Peter Hansmeier Denies Connection To Prenda Cases Via Document That Shows He's Connected To The Cases

from the no-one-said-you-had-to-be-smart dept

Thu, Mar 28th 2013 3:03pm — Mike Masnick

And the latest story in As The Prenda Turns... comes (once again) from Ken over at Popehat. As you may recall, Judge Otis Wright hosted a big hearing in which he ordered pretty much everyone associated with Prenda Law to appear. We had talked about how there was a filing from some of the key players seeking to get out of the lawsuit. John Steele, Paul Duffy, Paul Hansmeier and Angela van den Hemel had hired a lawyer, Heather Rosing, who filed a notice on their behalf arguing that they shouldn't have to appear. She also showed up in court when they did not. Except, those four people, while closely linked together, were not everyone that Wright had ordered to show up. Among the others were Paul Hansmeier's brother, Peter Hansmeier and Mark Lutz. I was a bit surprised that the judge didn't seem to comment on the fact that neither seemed to file anything or to have a representative in court.

Well, it turns out that at least Peter Hansmeier tried to take things into his own hands and tried (and failed) to file a similar document pro se (representing himself) asking out of having to show up, arguing both that there was no jurisdiction over him and that he had nothing to do with anything. This document was filed back on March 8th, the same day as the Rosing filing for the reset of Team Prenda, but was only just recently put into PACER. There are a number of nutty things about this. First, the fact that Peter is filing pro se, rather than teaming up with his brother and his brother's partners. As Ken opines:

You know, if I got my brother involved in an enterprise that culminated in a furious federal judge demanding that he fly across the country to show cause why he shouldn't be sanctioned, I think I'd step up and represent my brother, or ask my attorney to represent my brother, or hire a separate attorney for my brother.

But, instead, Peter was apparently hung out to dry. And, because of that he made some mistakes. Some small, some big, but together they're pretty damning. The biggest is that he claims to have nothing to do with any of this... but he claims that he's representing Livewire Holdings LLC -- one of the key entities involved in this whole mess, which Judge Wright has already made clear he believes is really a big part of the likely Prenda fraud. Ken goes all quickmeme on the matter:

There's also the fact that he claims he's in Minnesota, while claiming to be representing Livewire and giving its DC address. Oh, and the fact that you can't pro se for a corporation, but only for yourself. And then there's the other part which helped Judge Wright easily brush aside this request since, procedurally, he was required to give notice to the other parties in the case that he was making this motion, and he failed to do so. All combined, Ken points out that connecting yourself to an entity at the center of this while denying any connection is "a blunder of epic proportions." If only Peter could have found an actual lawyer to prevent him from making such mistakes...

Maybe if someone had referred Peter to a competent lawyer, or even hired one for him, he might have avoided such a blunder. Instead, it appears that the lawyers who got him into this mess — including his own brother — let him appear pro se and effectively incriminate himself.

That's some cold shit, yo.

Of course, some of that presumes that Paul Hansmeier is "a competent lawyer," and I think we can reserve judgment on that one...

HansmeierExParte (PDF)HansmeierExParte (Text)

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Filed Under: john steele, otis wright, paul hansmeier, peter hansmeier, prenda
Companies: livewire holdings, prenda, prenda law

33 Comments

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out_of_the_blue, 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:14pm

This never wears out for you, does it?
Take a loopy tour of Techdirt.com! You always end up same place!
http://techdirt.com/
Is there anyone lower or duller than a lawyer groupie? ... Mike just loves discipline at the bench: a real masnickist!
11:14:06[m-197-6]
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Raul, 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:26pm

Hi John! Good to have you back.
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sehlat (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:32pm

TV Series Awaits?
"Game of Briefs," perhaps?
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radarmonkey (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:35pm

I swear I wanted to read that second quote as:
Maybe if someone had referred Peter to a competent lawyer, or even hired one from Prenda...
This just keeps getting better and better!
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:39pm

Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
Never wears out? Whats to wear out this is getting interesting.
Do you also stop reading books, or stop watching movies, just before it gets to the climax of the story?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:41pm

I can only imagine how the Hansmeier's family reunions are at this point.
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That One Guy (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:49pm

Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
The desperation is strong in this one...

But on a more serious note, thanks for all the dramatic handwaving, and vain attempts at making this whole hilarious mess seem like just some minor thing that's not worth following, as your sad attempts at trying to deflect attention from Prenda and co.'s activities is almost as funny as their attempts at the same.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:57pm

Re: TV Series Awaits?
No, more like Viva la Brief, starring Bam Margera as Hansmeier.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:58pm

There's an interesting comment at Popehat
wondering if Peter Hansmeier actually exists.

Given the existence non-existence existence non-existence of other people involved, would anyone be surprised if he turns out to be fiction?
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That One Guy (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 3:58pm

Time for some well deserved schadenfreude
Gotta say, there are few things more delightful than reading about a pack of bullies and extortionists finding out the very hard way what happens when someone in the legal system decides to actually go after them for their actions(be nice if it happened more often, but it's certainly a nice start).

Watching them flail around, desperately trying to avoid some richly deserved punishment, or even having to show up in court and answer some hard questions from someone unwilling to just accept whatever they are told, you just can't help smile and laugh.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2013 @ 4:27pm

Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
Doubt that he is able to read books.
Trolling is a form of OCD that just kills your attention span for anything that does not fit your obsessional needs.
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Frankz (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 4:36pm

fool
How's that phrase go?
"Any lawyer that represents himself has a fool for a client and an idiot for an attorney."
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Donnicton, 28 Mar 2013 @ 4:37pm

Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
I don't think you can credibly call yourself "out of the blue" anymore now that your appearances and responses have become so predictable that they're frequently voted down even before the total thread reply count hits ten.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2013 @ 4:38pm

Re: There's an interesting comment at Popehat
Maybe he's actually Alan Cooper?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2013 @ 4:52pm

Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
For all the whining you allegedly levy at Hollywood you seem extremely keen on sweeping the antics of these glorious copyright defenders under the carpet.
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Viln (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 7:03pm

Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
"Do you also stop reading books, or stop watching movies, just before it gets to the climax of the story?"

I get the feeling having to stop well short of the climax is part of the reason he has this much free time for trolling.
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Mar 2013 @ 8:05pm

Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
"voted down even before the total thread reply count hits 1"

FTFY ;-)
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 8:07pm

Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
Everyone, I'm going to ask nicely... can we please just stop responding already?
I'm tired of scrolling and scrolling to get past all of the replies, well intentioned and all that you think might get him to change his mind and start posting funny cat pictures.
Its not going to happen, and every time you respond to him god kills a kitten for what he is doing.

If you want to make your point and win, hit report each and every time and remain silent. Then the rest of us can discuss the actual story without all of the extra fluff trying to correct the bad behavior. It'll remove the stupid post, and stop feeding his ego.

Won't someone think of the kittens or poor ootb's eyesight. If he keeps it up he is going to go blind.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 8:09pm

*polishes the little plaque next to him*
If their reputation could not get any worse.
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DH's Love Child (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 10:55pm

Re: Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
Does that mean he's really out_of_the_blue_balls?
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Hephaestus (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 10:57pm

Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
I had a flash of Darth Vader standing there, hand outstretched saying ... "The desperation is strong in this one"
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special-interesting (profile), 28 Mar 2013 @ 11:33pm

Re: Time for some well deserved schadenfreude
It seems there is some pent up emotions about the subject of copyright lawyers using antiquated laws updated and pushed by (desperate?) media monopolies protecting ancient business models. Sponsoring legislation making civil copyright affairs into federal crime enforcement might just cross the line into unacceptable corporate behavior. Oh, sweet irony is rare.

Possibly it's based on the innate unfairness that new computer and Internet technologies have wrought on the public at large unable to wrest the popular support such lawmaking requires. If there was any fairness to law it will not make illegal things which your children can do on their phones and still try to expand the functionality of such devices also. (not just DRM them out of existence)

Haven't heard much in mainstream media (Not a surprise its possible that even reporters don't want to follow up on porn chasing lawyers?) but it would be nice if this would become a focal point for public support of antiquated copyright laws.

What we want is for society to grow up with technology not become a breakpoint/choke-point. Rallying publicly funded political backing takes longer than Hollywood special interest action so there is a disparity of political forces. Public backlash for such abuse of power is not unprecedented.

So far all this is a... distraction! Evasions from the real issuers of cultural sharing and building a society based on such free flow of information. There are many players who want to control the flow of information and revise history itself. (Classic nationalistic behavior of winner/dominator writes history.)

If a wish was granted some path tying, the not so far fetched possibility of, Prendaa and associates to the alleged seeding of a honey pot for the entrapment of a likely very vulnerable social group. Such a link would allow for pointed questions on the stand to either get the truth (or lies) or at least elicit telltale 5th amendment pleas. Such behavior may not be unique and should be examined and if proof can be established it might prove explosive to highlighting copyright law shame.

Have not stopped reading books by no means but some time on the 2nd is definitely reserved. Will stock up on consumables if only to throw some at the screen. It should be a thrill and there are bound to be the most outrageous statements and preposterous claims ever.

Blast! Another huge essay for just a word or two originally wanted to say. No Lincoln addresses for me. (worlds, almost, shortest political speech)
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davnel, 29 Mar 2013 @ 1:18am

"And the latest story in As The Prenda Turns... "
Make that "As The Stomach Turns!"
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Mar 2013 @ 2:12am

Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
God kills a kitten? Isn't the Internet atheist or something?
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Mar 2013 @ 6:04am

Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
Personally, I like reading folks smacking down trolls. It is almost half as entertaining as this Prenda stuff.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Mar 2013 @ 6:09am

Can't Wait
I want it to be April 2 NOW!
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CTVic, 29 Mar 2013 @ 10:38am

As the Prenda turns
"As the Prenda turns" A perfect phrase that encapsulates this entire nightmare clusterfuck.

Hold on, kids. I'll get you lunch later. Daddy's watching his soaps.
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MacCruiskeen, 29 Mar 2013 @ 10:41am

When the movie comes out, who does Jesse Eisenberg get to play?
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Dave, 29 Mar 2013 @ 11:33am

Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
It just so happens that this might be an interesting story and people like to follow alleged scams and frauds. Ever thought of that? .....I thought not. It's like a report in a newspaper (to put things in the most simple way for your poor befuddled brain to try and comprehend) but I dare say your intelligence doesn't run to reading one of those. I suppose you might look at the pictures if you hold it up the right way.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 30 Mar 2013 @ 12:12am

Re: Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
Shhhh telling them it might end cat pictures is the only way to get the 'net to listen.
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 30 Mar 2013 @ 12:16am

Re: Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
He cuts and pastes the same fucking thing into nearly every single article. This is no longer a smackdown.
It is feeding 1 trolls self importance and 'mission' to continue.
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Anti-Troll, 30 Mar 2013 @ 3:59am

Re: Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
Every reply to a troll is a victory for them. You think you're smacking them down? You're not. What you are doing is exactly what That Anonymous Coward said; you're feeding his ego. That's why he's still here; it's a veritable buffet thanks to all the people who have no self control. That is all you're doing, nothing more. A troll does not give a damn what you say in your replies to them, only that you reply. In so doing, you aid them in quickly derailing the conversation. And when it gets bad enough? People stop visiting the site. So if you truly wish to hurt a troll, hit him where it hurts the absolute most. Click the report button and say absolutely nothing at all. If everyone could do that, he'd shrivel up and die inside in no time. Isn't that enough to make you feel all warm and fuzzy?
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Anonymous Coward, 18 May 2016 @ 12:08am

Re: Re: Re: This never wears out for you, does it?
It's a shame that out_of_the_blue's sperm donor didn't stop short of the climax either...
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