Batali Acquited

 

Former celebrity chef Mario Batali has been acquited by a Judge in a case of sexual assault going back to 2017.  I should say former disgraced celebrity chef Mario Batali.  If you have never heard of him, that is because he has been out of the public eye for since 2017.  That is when multiple women came forward alleging sexual misconduct and as a result his restaurant and all other platforms severed ties with him.  For whatever reason, the only charge that the state of New York pursued was recently tried.  Batali elected a Bench Trial which means the Judge made the decision without the benefit of a jury.  

In a decision that was quick after closing arguments, the Judge acquited Batali citing credibility issues of the complainant.  

Apparently, the complainant once forged a document to get out of a gym membership.  The Judge concluded that if she would do, finances were her primary motivation.  If she would get out of paying for a gym membership, she would be motivated to make a false allegation for potential financial gain.  

If you are having trouble following the logic, you are likely not alone.  

Talk about false equivalency.  For whatever reason, she decided she didn't want $40/month taken out of her account monthly.  This literally happens all the time.  I am assuming she tried to cancel the membership but was told she signed a contract and there was no getting out of it, so she escalated her "cancellation" by using a reason that would be acceptable in the contract.  

That apparently gives permission for her to be victimized at any point in her life.  Apparently, she will never be credible because she got out of a gym membership.  

Deep sigh.  

Now, there is legal precedent for dismissing a victims credibility on the basis of using fraud to get out of a gym membership.  The problem with that is that every single person in the world has done something that they regret or are not proud of.  There are no perfect victims.  And, now, any action that you have ever done can damage your credibility as a victim.  Have you heard the phrase, "green light".  

Never mind that the accused faced multiple accusers.  That didn't matter.  The allegations were credible enough to derail his business interests.  But, it was assumed that this woman was only after money in a civil suit.  Another problem with this argument is that Batali doesn't have any money.  

It is just a sad precedent on many levels.  

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