Alabama Top Court Denies Industry Motion to Dismiss GTA Killer Suit

The Associated Press is reporting that the Alabama Supreme has rejected an appeal by video game industry defendants to dismiss the so-called "GTA Killer" case in which 18-year-old GTA gamer Devin Moore killed two police officers and a police dispatcher. Upon his arrest, Moore told investigators, "Life is like a video game; everybody has to die sometime."

In November, Fayette County Judge James Moore rejected the industry's motion for summary judgment (i.e. - dismissal) in the $600 million suit brought against Sony, Take-Two, Wal-Mart and GameStop. Lawyers for the game companies appealed Moore's decision to the state Supreme Court, which backed the circuit judge, who has been described to GP by one knowledgeable observer as a firm but fair old school conservative.

The justices issued their decision without comment, which will allow the case to proceed to trial. The court did, however, agree to hear arguments from the game industry as to whether Alabama courts have the power to hear the case, Strickland vs. Sony.