| WDBO Local News |
Dateline dare may prove costly for Orlando attorney
In a 2006 Dateline NBC episode, an Orlando Attorney offers an expensive dare that may cost him one million dollars.
View the Dateline NBC story here.
View the complaint here.
The defendant's alibi had him in an Atlanta motel at the time of a Central Florida triple homicide. The prosecution had him flying from Atlanta to Central Florida and back, in time to be caught on a surveillance video. Attorney Cheney Mason said that was impossible.
"I challenge anybody to show me, I'll pay them a million dollars if they can do it," Mason said on Dateline NBC.
A Texas law graduate watched that episode of Dateline NBC and took Cheney Mason up on his challenge. He made the trip in the time allowed - videotaping the whole thing. He then sent the tape and a note requesting the million dollars.
Cheney has refused several times, but the grad's attorney says Cheney is obligated to pay up.
"It's what they call a unilateral contract, where someone offers someone money if they do something," said Houston attorney David George.
He says though Mason claims it was a joke, the gravity of the murder case calls that issue into question. "Would a reasonable person believe that this is a legitimate offer and not a joke?"
View the complaint here.
The defendant's alibi had him in an Atlanta motel at the time of a Central Florida triple homicide. The prosecution had him flying from Atlanta to Central Florida and back, in time to be caught on a surveillance video. Attorney Cheney Mason said that was impossible."I challenge anybody to show me, I'll pay them a million dollars if they can do it," Mason said on Dateline NBC.
A Texas law graduate watched that episode of Dateline NBC and took Cheney Mason up on his challenge. He made the trip in the time allowed - videotaping the whole thing. He then sent the tape and a note requesting the million dollars.
Cheney has refused several times, but the grad's attorney says Cheney is obligated to pay up.
"It's what they call a unilateral contract, where someone offers someone money if they do something," said Houston attorney David George.
He says though Mason claims it was a joke, the gravity of the murder case calls that issue into question. "Would a reasonable person believe that this is a legitimate offer and not a joke?"
What others are saying
- Not a joke, he's not catching fishMason wasn't fishing and said to his buddy "I'll pay you a million dollars if you catch a 20 lbs bass!" He's on TV, saying he'll pay 1 million dollars if someone can show him his client could have done the murder in the allotted time. Sounds more like a reward than a bet, and if this isn't honored does this mean all the "1 million dollar reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction..." are jokes? How about the $25,000 rewards to find missing children? That a joke too? You have to put things into context, and if you look at the situation it seems more like a reward if a challenge is met and therefore should be paid.
- Definately Not A JokeThis lawyer should pay out. He was definitely not joking.
He knew his job was on the line when he said that on NATIONAL TV. He purposefully agreed to an interview where he hoped to defend on Dateline.
Its highly dubious he is taking this case as a "joke". - "not possible" is Cheney's whole caseMr. Mason threw out that challenge perfectly seriously IMO. I do hope this puts the nail in the coffin on his murder case's appeal - and that he will rightly lose this civil case. At least one thing is settled: Mr. Mason is a fool!
- Unprotected speechForcing him to pay would make saying "I bet you a million dollars" as being legally equivalent to yelling "Fire" in a crowded movie house.
- Cheney Mason should payBecause of the gravity of the situation no one really should percieve it as a joke. Did he or anyone near him laugh about it when he said it? The purse for the challenge is not out of bounds for something that he thought would be next to impossible. Unfortunatley for Mr. Mason the law might not be on his side for either his murder case or his civil case.
advertisement
advertisement
Marketplace
From fast food to fine dining, find it all in our Local Business Directory .
Shop for cars, find a dealer, and get the latest automotive news in our Local Car Buying Guide powered by AutoTrader.comadvertisement
Stay ahead of the storm. Find evacuation routes, safety tips and more in the Hurricane Guide.
Don't miss your favorite TV shows! Click to get the latest WFTV Channel 9 programming schedule.
© All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Music Guide®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. 