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The Courts Government Your Rights Online News

Lawyer Banned for Threatening File-Sharers 123

S. Hare brings us a report from TorrentFreak about a lawyer working for a Swiss anti-piracy group who was recently given a 6-month ban for her attempts to intimidate file-sharers though letters threatening fines and court fees. Elizabeth Martin demanded 400 Euros each from "hundreds of thousands of file-sharers," and suggested that they would have to face large settlements if they did not comply. The Paris Bar Council took exception to this and instituted the ban. Martin worked for Logistep, a company who has had trouble following laws in the past. "The disciplinary board decided that 'By choosing to reproduce aggressive foreign methods, intended to force payments, the interested party also violated [the code] which specifies that the lawyer cannot unfairly represent a situation or seriousness of threat.' In addition, the lawyer also violated the code by cashing payments into a private account, not the usual dedicated litigation account, known as a 'Carpa'. Martin also refused to reveal how many payments had been received from file-sharers."
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Lawyer Banned for Threatening File-Sharers

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  • by sholden ( 12227 ) on Sunday April 06, 2008 @01:50PM (#22981044) Homepage
    This is how the swiss go to the supermarket:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Caroline-Migros-p1000507.jpg [wikipedia.org]

  • pay me now! (Score:2, Funny)

    by suck_burners_rice ( 1258684 ) on Sunday April 06, 2008 @02:17PM (#22981242)
    All ye Slashdotters listen up: Each of you must PAY ME ONE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING immediately, or else I will tell your mommy on you!
  • by smaddox ( 928261 ) on Sunday April 06, 2008 @02:44PM (#22981424)
    Fine!

    Whats your account number, social security, and birth date? I'll transfer it into your account.
  • However, the beauty of English over many other languages is that it is still possible to massacre grammar and spelling and still be perfectly understandable.
    O RLY? R U SUR?
  • Re:Value (Score:4, Funny)

    by X.25 ( 255792 ) on Sunday April 06, 2008 @03:17PM (#22981682)
    It's truely amazing that people continue to support copyright theft here. It's an indection that most Slashdotter's don't actually produce anything of value.

    I produce shit, and since you seem to eat shit, it is valuable to you.
  • by Tsar ( 536185 ) on Sunday April 06, 2008 @04:35PM (#22982194) Homepage Journal

    Lawyers are not charged with enforcing the law. They are charged with bending it to their own purposes, should that be getting an innocent man out of jail or extorting money from large amounts of people.
    That's just plain WRONG!!!!

    It should be, um, large numbers of people.
  • by gbjbaanb ( 229885 ) on Sunday April 06, 2008 @04:54PM (#22982334)
    a lawyer threatening a lawsuit should you not pay up? Sounds just as fishy as this..........

    FROM THE DESK OF
    MR,CHARLES BOSAH
    MUTUAL TRUST LAWYERS & COMPANY
    HEAD QUATERS BRANCH
    VICTORIA ISLAND,
    LAGOS-NIGERIA.
    DEAR FRIEND,

    My name is DR CHARLES OBOSAH, INTERNAL AUDITOR MUTUAL TRUST LAWYERS & COMPANY. I am writing in respect of a fee which you are owing to a customer of our bank Mr.JONATHAN GHUNIAM.

    Since the fee has been outstanding fdor some time now, we must regretfully commence action upon you according to the laws of our country which would see you personally liable for a sum of up to US$9..5m (Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) or a jail sentence of up to 424 years (Four Hundred Twenty Four years)

    On this note, I decided that the late payment of said fee is a small matter to you, and should you wish to enter into communications with me for payment of said sum, we can arrange to close this matter if you will deposit $400 into the account via Western Union to the account described within the next 7 days.

    I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch free safe and legal. we have to hire an attorney who will protect you legally,and for benefit of doubt position you as the next of kin and beneficiary.that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized as soon as possible.

    When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail on this mail box including your most confidential telephone/fax numbers and your address for quick communication.

    Your Friend
    DR CHARLES OBOSAH

  • by neomunk ( 913773 ) on Sunday April 06, 2008 @05:10PM (#22982414)
    This thread ladies and gentlemen has been brought to you by the Association of Dissonance Between Theory and Practice.

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