Game Hating Jack is Off the Case!
polycounter lvl 19
Update in the Strickland vs. Sony case taking place in Alabama, where the families of three law enforcement officers slain by a young gunman are seeking money from a host of defendents, including Sony, Gamestop, and WalMart. Their claims (or more correctly, their attorney Jack Thompson's claims) are that the gunman was programmed by and/or under the influence of the video game GTA 3 which caused him to commit the crime.
In a move that should surprise no one, Judge Moore revoked attorney Jack Thompson's Pro Hac Vice license to practice law in Alabama for the case in question. The Judge told Jack Thompson that under Alabama law, he could not withdraw from the case. He then essentially turned around and kicked Jack off the case warning him that should he ever attempt to seek a temporary license to practice law in the state again, he would have to attach the ruling statement to the application. Essentially the judge determined that Mr. Thompson violated professional ethics in the case. The judge supported his reasons with an 18 page ruling.
gamepolitics.com has some discussion going on the topic (mostly a lot of cheering), and there's a good article on the story at the Tuscaloosa News (which will require registration to read.
This is, of course, all sideshow activity to the meat of the case. In addition to filing the motion to have Jack Thompson removed from the case (granted as noted above), they have also filed a motion requesting the case be dimissed for lack of merit. In the past, when similar cases have been filed (of the "games made him do it" type), they have been dimissed on the grounds that games, like books and movies, are covered by the First Amendment and our right to free expression.
In a move that should surprise no one, Judge Moore revoked attorney Jack Thompson's Pro Hac Vice license to practice law in Alabama for the case in question. The Judge told Jack Thompson that under Alabama law, he could not withdraw from the case. He then essentially turned around and kicked Jack off the case warning him that should he ever attempt to seek a temporary license to practice law in the state again, he would have to attach the ruling statement to the application. Essentially the judge determined that Mr. Thompson violated professional ethics in the case. The judge supported his reasons with an 18 page ruling.
gamepolitics.com has some discussion going on the topic (mostly a lot of cheering), and there's a good article on the story at the Tuscaloosa News (which will require registration to read.
This is, of course, all sideshow activity to the meat of the case. In addition to filing the motion to have Jack Thompson removed from the case (granted as noted above), they have also filed a motion requesting the case be dimissed for lack of merit. In the past, when similar cases have been filed (of the "games made him do it" type), they have been dimissed on the grounds that games, like books and movies, are covered by the First Amendment and our right to free expression.
Replies
OWNED!!!
Their were slain men in the beginning of this. Lets not forget that. Im sure there families have been struggling financially. Even though they are legally wrong. We should understand that to them, this might have been the only way to get some financial stability. They also might have truly believed it was the case as such. I mean they lost their loved ones, and would want to strike out at what they preceived caused the death in part.
As for Jack: HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Take that you ass! Let's see who enjoys reading your book now Mr. "I failed the bar exam after school and acted like a complete ass to my wife because she passed".
Regardless, I don't care if suing innocent people is their only support, or if they think honest and for god that video games are responsible, the truth is what matters. Now, I don't know the specifics of this particular case, but if they're going to try to eke a living out of someone else's paycheck, they should either go after who is really responsible, or look to family/government for aid.
Anyway, yeah, hooray for lawyer getting some legal backlash for his malpractice.
as Paul said. If they need financial support, they should sue Jack Thompson for getting their hopes up
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Thats not a bad idea in general...
"Technicaly you don't have a case but we feel bad for you, so we will give you the money".
There are a lot of families out there that have lost loved ones and are hurting for cash but we don't allow them to make up crazy shit, sue people and win all because they need money and are hurting. That strips our legal system down worse than it is already. Its pretty bad already lets not advocate that it gets worse.
Your heart is in the place by remembering the lost, but lets not go crazy for the sake of remembrance.
He is indirectly supporting the murderers' defense attorney, in effect creating an alternative to the insanity plea. A 'gamer' defense would be a dangerous legal precident.
But that doesn't matter to him because he only wants to land a cash-cow case against a major publisher so he can buy an island.
Makes me so mad I could just go laser some people to death!
setting a dangerous president
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Oh yes, we hate it when that happens, Vig!
If I can say the words: "Games made me do it!", and hold a straight face, then I'm all clear to kill every last moron on the planet!
And now to return to Reality...
oxY ~ Good point but sadly impractical as a whole.
Or maybe it was subconious. Maybe I am afraid of Jack becoming so popular that he would run for president and win! We all know Bush started the war on terror because he plays too much CounterStrike. Maybe Jack could work that into his campaign?
I think Jack forgets something imperative to the whole concept of a justice system- if you blame external factors of any kind you remove individual accountability for actions.
He is indirectly supporting the murderers' defense attorney, in effect creating an alternative to the insanity plea. A 'gamer' defense would be a dangerous legal precident.
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Actually, Jack tried exactly that in the criminal trial. Working with the murderer's defense team, he tried to put forth the "games made me do it" defense because the murderer had played games like GTA3. I seriously doubt that Jack really wanted the killer to be excused from his crime. All he really wanted was for the "games made me do it" testimony (and whatever studies could be spun to support it)to be entered into the accepted evidence for the criminal trial. Judge Moore (the same judge trying the civil case of Strickland vs. Sony) denied the merit of that testimony and did not allow it in his court.
To restate, Jack Thompson is probably not interested in murderers going free because "games made them kill". He wants to be able to see that defense used successfully, so he can enter it as evidence in a civil suit that punishes game makers, game console makers, and anyone who sells them.
Follow the money ... there you will find the truth.
To restate, Jack Thompson is probably not interested in murderers going free because "games made them kill". He wants to be able to see that defense used successfully, so he can enter it as evidence in a civil suit that punishes game makers, game console makers, and anyone who sells them.
[/ QUOTE ]True, it's not his end-goal.
It's his means of getting to that goal, though...
And in this case, the end-goal does so not justify the means!
Hooray for more stupid cases!
no wait that's korea
/jzero
Is a factory in China different from one anywhere else?
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Yes, and no. It depends on where that factory is, what they produce. However your thinking about it wrong Rick. The rights of Chinese workers are not as great as many other countries. Meaning management can potentially take more advantage of the workers than other countries. It really depends on the personal morality and kinship such management feels towards it workers.
In example, they can hold the workers inside compounds like old factory towns (im sure you remember the upheavel of this during the coal 1900s). They don't have to use as much safety standards as a first nation country. Meaning both environmental and safety hazards. They can withhold and have punitive punishments with pay (possible even worse).
http://www.gamesmademe.com
I've also got all those questions setup, just not sure where or who to send them to for interviews, if you guys have any suggestions let me know.
Dek