The rivalry between area radio personalities Todd "MJ" Schnitt and Bubba the Love Sponge Clem may rise to a new level, following news that Schnitt has prepared a lawsuit seeking damages of more than $15,000 from Clem and Cox Radio for "highly offensive, insulting or fighting words and defamatory statements" broadcast about Schnitt and his wife Michelle.

Clem has talked about the action for much of his show today. Messages left with Schnitt and his attorney C. Phillip Campbell have not yet been returned. See the lawsuit's allegations for yourself here: Download mj-lawsuit-bubba.pdf

From the moment Clem worked out a deal to return to free commercial "terrestrial" radio earlier this year, he's criticized Schnitt and his wife repeatedly on air -- pointedly telling the press that he planned to unseat his rival as the morning's top-rated broadcaster.

Initially, Schnitt shrugged off the insults, telling me that responding to Clem's taunts would just lend the competing show added publicity. But a copy of Schnitt's lawsuit obtained by the Times now asserts that Clem's "false, highly offensive and defamatory statements about Mrs. and Mrs. Schnitt have in fact influenced listeners' opinions about them and prompted them to lash out against Mr. and Mrs. Schnitt." As an example, the suit cites emails from anonymous listeners stating "your wife is a w----." (I'm assuming it's the w-word for prostitute) and that Schnitt is a "weak little psychologically screwed up narcissistic little bald man."

The lawsuit also asserts that Clem has falsely claimed that Schnitt is a snitch (a reference, I'm assuming, to allegations that he turned in a former parter with an addiction problem to Clear Channel executives), that Schnitt "has been stealing money for years" and that Schnitt's wife, a former assistant state's attorney, influenced Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober to charge Clem with animal cruelty in connection with a live on air killing of a boar.

The complaint also alleges Clem urged listeners to go to a Schnitt appearance at the Gasparilla Day Parade, "bring your loud mouths and grease that midget." And, the suit alleges, another member of Clem's team said Schnitt should not babysit children because he "has the same initials as Michael Jackson."

Schnitt's challenge: the law sets a high hurdle in proving defamation or slander of public people such as radio personalities. He must prove, essentially, that Clem either made up his allegations entirely or made statements he knew to be false. The lawsuit also claims that Schnitt's wife is not a public person -- which may be a tough case to make because she has appeared on her husband's show, and Schnitt has spoken about her on air.

Schnitt also runs the risk of looking like a poor sport; in the bare knuckle world of radio talk, personalities often let their rivalries spill into tough words on air. But with no examples provided of specific business lost or specific personal threats beyond anonymous emails, Schnitt may have a tough time proving specific damage done.

And all the while, the legal action will spark a fresh round of taunts and trash talk on the airwaves which may benefit both their shows.   

Download mj-lawsuit-bubba.pdf