Florida Judge Smacks Down RIAA

 NewYorkCountryLawyer writes:
"The RIAA is going to have to face the music in Tampa, Florida, and answer

the charges of extortion, trespass, conspiracy, unlicensed investigation, 
and computer fraud and abuse that have been leveled against them there. And 
the judge delivered his ruling against them in in pretty unceremonious 
fashion - receiving their dismissal motion last night, and denying the 
motion this morning. The RIAA's unvarying M.O., when hit with counterclaims, 
is to make a motion to dismiss them. It did just that in one Tampa case, UMG 
v. Del Cid, but the judge upheld 5 of the 6 counterclaims. The RIAA quickly 
settled that one. When a new case came up in the same Tampa courthouse 
before the very same judge, and the same 5 counterclaims were leveled 
against the record companies, I opined that 'it is highly unlikely that the 
RIAA will make a motion to dismiss counterclaims,' since I knew they'd be 
risking sanctions if they did. Well I guess I underestimated the chutzpah - 
or the propensity for frivolous motion practice - of the RIAA lawyers, as 
they in essence thumbed their nose at the judge, making the dismissal motion 
anyway, telling District Judge Richard A. Lazzara that his earlier decision 
had been wrong. The judge wasted no time telling the record companies that 
he did not agree (PDF)."

http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/05/06/1954237 

catseyenu wrote::

  Reading this has put a big smile on my face for the first time in a 
few days. Thanks!

-- 
Gary