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RIAA Sues Homeless Man

Posted by kdawson on from the just-leave-the-summons-on-the-heating-grate dept.

NewYorkCountryLawyer writes "In a Manhattan case, Warner v. Berry, the RIAA sued a man who lives in a homeless shelter, leaving a copy of the summons and complaint not at the homeless shelter, but at an apartment the man had occupied in better times, and had long since vacated. The RIAA's lawyers were threatened with sanctions by the Magistrate Judge in the case, for making misleading representations to the Court which the Magistrate felt were intentional. The District Judge, however, disagreed with imposing sanctions, giving the RIAA's lawyers 'as officers of the Court the benefit of the doubt,' and instead concluded — in his 6-page opinion (PDF) — that the RIAA's lawyers were just being 'sloppy' and had not made the misstatements for an improper purpose.'"

6 of 245 comments (clear)

  1. In related news... by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    The District Judge, however, disagreed with imposing sanctions, giving the RIAA's lawyers 'as officers of the Court the benefit of the doubt,' and instead concluded â" in his 6-page opinion (PDF) â" that the RIAA's lawyers were just being 'sloppy' and had not made the misstatements for an improper purpose.'"
    In related news, District Court Judge Harold Baer, Jr., the same judge in the Warner V. Berry case has recently acquired a huge estate in the Hamptons valued at between $20 and $25 million dollars. When a reporter asked Judge Baer how he could afford such a state on a his public servants' salary, Baer simply said that "he had recently come into some money."

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  2. New case in the works... by wobedraggled · · Score: 5, Funny

    RIAA sues a rock, infringing on the musical style.

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    Ubuntu- Linux for human beings.
  3. Re:And again... by Pennidren · · Score: 5, Funny

    See why we don't RTFA?

  4. Re:Are you kidding by palewook · · Score: 5, Funny

    RiAA is demanding his cardboard box in a settlement.

  5. You know the lawyers at RIAA are insane... by Garabito · · Score: 5, Funny

    You know the lawyers at RIAA are insane when actual headlines like these read like if they were from The Onion

  6. Re:I'm amazed by __aaleib9616 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Of course, he made it available by singing loudly while looking for change/food, thereby causing it to be classified as a public performance for profit...