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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."

18 of 422 comments (clear)

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.
  4. 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.

  5. 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?"

  6. 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.
  7. 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!

  8. 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...

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

    setirw (854029)
    I think that says it all ;)
  10. 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.

  11. 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?
  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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
  15. objective news reporting by Tumbleweed · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    Uhhmm...when reporting on Objective-C?

  16. 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."
  17. 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?