Although it has been 5 years since the release of Bowling for Columbine, James Nichols has doggedly pursued legal action against Michael Moore. Although the libel and defamation suit Nichols filed against Moore was thrown out of court in 2005, Nichols and his attorney appealed the decision.
The latest news is that the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld U.S. District Judge Paul D. Borman's decision.
Borman found that Moore’s statements about Nichols were "factual and substantially true." (link)
Nichols may appeal this decision.
As a Michigander, I had heard of Michael Moore prior to both Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 . I was basically roped into watching an episode of TV Nation by a friend of mine. Well, I couldn't help but laugh when Moore bought a one room shack & blew it up. I was quite entertained. (Did I mention that this was after the Unabomber was caught. Oh, and we were smoking something we shouldn't have...) We were both in college, and my friend was a Clinton Democrat. At the time, I was very anti-establishment (aka pro-Green party), and had no use for politics. In each conversation, my friend would tell me how this, that, and the other were all related to what was going on in our local, state, and/or federal government. He even made me watch clips from Star Trek that illustrated his points. He certainly didn't turn me to a Democrat at that time, but he gave me entertainment that opened up a new point of view. Without going into my entire political transformation process, let me just say that my friend was the first excited Democrat I had ever seen at that point. (I still voted for Nader, but don't throw stones -- Gore won MI in 2000.)
Bowling for Columbine raised some very important issues. I don't recall thinking that James Nichols helped to plan or condoned Oklahoma City bombing after watching it. (It was kinda weird to find out he sleeps with a gun under his pillow....)
I was very grateful to Moore for speaking out to such a large audience at a time when doing so made you an immediate target for the pundits and Freepers alike. Many on the right (and even on the left) dismissed Moore and stated he played fast and loose with the truth. He used his skill (and he does have talent) as a film maker to wake up the public in an effort to defeat Bush. I believe it helped. If nothing else, it was a conversation starter. The Right Wing Smear Machine is over an done with (for now), and while this might not garner as much attention as Britney's shaved head, it is vindication for Moore.
Until looking Moore up on imdb.com, I didn't realize that he has more than one filmin post-production. I am looking forward to Moore's upcoming movie on America's health care system, Sicko. Of all the documentaries by Moore, I have a feeling this one will appeal to people across the political spectrum. Who knows? Maybe it will help someone see things from a new angle and could help create new progressives in America. It was one of the reasons I am here today. Oh, and my friend? Well, 9/11 changed everything for him. He became a hardcore Bush & war supporter. We still debate, though lately he hasn't had much to say in defense of W. I think if Democrats maintain integrity and make a real difference while in power my friend will come back into the fold.
Life sure is strange, isn't it?