1:37:00
the third party can be sued
for damages for interfering.
1:37:03
Hence, tortious interference.
1:37:05
"lnterfering"?
That's what we do.
1:37:08
I think what we're trying to tell you
is that it happens all the time.
1:37:11
This is a news organization. People are
always telling us things they shouldn't.
1:37:15
We have to verify if it's true
and in the public interest.
And if it is, we air it.
1:37:19
And after we corroborate it.
That's why we've never lost
a lawsuit and run a classy show.
1:37:23
- Anything else?
- And 60 Minutes' verification
is exact and precise.
1:37:28
And I don't think it would hurt
to make sure you're right on this one.
1:37:32
[Hewitt]
Why? You think we have liability?
1:37:36
What's the CBS News position,
Eric?
1:37:38
There's a possibility.
It's rather remote.
1:37:40
But one we
have to check on, Mike.
1:37:43
I've retained outside counsel
to do exactly that...
1:37:45
on a segment, I might add,
that's already rife with problems.
1:37:50
What does that mean?
" Rife with--"
1:37:52
I'm told unusual promises
were made to Wigand.
1:37:55
No, only that we would hold his story
until it was safe for him.
1:37:58
And I'm told there are questions
as to our star witness' veracity.
1:38:01
His "veracity" was good enough
for the state of Mississippi.
1:38:04
Our standards have to be
higher than anyone else's,
1:38:06
because we are the standard
for everybody else.
1:38:09
Well, as a "standard," I'll hang with
"is this guy telling the truth?"
1:38:14
Well, with tortious interference,
I'm afraid...
1:38:17
the greater the truth,
the greater the damage.
1:38:22
- Come again?
- They own...
1:38:24
the information he's disclosing.
1:38:27
The truer it is,
1:38:29
the greater
the damage to them.
1:38:31
If he lied, he didn't
disclose their information,
and the damages are smaller.
1:38:39
- Is this Alice in Wonderland?
- You said "on this one."
1:38:44
What about this one?
1:38:46
If this holds up--
And it very well may not, Mike.
1:38:49
But if it did
and we aired this segment,
1:38:53
and CBS was sued
by Brown &Williamson,
1:38:57
I think we could be
at grave risk.
1:38:59
- How grave?
- Well, at the end of the day,