WDRB-TV will pursue charges against Michael Gordon, the East End auto dealer who attacked reporter Dick Irby and photographer Dave White while the newsmen were gathering footage of Gordon’s property last week. It’s the old Dillon Steakhouse at Hurstbourne and Taylorsville Roads.
The confrontation makes for good video. Gordon attempts to throw the $50,000 camera to the ground, and at one point says he’ll pay for it after Irby tells him that if he touches it, he owns it. Gordon comes off attempting to be a bully, but ultimately backs down.
Gordon, whose disregard for planning and zoning requirements in a 213-year-old home he bought last year was the subject of an investigative report by Irby, installed veneer over brick, gutted the interior and installed new windows in the home. All those acts are violations of historic preservation regulations.
Irby’s piece includes an interview with the city’s historic preservation expert, Richard Jett, which evokes some combativeness from Planning Director Charles Cash. It’s good TV.
Fox41 has posted the raw video of the attack. Great work by White in keeping the camera rolling while the attack occurred. Let’s hope a jury gets to see it someday and penalizes this nutjob.
22 responses so far ↓
1 Honestly.... // Nov 18, 2008 at 8:27 am
Dave White is the bomb and good for Dick who was ready to throw down for his shooter…. Both proving themselves to be class acts. I am not The Great Karnak but even I can see long term Ferrai leases in their futures, free of charge courtesy of Mr. Gordon.
2 Justme // Nov 18, 2008 at 8:32 am
More like $20-$25K for a camera…
3 louisvilleobserver // Nov 18, 2008 at 9:00 am
I’m issuing a “schmuck alert” for Gordon.
4 louisvilleobserver // Nov 18, 2008 at 9:04 am
http://www.schmuckalertcentral.blogspot.com/
5 Ned Flanders // Nov 18, 2008 at 9:09 am
No, I see long term Ferrai leases for Bill Lamb. Dick Irby and Dave White might get a Pinto
6 David Harpe // Nov 18, 2008 at 9:56 am
Dave rocks. Great footage from a scary situation.
We need to build a local wall-of-fame for photographers who have been roughed up.
The one I remember from a few years ago was the WHAS shooter (Heidi?) and a reporter who were held at gunpoint by the KKK and forced to give up their tapes before they could leave. I wonder if it was the same bunch of dudes that just lost the multimillion dollar lawsuit? The same WHAS shooter also survived a helicopter crash into water (!).
Not too long ago there was the WAVE shooter and reporter that were slapped around during an investigative report. Only vague memories of this one…I just remember video of the guy coming at them down a hallway in an office building.
Anyone remember any others?
7 Ohhh Boy // Nov 18, 2008 at 11:08 am
How did he do this work with out the City Of Jtown approving it?, and Oh my lanta where does this cat come up with his money to do the things he does,
8 Lenslinger // Nov 18, 2008 at 1:30 pm
“We need to build a local wall-of-fame for photographers who have been roughed up.”
Done!
www.schmuckalert.com
Suggestions/additions welcome!
9 terry // Nov 18, 2008 at 3:33 pm
He’s Needs to gfo out of business. I WILL NEVER BUY A CAR FROM HIM. NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10 Lunchbox: Lose the BarackBerry - FatLip // Nov 18, 2008 at 3:53 pm
[…] Mad TV: FOX-41 reporter Dick Irby and cameraman Dave White stood up to a bully who thought he could muscle them away from a story. It started with Irby’s investigative piece on why the Department of Planning refuses to hold businessman Michael Gordon accountable for destroying a 213-year-old historic building. Irby reports that Gordon covered the 1795-era brick Funk House with a fake field stone, which is a violation. For a day or two, FOX-41 teased the story with footage of the attack, which took place while the FOX-41 crew was filming his auto dealership. The station is now pursuing charges against Gordon. […]
11 A life less responsible... // Nov 18, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Too diddley True Ned…too diddily true. You obviously know the Lamb personally.
12 jtownjudy // Nov 18, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Hey OhhhBoy - haven’t you heard. You can get away with anything out here in J-town. Just look at our Mayor. Drives drunk, wrecks city cars, spouse abuse, child abuse (he & his girlfriend) but JPD determined nothing happened. LOL Heck, they are probably good buddies - he used to have his place practically in the heart of J-town and out here everybody knows things are supposed to conform with the old town feel of J-town, but he built his castle facade anyway. I wish Irby would ask the Mayor why this happened if indeed it is considered a part of J-town. That is if he can find him.
13 jlm // Nov 18, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Couldn’t have said it better myself. You put my thoughts in writing.
14 Doug // Nov 18, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Didn’t the J-town police break into a house and shoot an innocent person to death about 20 years ago?
What a hick-fuck town that is..
15 CadenceFilm // Nov 18, 2008 at 7:27 pm
i’m going to agree with irby, justme, and say that it’s probably closer to the forty to fifty thousand price tag for dave’s camera, with twenty or so of that going just for the body (sans lens).
i’ve never had anything bad to say about irby (solid reporter, always a classy guy) but he just rocketed up to “i’ll buy that guy a couple rounds of bourbon” status with the way he stood up for dave.
and i’ll gladly jump on the praise wagon for dave’s shooting through the whole tug of war match.
awesome job guys. (next time make sure the battery brick accidentallyonpurpose hits the d*ckhead in the nose.)
16 beckie // Nov 18, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Does this guy think beause he has $$ that it gives him power to do what he wants with no regard?! My guess is his money isn’t “honest” ! What an A**!
17 Capitalistagainstcommies // Nov 19, 2008 at 1:41 am
Gee, I thought that in America we believed in property rights and the right to dispose of property as one sees fit as long as it does not affect others property, health, or livelihoods.
Maybe I am wrong, but Im not sure why everyone needs to protect some 213 year old house of no account that some socialist parasite feels the need to tell the owner to fix up in some grandiose scheme. After all, thats interfereing with private property rights.
As far as Gordon goes, it looks like the idiot lynch mob is after him as usual. I guess its now illegal to own and modify your own property. Which is why a lot of people leave Marxist places such as Louisville so they can find someplace more quiet without communistic interference from government and the people.
As far as his other business dealings, if he’s so crooked then why is he still in business. After all, doesn’t the attorney general of the Commonwealth of Kentucky investigate and reprimand people screwing people. Which is his job.
Furthermore, what give any reporter or any other creep with a camera the right to enter anyones property without the consent of the business. Furthermore, what were these two guys doing there to start with by accosting the owner of the property. So lets see, tresspassing is not an offense. They werent there to buy a vehicle or make an offer. So they were there sticking their noses where they shouldnt have.
Oops. but that would offend the mass of uninformed and often illiterate citizens of Loserville the 27th largest city since Jerry lied on the stats. Since Jeffersontown and other communities are not included as part of the city.
You would think that the ultra liberal pinkos that run Louisville and live in Louisville would figure out how to get a life and worry about public corruption in city government. However, they aren’t much on bashing lying liberals because it would mean that their hypocrisy would be showing.
Thanks for the Laughs, Loserville
18 rick // Nov 19, 2008 at 8:10 am
nice defense of Mr. Gordon, but you should have your facts right. Irby wasn’t on Gordon’s property, he was taping from the Picadilly parking lot.
19 Why be an ass? // Nov 19, 2008 at 8:13 am
Move. If you think it’s so bad then move. But first, get your facts straight. They were not on his property, he came to them you jackass. Zoning restrictions are in place to protect property owners you jerk. I am willing to bet if John Hogg wanted to move a pig farm next to your home you would not be so concerned about capitalistic commerce. I hope it happens so you will move and up the local I.Q. quotent by at least 80 percent you moron.
20 leavealready // Nov 19, 2008 at 9:10 am
Hey Capitalistagainstcommies, why don’t you just take your ignorant ass and move out of town if you think we are such losers. By the way, if you had bothered to read the article or watch the interiview you would have seen that prior to Mr. Gordon buying the property the Planning and Zoning commission had stipulations that he was not to alter the structure. I’m feel certain he was aware of this fact prior to signing a contract. He chose to buy anyway and disregard the law. Oh, and as the other two previous entries noted, Mr. Irby and his photographer were not trespassing but since you seem to be so thick headed I felt I needed to mention it too.
21 louisvillelosers // Nov 19, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Its funny that you talk so much about captialistic commerce as you mention yet you act just the way that the socialists want you to. As far as an idiot goes, you should look in the mirror with the rest of your illiterate hicks in this community.
By the way, Im glad that I am leaving this cesspool pretty soon. Oh by the way, this cesspool called Jefferson County, KY but that explains why most of you are Obama supporters. Because you want the government to wipe your lazy a#$es. No wonder people with educations leave this moron infested hole.
Furthermore, the concept of private property is a concept of the law and the English common law system that you abhor due to your socialistic worldview. By the way hicks, you might learn that property rights and taxation issues were among the issues that led to the American Revolution. A fact not learned in your crummy public schools in Louisville. Having a zoning and planning board is exactly the opposite of private property, In fact, the abolition of private property was one of the 10 planks of the Communist Manifesto of Marx.
It doesn’t take a member of MENSA to get those points. In fact, even your average Jefferson County nitwit might get it.
22 New Orleans Proud // Dec 11, 2008 at 12:17 am
Whoever wrote “louisvillelosers” take note.
Michael Gordon would have ended up tarred and feathered, tied to one of the historic hitching post no less, if he would have tried this in the French Quarter (ala French Quarter Citizens and more).
Heck, most of the French Quarter burned down more than once and I’m not sure how many original buildings we have over 150 years old, much less 215. And the Vieux Carre’ Commission is diligent in rectifying errant contractors, owners, ANYONE, who doesn’t follow the Historic Districts & Landmarks rules. That usually consist of vinyl windows, or some other non-conforming work (which often sticks out like a sore thumb and is tacky looking). BUT TO COMPLETELY DEFACE A 215 y.o. BUILDING?! - Michael Gordon would have been run out of town.
AND “louisvillelosers” - Man enacted rule of law so that instead of rounding up the town folk and their pitchforks to take care of problems we instead try to do things civilized. Since you and some others may be scofflaws, it doesn’t mean the majority OR THE LAW is on your side.
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