[Xylakant]

While this end is certainly favorable for Inman, I'd have preferred if this was decided in court. This way Carreon can pretend that he had to abandon his just campaign under pressure of the savage hordes of the Internet and try again with a softer target than Inman. If he had been thrown out of court with a clear statement, things would look different.

[scott_w]

A similar situation occurred in the UK, with a legal firm sending out extortion letters threatening to take people to court for copyright infringement.

A number replied demanding their day in court and, in the same way, the complainant withdrew the case.

However, the judge in the case refused the application and demanded they come to court, so he could enforce judgement, and punish the complainant for filing a frivolous lawsuit.

If i remember correctly, the complainant went bankrupt, dispanding his company, in an attempt to avoid going to trial.

[grabeh]

ACS:Law was the firm in question which as you say subsequently disbanded although not before getting a verbal hiding from the judge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACS:Law).

[scott_w]

Thanks for the link. I remember the details were about accusing customers of downloading copyrighted pornography, which I was reluctant to search for from my work machine.

[Xylakant]

It's a similar tactic to the one often employed by banks and insurances in germany. They pretend that they are not liable, and every time someone sues and things start looking bad, they settle out of court to prevent a lost case. Keeps the stats clean.

[masklinn]

> This way Carreon can pretend that he had to abandon his just campaign under pressure of the savage hordes of the Internet and try again with a softer target than Inman.

He's actually claiming he won, and essentially that it's thanks to him the money went to the charities and Inman did not take a picture of it.

Also, because he dismissed his own suit he can re-file at will later on.

[SideburnsOfDoom]

Yep.

Mr Carreon has a history of actions that could be considered frivolous, antisocial or abusive. It is unlikely that his character has suddenly changed, so it's quite possible that he will behave in the same way again.

(I've said the same thing elsewhere, but I used more cuss-words)

[Xylakant]

Well, even worse so.