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In what could be a landmark case for the video game industry, Strickland vs. Sony is scheduled to begin on Thursday in Fayette County, Alabama. The families of two police officers and a police dispatcher slain by death row inmate Devin Moore are suing Sony, Take-Two, Rockstar, Wal-Mart and GameStop, alleging that Moore's obsessive playing of GTA III and Vice City led to the murders. Miami attorney Jack Thompson is representing the police families.
Yesterday, GamePolitics had exclusive coverage of a surprising motion by the defense team to have Thompson removed from the case. Today, we provide the 411 on who's who in Strickland vs. Sony.
The Judge:
- James Moore is an Alabama Circuit Court Judge, who covers three counties, including Fayette, where the Strickland case will be heard. Moore presided over the August criminal trial of Devin Moore as well. Devin Moore was found guilty and a death sentence was recommended by the jury. Judge Moore affirmed the death sentence and Devin Moore now sits on death row. Perhaps ominously for the Strickland case, Judge Moore did not allow any video game testimony at the criminal trial, despite the defense team's attempt to introduce it. A source familiar with Judge Moore described him to GamePolitics as "old school, conservative and fair but no-nonsense."
Plaintiffs:
- Steve Strickland, brother of slain Fayette officer Arnie Strickland (seen at upper left)
- Willie Crump, father of slain Fayette officer James Crump (seen at left)
- Henry Mealer, surviving family member of slain Fayette dispatcher Ace Mealer
Plaintiffs' Counsel:
- Jack Thompson, no introduction needed, licensed in Florida, serving in Alabama under Pro Hac Vice admission
- Patrick Gray, of Nelson, Dorroh, Gray & Newsome; Tuscaloosa attorney serving as Thompson's local co-counsel, as required under Alabama Bar regulations for Pro Hac Vice admission
Defendants:
- Sony Corporation of America (as manufacturer of PS2 system on which Moore played GTA games)
- Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc (SCEI)
- Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA)
- Take-Two Interactive (as publisher of GTA games)
- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc (as retailer of GTA game played by Moore)
- GameStop, Inc (as retailer of GTA game played by Moore)
- Rockstar Games, Inc (as developer of GTA III and Vice City)
- Devin Moore (as killer of decedents)
Defense Counsel:
- James T. Smith, Blank Rome, Philadelphia
- Rebecca D. Ward, Blank Rome, Philadelphia
- Robert R. Baugh, Sirote & Permutt, Birmingham, AL
- Merrell Nolen, Nolen & Nolen, Fayette, AL
November 1 2005, 11:52:17 UTC 6 years ago
Up so early.
Do you always get up this early Dennis? I have a test, that's why I'm up. I personally believe there is no excuse to get up so early (other than finals, apparently), but oh well. Thanks for the info.November 1 2005, 13:55:48 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Up so early.
Usually up by 5 AM, Shaun...6 years ago
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November 1 2005, 12:20:06 UTC 6 years ago
why isn't jacky suing the firearm manufacturer too???
Face it, without a firearm, Devin Moore wouldn't be able to have killed anyone. Obviously the firearm manufacturer is to blame for this, why not sue them.
Oh, b/c they're protected by the constitutation...
Hey wait, wtf happened to free fucking speech?
November 1 2005, 12:29:27 UTC 6 years ago
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November 1 2005, 12:27:26 UTC 6 years ago
Don't Like jacks odds
To be honest, I'm gonna go out on a limb here.Over the past few days, I've reviewed, studied, researched, and googled a record 45 first amendment cases, going back to an origonal Supreme court ruling regarding violence and the First Amendment. However, more important, are 6 previous cases in US history where someone tried to blame media for a persons actions. So far, I've found one common thread.
All six cases were won by the respective media group.
It's interesting, and somewhat Ironic, that Jack is trying to do what some many others have failed, and yet how does he respond? with personal attacks and almost Zero conclusive evidence?
I don't see anyway Jack could ever Tie this to any of the defendants. He failed to do so in Paducah, Columbine, and red lake, why does he figure this will work? Dennis, shaun, any ideas or theories on what he plans to do?
November 1 2005, 12:58:03 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Don't Like jacks odds
Jack has had the following to say:"The video game industry gave him a cranial menu that popped up in the blink of an eye, in that police station,"
"And that menu offered him the split-second decision to kill the officers, shoot them in the head, flee in a police car, just as the game itself trained them to do."
"There's plenty of blame to go around. The fact is we think Devin Moore is responsible for what he did," says Thompson. "But we think that the adults who created these games and in effect programmed Devon Moore and assisted him to kill are responsible at least civilly.
So basically Jack is using the same old pathetic excuse that he always does - that video games are murder simulators and GTA trained Devin to kill. This is the reason why this case will fail like all the rest. Judge James Moore had the sense to dismiss this rubbish once before and somehow I can't see him changing his mind this time around either.
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November 1 2005, 12:32:12 UTC 6 years ago
Good morning everyone
Although i synthesise with the families of the victims suing big companys is not the way to handle it.November 1 2005, 14:25:56 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Good morning everyone
I've heard there was a movie based on a true life blah blah blah where some parents sued a school district because their children died in a bus accident. The point of that movie wasn't so much the lawsuit, because it was a foregone conclusion that they'd lose, but the fact that the parents needed to take some action, any action, because they felt so helpless. Even though the school district ultimately wasn't culpable for the accident, they were still a target.I kind of see things that way with this case. Everyone on here is looking at the families as some mean old bad guys who are out to ruin their fun and make a lot of money, when the truth is they're just lashing out at anything they can, and these companies are as good a target as any. They're going to lose this case, but I'm not sure that winning is their real goal here.
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November 1 2005, 12:43:51 UTC 6 years ago
Comcast?
Is Comcast a defendant too? Or did Jack just mention them for no apparent reason in his response about who gets to chose whose counsel? If they are, why are they charged?November 1 2005, 13:50:08 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Comcast?
They are not a defendant.In the letter I lifted that quote from, JT tries to draw a link between Blank Rome and Comcast and that G4 video that lampooned him...
(Comcast owns G4, as you know)
It's one of his conspiracy theories.
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Anonymous
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November 1 2005, 12:50:44 UTC 6 years ago
Fack Thompson
Jack doesn't stand a chance. He has no proof that video games cause him to do it. He just likes kicking up dust in the off-chance that he actually does something.November 1 2005, 12:58:34 UTC 6 years ago
Lets be honest
This is never going to be about justice. None of the cases Jack goes for are about justice or even childrens safety. This is, like the ones before it, motivated by money.Why else is it always the successful big companies that get blamed? Why does no-one even mention (let alone blame) the gun manufacturers? Why when a 14 year old (not in this case) gets hold of a gun, no-one blames the parents?
Simple answer is, there's no money to be made in any of that.
If this were about doing good, saving lives and getting justice, the blame would be put upon firearms, education, welfare services and of course the parents.
If Jack really did care in anyway about the victims, he would do something to prevent there being anymore of them!
Rich
November 1 2005, 13:02:47 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Lets be honest
Yep, thats about the best summary of Jacks efforts I've ever seen right there.Like I said, the man is a Self Serving Parasite.
I hope that after he loses, he'll have the good sence to SHUT THE FUCK UP!
Though lets face it, not even being Skull fucked by a cinderblock would knock common sense into this douche.
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November 1 2005, 13:17:00 UTC 6 years ago
My opinion. Part 29.
Personally, I think Thompson should be removed. He's a self-serving egomaniac on his own personal crusade. The main lawyer for the plantiffs should just try his best, without Thompson.Though in my eyes, games like that should've never gotten near a kid like this. As me and a friend said to each other yesterday...
"Morals make a child bad, not video games."
There's plenty of other stuff out therte besides Video Games anyway. Television, cigarettes, even music is out there that can possibly warp minds. What parents need to do, is become more active in thier kid's life, and not just go, "NO YOU CAN'T DO THAT!", or "Ok Junior, here's 50$, go buy that game you wanted and leave daddy to his work. :)"
The real thing at the core of this, is parenting. Sure, there's cop-killing in the games out there. Grand Theft Auto : SA is just one of many that has it in there. The games were made by adults, for adults. I played it. I'm not a violent, frothing at the mouth killer. I don't think any of you are.
In short, it's mostly best that there be more strict guidelines on mature-rated games. Like on R-Rated movies, cigarettes, and joining the military. :|
That's pretty much it.
November 1 2005, 13:30:57 UTC 6 years ago
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November 1 2005, 13:56:05 UTC 6 years ago
Paint gun, laser tag, and Nerf toy guns...
Just curious, but how come Jack has never targeted paint gun and laser tag training arenas? Or how about Nerf toy guns at toy stores?If Jack blames GameWorks and PS2 games for the Columbus Ohio sniper shootings, then by that same arguement, should laser tag and paint guns be restricted too? Aren't these shooting arenas "murder simulators" too? It's like you hold a weapon in your hand and you shoot real life people.
November 1 2005, 14:00:08 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Paint gun, laser tag, and Nerf toy guns...
Video game companies probably have deeper pockets. He's just too dumb to see that it makes more sense that paintball and laser tag are more likely to 'train' people to kill than any video game most of us play.6 years ago
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November 1 2005, 14:42:36 UTC 6 years ago
Anonymous
November 1 2005, 15:38:09 UTC 6 years ago
someone please tell me
why is sony being sued along with the others. is it because they make the console for which the game was made?November 1 2005, 15:43:55 UTC 6 years ago
Re: someone please tell me
Yes, although why he is suing multiple divisions of Sony is unclear...6 years ago
November 1 2005, 18:42:45 UTC 6 years ago
November 1 2005, 20:21:39 UTC 6 years ago
Unless...........
The tv was a Sony too? Maybe?November 1 2005, 19:15:48 UTC 6 years ago
this is so true, and funny to boot
Anonymous
November 2 2005, 01:54:28 UTC 6 years ago
Cmon now
This is so ridiculus. You people are obviously the case of part of an older generation trying to purge the earth of their fears. Yes it's true you fear what you can't understand. Why don't you broaden your minds on the subject and see that the whole media is filled with violence? *sigh* Cmon now....noobsNovember 2 2005, 10:24:38 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Cmon now
This is so ridiculus. You people are obviously the case of part of an older generation trying to purge the earth of their fears. Yes it's true you fear what you can't understand. Why don't you broaden your minds on the subject and see that the whole media is filled with violence? *sigh* Cmon now....noobsWho are you talking to? Not to GP, I hope. We are simply reporting on events that are significant.
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