Slashdot Mirror


Diebold Sues Massachusetts for "Wrongful Purchase"

elBart0 writes "Diebold has decided to sue the commonwealth of Massachusetts for choosing a competitor to provide voting machines for the disabled. Diebold wants to force the state to stop using the machines immediately, despite the upcoming municipal elections in many towns. The commonwealth chose the competitor based on an open process that included disabled groups. Diebold executives appeared confused when encountering election officials who made an intelligent choice."

42 of 422 comments (clear)

  1. In Soviet Massachusetts... by drewzhrodague · · Score: 4, Funny

    In Soviet Massachusetts, Diebold sues YOU!

    Sorry, I cound't stop myself.

    --
    Zhrodague.net - I do projects and stuff too.
    1. Re:In Soviet Massachusetts... by edbob · · Score: 5, Funny

      Since Diebold, is suing the State of, Massachusetts, could I sue someone, possibly, for using too many commas in the summary? The use of, so many, commas, makes the summary too difficult, to read. Why must, people, insist on using, so many unnecessary, commas? It sounds like, William Shatner, in my head, when I read, it.

    2. Re:In Soviet Massachusetts... by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 4, Funny

      "I remember when slashdot was the place to go to get away from the BS."

      That didn't happen to be "a long time ago a in a galaxy far, far away", did it?

      --
      "But this one goes to 11!"
    3. Re:In Soviet Massachusetts... by someone1234 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Diebold got 0 points out of 10 where it says the machine should not be hackable easily. Diebold got 0 points out of 10 where it says the machine's source code should be available. Probably they got several more 0's.

      --
      Patents Drive Free Software as Hurricanes Drive Construction Industry
  2. It's a time honored tradition by itsNothing · · Score: 2, Funny

    to sue your customers. Just ask the RIAA.

    1. Re:It's a time honored tradition by itsNothing · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually, i guess you're right. Diebold is actually following the time honored tradition of RIAA of suing non-customers.

  3. The problem with the Diebold machines by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    They had a flashing LED when a vote was cast. This caused Boston police to shut the city down while the bomb squad went to each polling place to blow up the machines.

  4. It's about time. by qwijibo · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's about time some benevolent large corporation stood up to their customers. Customers left to their own decisions will frequently buy the wrong products. The manufacturer obviously knows far more about their product than the customer, so they are the only ones in a position to make a sensible decision about what other people should use.

    Clearly the best product for any situation is the one that the biggest company is pushing. It's not like companies get to be big in the first place by overcharging for their products and using the courts to keep competition down.

  5. Re:Biased Summary by Vengeance · · Score: 5, Funny

    Objective news reporting? You must be new here.

    --
    It was a joke! When you give me that look it was a joke.
  6. Re:Good move! by sunwukong · · Score: 5, Funny

    You're right -- based on previous examples we've seen here, the best business plan is not to sue the distributors, but to go after the end users.

    Next up: Diebold sues the voters but allows quick settlements of $3000 each.

  7. In other news... by Wise+Dragon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Area man Greg Norton was sued by multinational corporation PepsiCO for purchasing a competing product, Coca-Cola. Said attorney Mark Wiseguy, "We compete against Coke around the country all the time". "Based on the criteria set out by Mr. Norton, we had a fair degree of confidence we'd come out on top, and nothing we heard during the process dissuaded us of that confidence." Greg Norton is said to have replied, "Dude, where's my country?"

  8. Re:Biased Summary by jimstapleton · · Score: 2, Funny

    On that note, I really hope this farce doesn't go through...

    Last thing I want to see is Sony getting a precident to sue people for not buying their stuff...

    --
    34486853790
    Connection too slow for X forwarding? Try "ssh -CX user@host"
  9. Catch 22 by Anti_Climax · · Score: 5, Funny

    They voted for the diebold machine, but they cast that vote *on* a diebold machine.

    It's easy to see how things got mixed up from there...

    --
    Even people that believe in pre-destiny look both ways before crossing the street.
  10. Re:Biased Summary by Otter · · Score: 5, Funny

    In fairness, as a Massachusetts resident, I'd also be confused by one of our officials making an intelligent choice. Next you'll be telling me they won't be bolting the machines into epoxy-filled holes in the ceiling!

  11. Re:Good move! by noidentity · · Score: 5, Funny

    "I know nothing will motivate me to use a company's products like having them SUE my ass."

    Hey, it worked great for SCO! Oh, wait...

  12. Re:What a GREAT business Strategy. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I bet Dibold is one of those dastardly fiends that didn't buy your program.

  13. Re:Biased Summary by Knara · · Score: 5, Funny

    setirw (854029)
    I think that says it all ;)
  14. Re:Biased Summary by vyrus128 · · Score: 5, Funny
    which particular brand of crack their counsel are smoking.

    I can only imagine it went something like this:

    Diebold exec: ... so we want to sue them because they went with our competitors, and, uhm, that's not fair. Because we always win. And, like, why should someone else get to win? It's not fair.
    Diebold lawyer: *stifling laughter* That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
    Diebold exec: We're paying you how much?
    Diebold lawyer: ... ... ... we'll get right on it.

  15. Vote counting by Lord_Ultimate · · Score: 3, Funny

    Rumor has it that the state voted twice - on AutoMARK machines the result was a unanimous win for AutoMARK. The second vote used Diebold machines and resulted in several votes for Pat Buchanan.

    --
    -- I might be stupid, but you have to be good at something.
  16. Just got my lawsuit from GM! by Anonymous+Freak · · Score: 2, Funny

    I bought a Prius, and now I'm being sued because I didn't buy a Hummer!

    --
    Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
    The purpose of that site was not known.
  17. Re:Good move! by flyingfsck · · Score: 3, Funny

    Why? It works for the RIAA and for SCO - uhhh, well...

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  18. Re:Good move! by Jason+Earl · · Score: 4, Funny

    If I was purchasing voting machines for another state I would add: "doesn't sue potential customers when it loses a bid" to my list of qualifications. That would clearly put Diebold out of the running.

    Every once in a while you read about executives from a company that are so ridiculously inept that it is funny. Diebold certainly fits that description.

  19. No fair! by s1lentslayer · · Score: 2, Funny

    You changed the results by measuring them!

  20. Re:Biased Summary by The_Quinn · · Score: 5, Funny

    First, there is no such thing as objective reporting. Everything is biased. Period. Is that your objective opinion?
  21. Diebold's real complaint is ... by Bearpaw · · Score: 5, Funny

    Diebold's real complaint is that when the committee voted on which company to go with, Diebold wasn't allowed to count the votes.

  22. Call Diebold and tell them what you think by choongiri · · Score: 5, Funny

    Corporate Headquarters: 1-330-490-4000

    Here's what I just emailed to their PR department:

    Are your executives all on crack or what? You can't sue like a screaming toddler who didn't get the candy when a client chooses your competitor. That's utterly retarded.
    1. Re:Call Diebold and tell them what you think by Danse · · Score: 5, Funny

      Here's what I just emailed to their PR department:

      Are your executives all on crack or what? You can't sue like a screaming toddler who didn't get the candy when a client chooses your competitor. That's utterly retarded.


      Eloquent. I'm sure they'll see the error of their ways.
      --
      It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds. - Captain Hammer
  23. Re:In Soviet JAX by alienmole · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, obviously they can. How else would Starbucks have become so popular?

  24. Re:Good move! by OwnedByTwoCats · · Score: 2, Funny

    And then you'd get sued by Diebold!

  25. Re:Biased Summary by mdozturk · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can understand why diebold sued. Did you guys read the contract requirements?

    Req 13.2.5.3 The voting machine must be manufactured by diebold and have the diebold logo clearly shown on the top surface of the machine.

    Clearly there is something fishy is going on in Commuchusetts. How can AutoMARK win such a bid when they clearly don't meet the requirements? Thank you Diebold for looking out for Commochusetts taxpayers!

  26. Re:Makes sense (no, really!) by BalanceOfJudgement · · Score: 2, Funny

    Believe it or not I am so jaded that I fully expect Diebold to win this suit.

    I have no faith in logic or reason at any level of government or the courts, anymore. I have seen them agree to too many things that simply boggle the mind.

    --

    We are the fire that lights our world.. and we are the fire that consumes it.
  27. objective news reporting by Tumbleweed · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since when has slashdot been about "objective news reporting"?

    Uhhmm...when reporting on Objective-C?

  28. Re:Biased Summary by ichigo+2.0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Since when has this been slashdot?

  29. Re:Biased Summary by toygar.ozturk · · Score: 2, Funny

    hah. that is nothing. look at my number. conclusion: he is not new!

  30. Re:Good move! by Fritz+Benwalla · · Score: 3, Funny

    As a very competent independent consultant who has to market my services to companies all the time, I can understand this. I'm also frequently astounded and confused when potential clients choose to use someone else. I therefore support Diebold in their efforts to set a precedent I can use to then sue them into using me.

    I would also encourage any other large company who so chooses to sue someone for not taking their calls, and sue vendors for not giving them services for free. If we get those two squared away I think we could all be much more successful.

    --

    Believe me, I'm as surprised by my comment as you are.
  31. Re:In Soviet JAX by shotgunsaint · · Score: 5, Funny

    Clearly, by convincing stupid americans that burnt coffee isn't burnt at all, just stronger, and making them feel like connoisseurs. Off topic, I know. Can't resist the urge to bash Starbucks.

    --
    The future isn't here until I can type "car keys" into Google and have it say "You left them in your pants last night."
  32. Re:Biased Summary by sarathmenon · · Score: 1, Funny

    No, this guy is new here.

    --
    Microsoft: "You've got questions. We've got dancing paperclips."
  33. Feh by DG · · Score: 2, Funny

    Quiet down there, N00b! ;)

    DG

    --
    Want to learn about race cars? Read my Book
  34. Why stop at punctuation? by shakestheclown · · Score: 5, Funny

    Great! I use words to mean whatever I feel like they should mean instead of the generally agreed upon conventions that have formed over time.

    Flange Samson ton magnet flipper, lumberyard milquetoast tire iron?

    1. Re:Why stop at punctuation? by Slightly+Askew · · Score: 4, Funny

      Lumberyard milquetoast tire iron? I roughshod pothole squiggle bass, you insensitive clod!

      --
      Public use of any portable music system is a virtually guaranteed indicator of sociopathic tendencies. -- Zoso
  35. Re:This is not uncommon by DamnStupidElf · · Score: 2, Funny

    The exact vendor selection criteria, often being secret, leaves vendors that had reasonable belief that they should have won completely baffled as to why they lost.

    Maybe one of the criteria was "Cannot be unlocked with a hotel wet bar key."

  36. Uhhh.... by jd · · Score: 2, Funny

    You know what you're talking about, What're you posting on Slashdot for? :)

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)