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Lawsuit Against 'American Gangster' Dismissed

February 15, 2008 5:03 PM

American_ganster_dea_071205_main The lawyer for a group of former federal drug agents who filed a class-action suit against NBC Universal for its film "American Gangster" told ABC News they were "disappointed" by a judge's ruling to dismiss their suit.

"While we appreciate the judge finding that the legend was false, we intend to appeal her conclusion that NBC is not liable for the lie," attorney Dominic Amoroso told ABC News.

The class-action lawsuit brought by the group of former federal drug enforcement agents against NBC Universal asserted the agents were defamed by the blockbuster film "American Gangster," as ABCNews.com previously reported.   

As the final credits roll on the flick starring Denzel Washington as Harlem drug thug Frank Lucas, a screen appears that states three-quarters of the drug enforcement agents assigned to New York were convicted as a result of Lucas' cooperation with "outcast cop" Richie Roberts, portrayed by Russell Crowe in the movie.

There were no such convictions, Drug Enforcement Administration officials told ABC News.

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February 15, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (2)

User Comments

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Darn. I know that "based on" a true story does not mean it is the true story, but you do expect some kind of parallel.

Then, when they roll a printed screen at the end saying this happened and that happened, you really do think that part is the truth, and is fact, not just related to fact.

I'd say they were defamed, if it was stated as fact, rather than just indicated in the story. I feel betrayed by people who took me for a sucker (and apparently I was) and the cops were abused as well.

Posted by: Gene | Feb 17, 2008 3:39:23 PM

Good evening. It is easier to exclude harmful passions than to rule them, and to deny them admittance than to control them after they have been admitted.

Posted by: Odolf | Feb 22, 2009 10:07:15 PM

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