Wed Jan 5, 4:03 PM ET Entertainment - Reuters TV

 

 

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Watching contestants eat dead rats on NBC's gross-out stunt show "Fear Factor" so disgusted a Cleveland man that he has sued NBC for $2.5 million, saying he could not stomach what he saw.

 

 

 

In a handwritten four-page lawsuit filed in federal court in Cleveland on Tuesday, paralegal Austin Aitken said, "To have the individuals on the show eat (yes) and drink dead rats was crazy and from a viewer's point of view made me throw-up as well an another in the house at the same time."

 

 

His suit added, "NBC is sending the wrong message to its TV watchers that cash can make or have people do just about anything beyond reasoning (sic) and in most cases against their will."

 

 

He said the show caused his blood pressure to rise so high that he became dizzy and light-headed, and when he ran away to his room, he bumped his head into the doorway.

 

 

In a brief telephone interview with Reuters, Aitken said, "I am not at liberty to discuss the complaint unless it is a paid-interview situation." :rolly

 

 

A spokesman for "Fear Factor" said the show would have no comment until it sees a copy of the complaint. The spokesman said the program did feature an rat-eating scene in New York's Times Square on Nov. 8.

 

 

Over the years, contestants on the program have eaten some weird things, including ground-up spiders and live worms.

 

 

Reuters/VNU

WTF is wrong with people? TURN IT OFF THEN!!!!

Did this moron not know what Fear Factor was all about? I have watched maybe 2 minutes of that disgusting piece of s*** show since it hit the air ... and I know not to watch it. It's really a simple solution to the problem.

I choose not to watch the show - there were many commercials that stated what the episode would be about.

 

I was angered by it at first being a hamster fiend, but then after thinking about it, I wouldn't have a problem with cow being ground up (as long as it is cooked a little first) so I guessed I shouldn't have an issue with rats being ground up.

The $2.5 million should be more than enough for the guy to buy a replacement remote control so he can change the damn channel.

 

In a related development, I will be initiating legal proceedings against Steff and against Soxtalk for MAKING me read the thread about the guy watching the people eating the rats -- during my lunch break no less. Hope you all have good lawyers.

 

And I have nothing more to say about this. Unless it is a paid interview, of course.

The $2.5 million should be more than enough for the guy to buy a replacement remote control so he can change the damn channel.

 

In a related development, I will be initiating legal proceedings against Steff and against Soxtalk for MAKING me read the thread about the guy watching the people eating the rats -- during my lunch break no less.  Hope you all have good lawyers.

 

And I have nothing more to say about this.  Unless it is a paid interview, of course.

 

Not to mention the lawsuits against Apu for making my head hurt...

I was angered by it at first being a hamster fiend...

 

You're the only hamster fiend around here that I know of.

In a related development, I will be initiating legal proceedings against Steff and against Soxtalk for MAKING me read the thread about the guy watching the people eating the rats -- during my lunch break no less.  Hope you all have good lawyers.

 

And I have nothing more to say about this.  Unless it is a paid interview, of course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You're the only hamster fiend around here that I know of. 

 

Unless Richard Gere posts here.

 

 

If I were the judge:

 

"I think we should all give a big shout out to God or Darwin or whoever you believe in for giving us opposable thumbs. That way you can hit the channel up or channel down button to flip on Pax and watch the Elayne Boosler hit 'Balderdash,' or perhaps the 700 Club is on somewhere? Possibly the Discovery Channel on snakes that eat rats alive and whole...no, wait, don't do that, you might get sick and bump your head. CASE DISMISSED!!!"

 

I don't think this guys bile + head bump = $2.5 million. Especially if AJ Pierzynski isn't.

I wish I could say I was surprised.

WTF is wrong with people?  TURN IT OFF THEN!!!!

 

Fear Factor has the right to be seen

Handwritten? Boy it sounds like he couldn't even get a lawyer to take this case!! and that's saying something!!!

 

(no offense meant, I should be one in November if the Bar exam goes well)

Fear Factor has the right to be seen

 

[pandora's box]

Handwritten?  Boy it sounds like he couldn't even get a lawyer to take this case!! and that's saying something!!!

 

(no offense meant, I should be one in November if the Bar exam goes well)

 

Can't lawyers be held accountable now for bringing frivilous law suits? That might explain it.

It said he was a paralegal. Don't they do the typing?

It said he was a paralegal. Don't they do the typing?

 

What little there is anymore. Software packages have automated most of the process. Sounds like his bosses wouldn't let him anywhere near their stuff.

 

I figured out what upset him so much. He works around lawyers all day and the sight of a rat being eaten reminded him of work and his boss[/color]

 

I kid because I care™

 

Did I do that better Mr. Jim?

I kid because I care™

 

Did I do that better Mr. Jim?

 

It should be a ® not a ™, but that's pretty good.

 

Thing is, I really don't think you DO care. You're just going through the motions.

Edited January 6, 200521 yr by FlaSoxxJim

It should be a ® not a ™, but that's pretty good.

 

Thing is, I really don't think you DO care.  You're just going through the motions.

 

™ or ®

 

™ A word, phrase, graphic image, or symbol used by a business or other organization to represent itself or its merchandise

™ or ®

 

OK, be that way.

 

I told you you don't really care. You're only about the kidding.

What a coincidence..I made a thread about this particular ep

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...1&st=&p=entry

What a coincidence..I made a thread about this particular ep

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...1&st=&p=entry

 

I'm suing you ass for that! SS2k5 im also suing your ass for posting the link to that michael jackson crap!

 

Seriously though, how can he sue for watching a gross tv show? Its unbelivable.

Can I sue the "Iron Chef" show? They were using ground prawns on the show yesterday...

Hey c'mon now. This was expected. Don't be surprised. If people can sue McDonald's & Oreo for making them fat then this guy has a right to sue NBC for making him sick. It's the American way.

 

What still surprises me is that the contestants haven't sued NBC for the episode. Waivers are a nice form of protection but contestants could use video-tape & other sources of evidence to prove that they were placed under extreme situations of stress in making their decisions. That amounts to coercion on the part of the producers & the contestants could then sue for damages as that basis despite having signed a waiver to do so.

 

There is also the potential for class-action suits in the interest of public safety. Suggesting that Fear Factor promotes the belief that eating such strange things is acceptable. Now all they have to do is present evidence of persons having tried such things after watching the show resulting in

health problems.