The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has threatened to sue a the makers of an anti-Mormon video, "God Maker II," if they continue to distribute the video with false statements in it.
The video contains numerous false statements and violates the privacy of several people, particularly President Gordon B. Hinck-ley, according to a letter sent to the couple.Attorney Patrick A. Shea sent the letter to Ed and Carol Decker on behalf of the church.
"You are hereby put on notice that should you continue to distribute `God Maker II' with the portions containing the false statements, you do so at your legal risk," the letter says.
The video "contains numerous false statements that violate the privacy rights of individauls. Publication of these false and spurious statements violate these individuals rights to be left alone," the letter says.
"In particular, the statements involving President Gordon B. Hinckley are entirely false, particularly distressing and cause general offense to be taken. These statements are so utterly without support as to suggest that you included these statements in the film either knowing them to be false or in reckless disregard of the falsity of the statements."
Shea declined to comment on the matter. Attorney Randy Dryer, a specialist in First Amendment law, said it is a solid legal practice to notify someone that they have violated people's privacy before filing a possible lawsuit.
"If someone is put on notice that they are invading someone's privacy and they nevertheless continue to do so, they could subject themselves to increased provable damages," Dryer said. "More importantly, they could subject themselves to punitive damages."
Dryer is not familiar with the specific concerns over "God Maker II." He commented on privacy law generally.