Class action suit vs ABC network planned

By Nimfa U. Rueda (Inquirer)
Last updated 06:41pm (Mla time) 10/08/2007

LOS ANGELES -- A Group of Filipino-American doctors said they plan to file a class action suit against the big ABC television network to rectify a perceived slur against Filipino doctors aired on the popular soap “Desperate Housewives.”

“A multimillion-dollar lawsuit for public defamation and damages is in order,” said Dr. Eustaquio O. Abay, in an e-mail to California-based Fil-Am lawyer Rodel Rodis. “This is the only way I believe we can compel ABC to make a high-profile apology to the Filipino community.”

The doctors and allied Filipino groups said they were not satisfied with the brief apology issued by the network, or with the response they got during an hour-long meeting in New York City on Friday with Robert Mendez, the network’s senior vice president for diversity and talent development.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (Nafcon) is demanding that the program broadcast its apology during the show’s next episode, conduct cultural sensitivity training workshops for network staff, produce more shows depicting Filipinos and other minority groups in “prominent, positive roles,” and support Filipino-American projects that will strengthen diversity awareness.

According to Rico Foz, spokesperson for Nafcon, Mendez had told them that a broadcast apology on the “Desperate Housewives” show was unlikely.

“(He) told us, ‘It’s going to be tough’” but added he would discuss the demands with the network management, Foz said.

“I don’t think they [ABC] are taking us seriously,” added Foz.

Abay said the remark made in a recent episode by the character played by actress Teri Hatcher tarnished the reputation of Fil-Am doctors educated in the Philippines.

In the controversial scene, Hatcher’s character tells her doctor: “Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? Because I would just like to make sure they are not from some med school in the Philippines.”

The online petition against the controversial remark in “Desperate Housewives” has now generated over 100,000 signatories.