Roosters considering legal action.

[Andrew Walker]

The filming was not done by the owner of the home. It was done by another guest who was heard in the background saying they can end his career by selling this footage. Mitchell had no idea this was going on as he was too drunk. Do you think that was giving permission? His mother took him out of the country possibly because she was too afraid of what would happen to him if left to his own devices. Ryan Tandy anyone? You shame someone, push them to the brink and sit back and see what happens..

Ive seen the incident a few times and he looked right in the camera and his words were I dont even care anymore He then proceeded to have his fun with the dog He wasnt too out of it to know what was going on He was too out of it to actually care MASSIVE difference

There is something to the the last part(been their lived that) but dont dismiss the testing also being a factor in the quick get away He dodged a bullet by getting out of the country when he did as he avoided the testing that the NRL were very slow to do I still cannot beleive they were so slow in acting But then again it was probably better he wasnt tested if he was to come back not clean

[Tennessee Tornado]

Ive seen the incident a few times and he looked right in the camera and his words were I dont even care anymore He then proceeded to have his fun with the dog He wasnt too out of it to know what was going on He was too out of it to actually care MASSIVE difference

There is something to the the last part but dont dismiss the testing also being a factor in the quick get away He dodged a bullet by getting out of the country when he did as he avoided the testing that the NRL were very slow to do I still cannot beleive they were so slow in acting But then again it was probably better he wasnt tested if he was to come back not clean

I am assuming you've taken the nickname Andrew Walker because you believe he was an incredible footballer with immense talent?

Send a tweet to Gus Gould and ask how many times Andrew Walker was removed from extremely embarrassing situations.

If social media had been around back then he would have made Mitchell Pearce look like a guy who drank too much and made an ass of himself.....oh wait!

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I still don't think that perverts should be able film anyone, public figures or otherwise, with the sole intent of making money and possibly ending their career, without facing repercussions themselves. I'm sure there were thousands of people making fools of themselves on Australia Day, or any other day of the week for that matter, who weren't filmed, weren't shamed and publicly villified like a serial killer and then subsequently hounded out of the country. At what point to we start pushing back on these parasites and leeches?

Agree wholeheartedly RWB.

I would love to see a legal precedent set and future smartphone heroes think twice about this sort of Gen Now filth.

Victim? Well Mitch probably is regardless of what people think of his stupid behaviour....no crime was committed.

[Andrew Walker]

I am assuming you've taken the nickname Andrew Walker because you believe he was an incredible footballer with immense talent?

Send a tweet to Gus Gould and ask how many times Andrew Walker was removed from extremely embarrassing situations.

If social media had been around back then he would have made Mitchell Pearce look like a guy who drank too much and made an ass of himself.....oh wait!

Im well aware Of Walkers issues The thing is social media was not around then Times change and people have to change with them if you dont you get left behind or end up in trouble

[Andrew Walker]

I am assuming you've taken the nickname Andrew Walker because you believe he was an incredible footballer with immense talent?

Send a tweet to Gus Gould and ask how many times Andrew Walker was removed from extremely embarrassing situations.

If social media had been around back then he would have made Mitchell Pearce look like a guy who drank too much and made an ass of himself.....oh wait!

I am well aware of Walkers issues. the thing is Social media was not around then Times have changed and people have to change with the times If you dont you either get left behind or end up in some sort of trouble.

New poster with a few posts all in out and out support of Pearce So I say you either someone close to him or someone from within the club who wants to shoot anyone down who is calling for a harsher punishment than waht the club appears to have in mind for Pearce Now I think he deserves another chance that chance should be next year though not this season

[novice chook]

Ive seen the incident a few times and he looked right in the camera and his words were I dont even care anymore He then proceeded to have his fun with the dog He wasnt too out of it to know what was going on He was too out of it to actually care MASSIVE difference

There is something to the the last part(been their lived that) but dont dismiss the testing also being a factor in the quick get away He dodged a bullet by getting out of the country when he did as he avoided the testing that the NRL were very slow to do I still cannot beleive they were so slow in acting But then again it was probably better he wasnt tested if he was to come back not clean

Considering there was no initial suggestion that drugs were involved you cannot accuse the NRL for being slow on the uptake.

If I were Michtell's parents I would have got him out of the country quick smart as well. Especially considering the alternative was Mitch and the family being held hostage by the media night and day. Fortunately the family and the club had the money and connections to get him a quick booking into a 28 rehab program overseas. That having been completed, why would he stay overseas and delay the inevitable. Would anyone prefer that he turn up next weekend, on the eve of our first match?

And at least Mitch's rehab program was 28 days. How long was Ben Barba's, 10-14 days? And Greenturd had no problem with that now did he.

Mitchell has come home to face the music and get his future sorted, whatever that is. And he deserves that opportunity. And it's not as if he's skulking around and trying to avoid the media or anyone else. He's come back on the front foot and hopefully he stays that way.

Personally, I would prefer that Mitch make a fresh start and continue his career with another non-Sydney club where the spotlight is not always on him. But I suspect that won't happen and I'll support whatever decision the club makes, as I believe they have his best interests at heart, both on and off the field. And they privy to a lot more information than any of us are.

[Johnny.]

I am assuming you've taken the nickname Andrew Walker because you believe he was an incredible footballer with immense talent?

Send a tweet to Gus Gould and ask how many times Andrew Walker was removed from extremely embarrassing situations.

If social media had been around back then he would have made Mitchell Pearce look like a guy who drank too much and made an ass of himself.....oh wait!

Well, Andrew Walker was a freakishly talented player who was at the time self destructive.

Mitchell Pearce on the other hand, a pedestrian footballer with a giant ego and no self control.

[The Axe]

Personally, I would prefer that Mitch make a fresh start and continue his career with another non-Sydney club where the spotlight is not always on him. But I suspect that won't happen and I'll support whatever decision the club makes, as I believe they have his best interests at heart, both on and off the field. And they privy to a lot more information than any of us are.

Agree 100%

[redwhiteblue]

I am well aware of Walkers issues. the thing is Social media was not around then Times have changed and people have to change with the times If you dont you either get left behind or end up in some sort of trouble.

New poster with a few posts all in out and out support of Pearce So I say you either someone close to him or someone from within the club who wants to shoot anyone down who is calling for a harsher punishment than waht the club appears to have in mind for Pearce Now I think he deserves another chance that chance should be next year though not this season

So using that logic, if Andrew Walker were one of today's squad, doing now what he did back then, who would be your screen name? Mother Teresa or Mary Poppins?

[Andrew Walker]

So using that logic, if Andrew Walker were one of today's squad, doing now what he did back then, who would be your screen name? Mother Teresa or Mary Poppins?

Mahatma Ghandi

[bondi paul]

Maybe Pearce could of went on a double date with Joel Monaghan instead

more likely " journo" josh massoud go on a date with nova - perris.

[ism22]

Suing someone is very rarely about money. It's about sending a message back to the perpetrator telling them that their behaviour was unacceptable. It will make them and others think twice about trying to take a similar route. Look how Princess Diana and Charlotte Dawson ended up. Hounded to their deaths by insensitive and intrusive actions by people wanting money and their 15 minutes of fame.

I can confidently say that this is not the case. A tort is about getting damages or an equitable remedy... stop.

If you go to ANY lawyer saying 'this isn't about money, I just want the court to say he was wrong' then they will run for the hills (despite the fact this might present a quick cash grab). Ethically, you really don't want to put yourself into a position like this. Also, such clients are usually little biatches who are gonna try to sue you, and report you for misconduct if they don't get the result they wanted (which is likely if it's all about the principle, and there's no substantive claim).

I don't have stats on hand, but I reckon some of the more common torts would be for workers comp, motor vehicle accidents, professional negligence, trespass, conversion...etc.

A theoretical example could be donut boy (I dunno if he ended up suing media outlets - maybe he did). The media crucified him and he wasn't even the guy who spread the video. He felt he suffered harm as a result of this... bang, prima facie that's a tort of defamation. Such a claim would not be successful unless he could prove he suffered harm (e.g. lost his job, had to live in a hotel for a month while things cooled down, started seeing a psychologist for chronic anxiety and had his property trashed by angry mobs). If no harm was done, he can't win. By definition, defamation requires that the person suffers loss.

[Nathan Aboud]

If there is an opportunity for legal proceedings to occur in regards to maters like this then I would encourage the Roosters to purse it and not only go for $50,000 (to cover the fine) but to also send a message to the general public that these players are human beings as well.... If you don't like being photograph and recorded at certain places then don't do the same to you.....

The only reason I believe they may have a case here is simply because it is a private event. Most journalist and professional photographers only take pictures in public, never would they do them behind boundaries such as doors and fences. It Is private property and you need permission to either take the image or video...... It worked successfully for Heath Ledger as he was videotaped and recorded by someone using sound equipment of a private conversation at a private party. He sued the person and also got a settlement from E News for them publishing it.