Key Players In Prenda Lawsuits Also Involved In Questionable 'Class Action' Objections

from the digging-into-the-corners-of-the-law dept

We've discussed many times the depths that the folks involved in Prenda Law would go to in order to get info on people to demand money from them. Sometimes this would involve layering on legal loophole after legal loophole in somewhat impressive fashion. Given how every new Prenda revelation revealed even sneakier tricks, would it really shock anyone to find out that the people involved weren't just focused on copyright trolling, but other questionable legal activities as well? The FightCopyrightTrolls blog has turned up something rather interesting... highlighting how Brett Gibbs and various Hansmeier family members seem to turn up with surprising regularity seeking to object to class action lawsuits.

Now, as we've noted many times in the past, the whole class action process is, in fact, regularly abused by the class action lawyers themselves -- such that settlements often fail to benefit the class, but instead just make the lawyers rich. We've also noted that nearly everyone involved in a class action lawsuit has incentives to push aside any objections to the settlement to get the case done. It appears that, in response to this knowledge, a group of "professional objectors" have been showing up in court cases, hoping to get some money to go away and remove their objection. Now, we wholeheartedly support the ability to protest a class action settlement, especially when that process is being abused. But it's not surprising to see abuse on the other side too -- and FCT highlights some interesting facts about Gibbs and various Hansmeiers not just showing up in a bunch of cases, but being called out for questionable behavior.

FCT points to three such cases, all of which, at the very least, raise questions about whether or not Brett Gibbs and Paul Hansmeier are playing "professional objector" games. As some have noted, it appears that Hansmeier has even set up an operation called the Class Action Justice Institute, with the same address as his law firm (the Alpha Law Firm), supposedly related around class actions.

The three cases don't seem to go well for Gibbs and Hansmeier. In two cases, Hansmeier's wife, Padraigin Browne, is named as the official objector, and in the third it's Hansmeier's father. The objections are all filed by Brett Gibbs. Some of the documents are pretty damning. In the case involving Hansmeier's father, Gordon Hansmeier, they're objecting to a class action settlement involving Hertz Corporation. Paul Hansmeier sent a letter to the lawyer representing the class, in which he flat out offers to go away for $30,000.
This letter is to advise you that an objection will be filed to your proposed settlement. I am enclosing a draft of the objection to be filed, which you have previously had an opportunity to review. This (or a similar version) will be filed if you do not attempt to resolve this matter. We find that settlements like this are likely to be rejected following our participation, as was the result today in In re Groupon, No. 11-md- 02238 (S.D. Cal.) (Dkt. No. 97).

I will extend to you an offer to settle this matter with my client for $30,000.00 if the settlement terms are reached by 5:00 PM CST on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. If you reject this settlement and the objection is filed, the offer to o settle is revoked and will not be extended at the pre-filing settlement amount.

Govern yourself accordingly.
The lawyer for the class, quite reasonably responded harshly that this sort of letter made clear Hansmeier's true purpose in objecting. He also points back to Hansmeier objecting similarly in a different class action case (involving Groupon) pointing out how this is evidence of a "pattern of conduct" that might be seen as done for an "improper purpose."
In our view, if you present this objection, it is clear that it will have been presented for an “improper purpose” under Fed R. Civ. P. Rule 11(b)(1). Our view is further informed by the fact that the practice of contacting class counsel with draft objections and inviting them to “discuss them” (i.e. resolve them by making an unjustified payment to the objectors’ lawyers) in advance of filing in the hope of gaining an unjustified payment beyond any legitimate class member’s claim appears from the Record in Groupon to be a pattern of conduct.

Please be advised that we consider this conduct to be improper and sanctionable under 28 U.S.C.A. § 1927 and Rule 11.
In response, Gibbs claimed that the lawyer for the class was acting improperly and sought to have him removed from the case (and to substitute themselves).

Eventually this leads to quite a ruling, in which the court rejects Gibbs/Hansmeier's attempt to get that lawyer kicked off of the case. The full ruling is well worth reading. It mostly knocks Gibbs for the timing of filings. The objection was filed at the latest date possible. The attempt to remove the lawyer was filed late. He sat on the claims of "inappropriate behavior" for much longer than was reasonable, etc. But, more importantly, the court sees a pretty obvious suggestion of attempted gamemanship, rather than any legitimate reason for participating in this case. In fact, he notes that if anyone was acting improperly, it was Gibbs and Hansmeier, not the lawyers for the class.
Further, having reviewed the “Underlying Motion,” it is apparent that it is without merit and would not succeed even it were allowed to proceed. It appears a significant disconnect exists between Objector’s perception of the events that transpired in the days leading to the objection deadline, the nature of his counsel’s involvement and conduct, and the nature and purpose of class counsel’s response. In reviewing the letters between Objector’s counsel and class counsel, the only “bold and improper” conduct the Court can identify is Objector’s counsel’s attempt to extract $30,000, from class counsel in exchange for Objector not filing objections that Objector’s counsel suggested could derail approval of the class settlement and award of attorneys’ fees. Objector now wishes to use his own counsel’s questionable conduct and class counsel’s measured response–which Objector recharacterizes in a strained attempt to ascribe misconduct and ill will to class counsel–as a springboard to attack the class counsel’s motivation and mightily strains to manufacture violations of rights related to “certain actions by co-Lead Counsel for the class and their implications regarding notice and due process of law.” Even if the Court were to allow the eventual filing of the “Underlying Motion” and consider Objector’s request to remove Mr. Stewart as class counsel, the Court would find no basis to do so. Nor would the Court find it necessary or justified to appoint “ad litem counsel to protect absent class members from the sort of behavior [i.e., Mr. Stewart’s behavior] described herein.” Further still, even if such a need existed, the Court certainly would not appoint Objector’s counsel as co-lead class counsel based on the sort of behavior the letters exhibit.
That's a benchslap.

In another case, involving a Netflix class action, again involving Hansmeier's wife, we see accusations that seem quite familiar from various Prenda-related cases. As in the Hertz case, Gibbs is accused of filing a motion just as the time is about to expire. What's interesting here is that one of the lawyers for the case, in pushing back against the objection notes that he received a phone call from people claiming to work for "Brett Gibbs Law Offices," but they seem to get skittish when the lawyer asks for Gibbs email or for any info on Gibbs at all. In looking online, he found out something... interesting:
I asked them for Mr. Gibb's e-mail address. Strangely, the individuals seemed startled by this request and immediately (in a somewhat panicked way) replied that they didn't need the objection sent after all.

This reaction raised suspicions and led me to inquire if the "Brett Gibbs Law Offices" even existed, and whether these individuals worked with Mr. Gibbs at all. The individuals then abruptly--and without explanation--hung up the phone.

After the phone call ended, my firm researched Mr. Gibbs, his practice, and the facts relating to the phone call. We determined that "Brett Gibbs Law Offices" does not appear to exist as a legal entity, that the associates who contacted me regarding Brown's objection did not work at "Brett Gibbs Law Offices," and that the phone number the individuals called from is a number used by Prenda Law--a firm at which Mr. Gibbs is "Of Counsel"--to contact defendants that are the target of Prenda Law's mass copyright infringement lawsuits brought on behalf of pornography studios. Based on the information available, we believed that the men who called were actually associates of Mr. Gibb's at Prenda Law and had been instructed to misrepresent their affiliation.
The lawyer who filed this declaration, Jay Edelson, then notes that he sent Gibbs an email detailing these concerns, and Gibbs, in true Gibbs-fashion (as we've seen before) refuses to respond to the claims, but rather lashes out at Edelson accusing him of unprofessional behavior. This seems to be a recurring theme. Every time anyone points out unprofessional behavior by Gibbs, he returns the favor, claiming that their very action in calling him out is somehow unprofessional. This strategy doesn't seem to ever work. You'd think he'd learn to stop it.

While these are different types of cases, we once again see Hansmeier and Gibbs engaged in what appears to be a strong pattern of behavior.




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Filed Under: brett gibbs, class actions, paul hansmeier, prenda
Companies: prenda, prenda law


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  • icon
    Atkray (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 3:48pm

    Please oh please oh please

    Let these jokers be arrogant enough to think they can weasel out of all this. The way things are going if they have any brains at all they would be looking at countries to relocate to. I don't want to be left with all this popcorn.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    S. T. Stone, 20 Mar 2013 @ 4:19pm

    Maybe they should become professional shovelers next, what with the way they dig their own grave deeper and deeper with each passing day.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2013 @ 4:22pm

    Speaking of Prenda

    Found this popping up on torrentfreak today. Thought it was worth a share.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXu8bOrdnss

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    radarmonkey (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 4:41pm

    But I thought it was Brett Gibbs' First Amendment right to call out wacky legal theories and pull the I-know-you-are-but-what-am-I rabbit out of the hat?

    Or maybe I'm confusing lawyers. *scratches head*

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    vegetaman (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 4:44pm

    Something about sticking your dick in a hornet's nest comes to mind right now...

    *munches on popcorn*

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      That Anonymous Coward (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 5:05pm

      Re:

      No I think we might have moved onto 'Let's impersonate Goatse and see if we can sit on the hornets nest".

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2013 @ 4:45pm

    I think Gibbs went to the law school of NOU.
    That seems to be his standard response whenever anyone accuses him of anything. "NO YOU!"

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    identicon
    out_of_the_blue, 20 Mar 2013 @ 4:58pm

    Mike will follow a lawyer into any rat-hole!

    I think you all know why. ... But I have no idea at all. Fantasy football too exciting for him? ... This is duller than watching Mike try to guess the right plumbing fitting.




    Take a loopy tour of Techdirt.com! You always end up at same place!
    http://techdirt.com/
    Prenda Law! A staple in the "At The Bench" series. Mike sez (short version): "Wow. Wow. Wow. ... The story is gripping."
    http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130303/23353022182/prenda-law-sues-critics-defamation .shtml
    ~12:57:08~[n]|250|{8}

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2013 @ 5:22pm

      Re: Mike will follow a lawyer into any rat-hole!

      Many times it coming, well. Nobody can see you're commentences. So yourself comment. So you comment on any times I wonder or not you don't have named you don't have to see you comment on article you coming. Don't have named you around like an are so of therenting. Don't have name wrong, we all see YOU coming on any times it coming to say. Whenever or not wonder or just not what you don't have approprived yourself commentences. So you are ever to put often are even trying on an see.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2013 @ 5:36pm

        Re: Re: Mike will follow a lawyer into any rat-hole!

        Makes as much sense as the original out_of_the_ass lamebrain drivel.
        Good job!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2013 @ 8:02pm

        Re: Re: Mike will follow a lawyer into any rat-hole!

        Vhet zee foock deed yuoo joost foockeeng sey ebuoot me-a, yuoo leettle-a beetch? I’ll hefe-a yuoo knoo I gredooeted tup ooff my cless in zee Nefy Seels, und I’fe-a beee infulfed in noomeruoos secret reeeds oon El-Qooeeda, und I hefe-a oofer 300 cunffurmed keells. I em treeened in gureella verffere-a und I’m zee tup sneeper in zee inture-a US ermed furces. Yuoo ere-a nutheeng tu me-a boot joost unuzeer terget. I veell veepe-a yuoo zee foock oooot veet preceesiun zee leekes ooff vheech hes nefer beee seee beffure-a oon thees Iert, merk my foockeeng vurds. Yuoo theenk yuoo cun get evey veet seyeeng thet sheet tu me-a oofer zee Internet? Theenk egeeen, foocker. Es ve-a speek I em cuntecteeng my secret netvurk ooff speees ecruss zee USA und yuoor IP is beeeng treced reeght noo su yuoo better prepere-a fur zee sturm, meggut. Zee sturm thet veepes oooot zee pezeeteec leettle-a theeng yuoo cell yuoor leeffe-a. Yuoo’re-a foockeeng deed, keed. I cun be-a unyvhere-a, unyteeme-a, und I cun keell yuoo in oofer sefee hoondred veys, und thet’s joost veet my bere-a hunds. Nut oonly em I ixtenseefely treeened in unermed cumbet, boot I hefe-a eccess tu zee inture-a ersenel ooff zee Uneeted Stetes Mereene-a Curps und I veell use-a it tu its fooll ixtent tu veepe-a yuoor meesereble-a ess ooffff zee fece-a ooff zee cunteenent, yuoo leettle-a sheet. Iff oonly yuoo cuoold hefe-a knoon vhet unhuly retreebooshun yuoor leettle-a “clefer” cumment ves ebuoot tu breeng doon upun yuoo, meybe-a yuoo vuoold hefe-a held yuoor foockeeng tungooe-a. Boot yuoo cuooldn’t, yuoo deedn’t, und noo yuoo’re-a peyeeng zee preece-a, yuoo guddemn ideeut. I veell sheet foory ell oofer yuoo und yuoo veell droon in it. Yuoo’re-a foockeeng deed, keeddu. Bork Bork Bork!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      vegetaman (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 5:53pm

      Re: Mike will follow a lawyer into any rat-hole!

      You always end up at same place!

      Every fucking time this gets posted it pisses me off. It should read "At the same place". Use your damned prepositions!

      /feeding-the-trolls

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Togashi (profile), 21 Mar 2013 @ 4:29am

        Re: Re: Mike will follow a lawyer into any rat-hole!

        He's got the preposition, the article is what he needs! That must be why it's missing; he never bothers to read or think about articles.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2013 @ 3:25am

      Re: Mike will follow a lawyer into any rat-hole!

      Grifter could be correctly applied to these people, but you seem to miss the opportunity of using the word correctly.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    That Anonymous Coward (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 5:06pm

    I am simply shocked, shocked I tell you that it appears these lovely upstanding lawyers seem to have been using odd readings of the law in an attempt to enrich themselves.

    o_O

    Just shocked...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Not That Chris (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 5:06pm

    Govern yourself accordingly.

    I think I've just found my new favorite way to tell my kids to behave.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    special-interesting (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 5:31pm

    This gets another Yeeeeeesssss! Score! (only 2 points but the count is rising.)

    Copyright lawyers involved in questionable practices. Huummmm. Shocking. Just Shocking!

    Just how many firms do these guys own anyway? Is this new one “Class Action Justice Institute” worse than a shell firm? Dose it take advantage of anyone unfairly?

    An Illinois lawyer relying on the testimony of his family... yikes that is like so normal in Illinois the state of political nepotism. (Lincoln must be flipping in his grave.)

    This is real legal drama.

    out of popcorn -reaches for box of JuJubee's-

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2013 @ 6:41pm

    No negative feedback

    "This strategy doesn't seem to ever work. You'd think he'd learn to stop it."

    There's no negative feedback. I mean, these guy aren't in jail yet.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2013 @ 6:56pm

    Well, nice going jackasses. This is what happens when you try to remove a judge based on useless accusations like "he's anti-copyright!" You get a library of books thrown at you.

    So this is how the heroes of average_joe, bob, out_of_the_blue and hurricane head function and fall. Glorious defenders of copyright, indeed.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Benjamin C. Wade (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 7:19pm

    02170

    I don't understand how Gibbs behavior can be said to not work. How much does being benchslapped cost him versus how much he's making? Likewise with the "No, you're being unprofessional" defense. What has he lost really?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 20 Mar 2013 @ 8:20pm

      Re: 02170

      So years ago I'm watching an episode of Dr. Phil (stay with me), and he's addressing a couple with a toddler from hell, er, of their own making due to inconsistent parenting, and his stern advice was that in order for the child to learn, the consequences of bad behavior had be explained and then carried out if behavior did not change. Without fail.

      To paraphrase: This boy's world needs to come crashing down.

      Time for these elderly toddlers to finally learn that lesson.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Wally (profile), 20 Mar 2013 @ 11:30pm

    " and that the phone number the individuals called from is a number used by Prenda Law--a firm at which Mr. Gibbs is "Of Counsel"--to contact defendants that are the target of Prenda Law's mass copyright infringement lawsuits brought on behalf of pornography studios."


    That dropped my jaw....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2013 @ 6:45am

    Have given up on popcorn. Am now making homemade chexmix because I can add extra nuts (which seems appropriate).

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2013 @ 7:01am

    This reminds me of an episode of M*a*s*h, where Klinger is crafting all these documents for his own release and BJ is trying to talk him out of it and he asks at the end "how did i think i could outsmart all of the US government" (paraphrased)

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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