Imus Goes On Offensive

This is going to be fun. Don Imus is going to be suing CBS and MSNBC for firing him based on a clause in his contract that prevents him from being fired without first being warned. The contract also encourages Imus to be as ascerbic and irreverent as possible.

But Imus has hired one of the nation's premiere First Amendment attorneys, and the two sides are gearing up for a legal showdown that could turn on how language in his contract that encouraged the radio host to be irreverent and engage in character attacks is interpreted, according to one person who has read the contract.

The language, according to this source, was part of a five-year contract that went into effect in 2006 and that paid Imus close to $10 million a year. It stipulates that Imus be given a warning before being fired for doing what he made a career out of - making off-color jokes. The source described it as a "dog has one- bite clause." A lawsuit could be filed within a month, this person predicted.

A CBS spokesman declined comment, and Imus, through his attorney, also declined an interview.

The possible payday for Imus? $40 million.

Ouch. That's gotta hurt.