personality, and how she's played herself to the public in front of the microphones outside.

The judge said he'd have something to say on Wednesday. What portends that?

O'NEILL: Well, the case will wrap on Wednesday. We don't know if that final verdict will come in on that day. Some people say it could take as long as a week or two beyond that. But the change now is this. It was an addendum, by the way, filed in this case. This was not the main case on the business side. A memo was introduced as evidence yesterday, that shows the executives of this firm conspired -- really, it says in bold print in this memo, hey, guys, let's manage these numbers so that the losses of this magazine do not exceed $4.2 million on an annual basis, because if it does, then that kicks in this clause where Rosie can get out of this business contract.

However, here is the caveat, Bill, Rosie knew none of this when she walked away from the deal. So is it appropriate or not? And this is what the whole case will probably hang on.

HEMMER: Are you hearing talk of a settlement? And if so, does it come or not? O'NEILL: It looks as if a settlement deal has been struck behind the scenes. This is not confirmed. But the problem at this point is the issue of confidentiality. When this is all over with, Rosie wants to talk, and they said, zip it.

HEMMER: Let me ask you something. I'm not quite sure how much this goes to the legal proceedings right now here in New York City. You worked for that magazine for a while, freelancer, right? What was the atmosphere like there?

O'NEILL: Yes. It was very, very tense. Rosie did not have the love of her staff. She was always throwing hissyfits and tantrums. But on the other hand, these are sophisticated editors who know that this is quite normal really in the showbiz community. It's not in the more decorous country club atmosphere of publishing, but Rosie comes from that tradition. Also, she's an expressive, you know, loud person, so they expect...

HEMMER: People liked working for her in.

O'NEILL: No, they didn't. And she was not as helpful as you might think in terms of getting celebrities for the cover, and she certainly was no diplomat. But she wasn't there a whole lot. She often ran that magazine via e-mail. But they were pretty nasty e- mails.

HEMMER: Well, ultimately, this case won't be decided on personality.

O'NEILL: I hope not.

HEMMER: It will be decided on the letter of the law and the judge will have the final say.

Tom, thanks. Good to see you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com