Jammie Thomas To Appeal $1.9 Million RIAA Verdict

CNet reports that the lawyers representing Jammie Thomas-Rasset have confirmed she will be fighting the $1.9 million verdict handed down in her case against the RIAA. "The Recording Industry Association of America said on Monday that it had made a phone call to Sibley and law partner Kiwi Camara last week to ask whether Thomas-Rasset wanted to discuss a settlement. An RIAA representative said that its lawyers were told by Sibley that Thomas-Rasset wasn't interested in discussing any deal that required her to admit guilt or pay any money. ... 'She's not interested in settling,' attorney Joe Sibley said in a brief phone interview. 'She wants to take the issue up on appeal on the constitutionality of the damages. That's one of the main arguments — that the damages are disproportionate to any actual harm.'"

I hope she gets a second opinion

[Anonymous Coward]

Given the track record of her lawyers, she could end up with a life sentence.

Pay up thief

[thetoadwarrior]

Well she is clearly one of the biggest threats to this world. I think she's got off light. She should have had to pay infinity billion dollars and spend the rest of her life in Guantanamo Bay.

Re:Exxon Valdez, Anybody

[value_added]

Assuming that punitive damages were awarded agains Exxon and that Exxon argued that those damages were excessive and therefore unconstitutional, perhaps Thomas could make a similar argument.

Actually, the case involved both punitive and compensatory damages. The Supreme Court decided that a 1:1 ratio was the fair upper limit for punitive damages, and reduced it.

As for the OP, my take is that he's simply way off in left field suggesting that a what happened in a given maritime case has any relevance to this copyright infringement case. The "bad anology" comment was correct. Hell, what's next -- someone suggesting that just because a "being a nice guy" defense works in traffic court, it should work similarly in federal court?

Re:It was impossible to cause that much damage

[Anonymous Coward]

But you do not understand.

If she killed someone, say the CEO of RIAA or some artist, she would probably get 25 years in prison.

However, she caused a moneybin (moneybin - a lesser species than humand, identified by having lots of money and trying to rob everyone so that they have even more money) to virtually lose some MONEY. As everybody knows, HUMAN LIFE IS NOT WORTH ANYTHING, so that is why she will serve at least 38 years for MAYBE causing some loss of MONEY.

Though I would like to see what the CEO of RIAA would look like when compensated for his loss in volts. $1.92M = 1.92 megavolts connected to him. Probably would look nice and send a message to other moneybins.

my advice to anyone cought by the RIAA. Kill the CEO, you will get a lesser sentence, after all, human life is not worth anything.

Re:Exxon Valdez, Anybody

[LeperPuppet]

I'm hoping to see newer anti-piracy messages that reference the Exxon Valdez. "You wouldn't leave a drunk captain in charge of an oil tanker"

Re:It was impossible to cause that much damage

[easyTree]

Yah but this argument couldn't possibly apply in this case. Have you seen the songs she downloaded [p2pnet.net]. The only way they're gonna gain in popularity is by selling them before they've been heard :P

This is the real reason the RIAA is so pissed. People get to hear how crappy their music is before buying it.

</musicalTasteNazi>