Oprah Winfrey Settles Defamation Lawsuit Avoids Trial

Billionaire talk-show host Oprah Winfrey has met with Lerato Nomvuyo Mzamane, and after a private meeting in Chicago yesterday the two women agreed to settle the case out of court. Winfrey and Mzamane's attorneys issued a joint statement, but there was nothing mentioned about a financial agreement. Interestingly, this settlement occurs a week after Oprah Winfrey's request to have the case thrown out of court was dismissed.

U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno, in a 128-page opinion came to the conclusion that the statements Oprah Winfrey made were "capable of defamatory meaning."

Mzamane claimed that she had problems finding employment due to remarks made by Oprah Winfrey. Whether it is true or not would have been up to a jury to decide. Although, it is not hard to believe because when Oprah speaks people do listen, and sometimes react. For example, if Winfrey reads and recommends a book its sales seems to skyrocket. She is known world-wide, and many people value her opinion.

In 1998, cattlemen alleged that Winfrey's comments about beef resulted in an 11 percent price drop the next day. However, Oprah Winfrey did not settle that case she stood firm, and took on the big cattle boys. The result, Texas jurors rejected cattlemen's lawsuit against Oprah Winfrey, and that defamation suit was dismissed by a federal judge.

Why did Winfrey decide to settle this case? Is it possible that Oprah Winfrey feared she may loose this battle because of Robreno's 128-page opinion concluding that Winfrey's statements were "capable of defamatory meaning." Or was it the dismissal of her request to have the case thrown out that led to this sudden woman to woman meeting in Chicago, and settlement. One can speculate, but the underlying reasons may never be known.

Yesterday, the media was talking about the much anticipated case going to trial, and how they believed that Oprah Winfrey would not back down. Who could have guessed that in the wee hours of the night the media would get an email from Harpo Inc., Oprah's company, informing them that the case was settled.

It is amazing how this meeting in Chicago took place without being leaked to the media before hand. Goes to show that Oprah is not just a very rich woman; she is powerful. That is what makes this settlement hard to digest. It is doubtful that it was simply to avoid a spectacle, and more likely than not Winfrey paid to make this case go away. Why?

Mzamane will not have to worry about finding a job for a long time after settling with Oprah, and it is safe to assume that there was a financial settlement. That is how it always works with lawsuits; either you go to court and battle it out, or you pay up.

So, Oprah Winfrey will not be in court next week. The defamation suit against Winfrey is settled, but it is not the end of this story. People will want to know why Oprah settled, and the media will probe for answers.