Strickland vs. Sony turns into Thompson vs. Reality

"This Thursday, November 3, 2005, at 1 pm the Alabama fireworks ignite in the Fayette County Courthouse. This may make the OJ Simpson trials look like quilting bees," read a press release issued earlier this week by Jack Thompson, the infamous lawyer representing Strickland in the case. Thompson's intentions are to to prove Sony, Take-Two/Rockstar, Wal-Mart and Gamestop drove Devin Moore to kill two police officers and a dispatcher in June 2003, after the troubled youth, who had been in and out of abusive foster care for years, was found to be a Grand Theft Auto gamer. So, how did yesterday's court date go? According to an article out of the Tuscaloosa News (subscription required), yesterday was less about the impact of GTA on society, and more about whether or not the judge will allow Thompson to represent the plaintiffs.

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Blank Rome, the law firm defending Sony (et al.), began the day by asking for a dismissal of the case, arguing that Thompson had violated legal ethics by, "sending out scores of press releases making accusations against Blank Rome".

"He can't proceed with the civility the rules require," Smith said. "All lawyers have to conduct themselves with honesty, integrity and civility. This isn't a street fight."

Smith [counsel for Blank Rome] said Thompson attacked and threatened him and co-counsel Rebecca Ward in press releases and accused his law firm of influence peddling and conspiracy. He also said Thompson was trying to "poison" the community by leaking evidence that wouldn’t be admissible in court to the press.

"He's going to turn the courtroom into a circus and we can’t have it," Smith said.

- Source

Thompson defended his behavior by stating, "I didn't start this food fight. They started it and I have a right to respond because, believe it or not, I have a life outside of this case."

Thompson went on to complain that Blank Rome's clients went so far as to call him a Bi-Sexual and a Pedophile, apparently referring to a spoof site Rockstar put up to promote Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.

Thompson summed up his own, personal, defense by stating, "I’m not pretending I’m not a nice guy. I’m not pretending I don’t have a temper."

And, with that, a little video game talk ensued, with Blank Rome stating video games should be protected by the First Amendment, like books and movies, and Thompson arguing such protections don't immunize game makers from the "consequences" of creating such games.

The judge has asked for proposed orders from the attorneys telling him how he should rule on the issue of dismissal. No future court date has been set.

I think the OJ trial was more exciting, don't you?