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Imus lawyer: Lawsuit 'very easy'

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NEW YORK (CNN) -- Don Imus' attorney Monday described the former talk show host's pending $120 million lawsuit against his former employer, CBS Radio, as "very easy" and said he expects a jury to award him the full amount for wrongful termination.

"A jury will give him $120 million because CBS got what it wanted," Martin Garbus told CNN's "American Morning."

Garbus said he plans to file the lawsuit by next week.

He said his client is seeking "direct and indirect damages" following his dismissal last month for making racial and sexual on-air comments about members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team.

When asked about Garbus' comments, a CBS Radio spokeswoman referred CNN to the company's statement issued last week.

"We terminated Mr. Imus for cause," the CBS Radio statement said. "Based on the comments in question and relevant contract terms, we believe that the termination was appropriate and CBS would expect to prevail in any attempt by Mr. Imus to recover money for his actions."

Imus had $40 million remaining on a multi-year contact that began in 2006 and included a clause that CBS wanted him to be "irreverent" and "controversial," according to CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, who was shown part of the contract.

Garbus argued that Imus was simply doing what was called for under that contract.

"They got a very controversial person," he said, referring to CBS Radio. "They got someone who interviewed presidents -- Bush, Clinton -- interviewed some of the leading literary people and also did other things, had other comments that went to a different demographic.

"He was unusual and unique in the breadth of the demographic that he got, so that's what CBS wanted."

The contract does provide that CBS Radio may terminate the agreement for "just cause."

According to the document, this includes "on-air mention whatsoever by Artist [Imus] of company's officers or directors. Such limitation shall not preclude references to members of station management, so long as such references are not overtly inflammatory or malicious."

Garbus said the additional $80 million will be to recoup losses from other things, including products Imus sold that went to his charity.

"Since he's been fired and he's not on the air, sales of all those products are dropping dramatically," Garus said. "That and other things is how you get up to $120 million. It's really out of pocket."

CBS dismissed Imus on April 12, eight days after he called the Rutgers players "nappy-headed 'hos" on his radio show, "Imus in the Morning."

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