Too Much Free Time

Too Much Free Time

by Mike Masnick


Filed Under:
grand theft auto, jonathan lee riches, pro se lawsuits, restraining order



Lawsuit-Happy Inmate Files For Restraining Order Against 'Grand Theft Auto'

from the and-how-would-that-work? dept

A well known prison inmate who has a long history of filing totally ridiculous lawsuits has struck again. Reader William writes in to let us know that the Jonathan Lee Riches has filed for a restraining order against the game "Grand Theft Auto" and its maker Take Two Interactive. No, it's not clear how one gets a restraining order against a video game, but the filing incoherently claims that Take Two and the game put him in prison and later complains that the content in the game "offends me." If only that were a crime. Anyway, while this is an amusing story from an inmate who files way too many such lawsuits, it does show how our courts often have to waste time on these types of bogus claims.

14 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments

(Flattened / Threaded)

    Apr 22nd, 2008 @ 5:51pm
  • Right about that last part

    by Anonymous Coward

    IF it goes past the filing anyways. You can file for a lawsuit against bananas, but that's like applying for a loan. You can still get turned down.

    Unlike a loan, this tends to have worse consequences though what else they can do to him is unclear to me.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 22nd, 2008 @ 7:08pm
  • by Charming Charlie

    Silly as it seems, especially to non-American countries, this kind of story gives me a spat of pride for our justice system which, despite inequities in some areas, is one of the most just in the history of the world. Even prisoners are allowed access to the court's time.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 22nd, 2008 @ 7:37pm
  • Whats T. Point

    by Of This

    Who cares? seriously.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 22nd, 2008 @ 8:02pm
  • by erik L

    "our justice system which, despite inequities in some areas, is one of the most just in the history of the world.

    what ?
    this is sarcasm - right ?"

    i sincerely hope so for CCs sake

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 22nd, 2008 @ 8:17pm
  • Best argument for .....

    by Anonymous Coward

    ....sentences "at hard labor". Give them plenty of real work to do so they have neither the time or energy for this kind of garbage.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 22nd, 2008 @ 11:41pm
  • Historical perspective

    by trollificus

    erik L and the AC obviously have a much clearer idea of the flaws (numerous and profound as they are) of our legal system than they do of what has constituted "justice" throughout human history.

    I know you're trying to be cynical, guys, but you're coming off naive.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 23rd, 2008 @ 5:10am
  • by Anonymous Coward

    awww. For a moment I thought someone finally threw Jack Thompson in prison.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 23rd, 2008 @ 7:54am
  • by Brandon

    If only there were some way for him to avoid playing Grand Theft Auto in prison. The poor guy. I really feel for him!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 23rd, 2008 @ 12:29pm
  • by Anonymous Coward

    Oh man, this story cracked me up.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 23rd, 2008 @ 1:25pm
  • by BoBBoB

    For a minute, I expected to read that he was suing because he thought the game used his likeness without his permission.

    Take Two's rebuttal: "hey, we just did what the cops do and relied on racial profiles."

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Apr 23rd, 2008 @ 4:12pm
  • lawsuit

    by Smitty

    Two words: vexatious litigant

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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