Paul Hansmeier: Those Class Action Cases Are About Correcting Injustice
from the suuuuuuure dept
We recently covered the fact that a number of the Team Prenda Players were also involved in somewhat questionable class action objection lawsuits, mostly led by Paul Hansmeier, representing close family members and employees objecting to class action settlements (but apparently willing to "go away" for a fee). While we believe that many class action settlements are, in fact, questionable, the actions by Hansmeier and others in the various objections that were covered seem equally questionable, often appearing to basically jump in at the last minute to throw a wrench into the settlement works, then be willing to walk away for some amount of money.Joe Mullin at Ars Technica scored an interview with Hansmeier, in which he repeatedly refused to discuss the copyright lawsuits and Prenda (or anyone associated with them), but did try to defend the class action stuff, arguing that it's really done to correct injustices. In fact, when confronted with the note he sent a lawyer representing the class, offering to go away for $30,000, Hansmeier tried to spin it as having little to do with the money and being all about fixing those injustices.
If someone offered you $30,000 to go away from a case, I'm pretty sure you would take that money and go live to fight another day. We are motivated to correct injustices in the case. What we're trying to address is the structure of the settlement. In another case, we did successfully encourage the judge to modify the case, although slightly. If [a settlement] gives money to a charitable organization that has nothing to do with the needs of the class—that's something you can fight.He also claims that the reason he's representing family members and employees is because that's what all lawyers do to establish themselves... or something like that.
Look, I'm not going to walk up to some guy on the street and say, "Do you have some kind of class action objection issue?" You start with people in your inner circle and expand outward. That's how you start any business, including a law practice.That's one way of looking at it. I know a bunch of lawyers who have started independent shops as well, and I can't think of any who have represented family members. They may have gotten early referrals from friends, but that's about it.
And then the interview descends into "I'm not going to comment on that" over and over again as Mullin asks about the copyright cases, whether or not he's intending to show up in Wright's court, and even how he came to know John Steele.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: class action, copyright trolling, john steele, paul hansmeier
Companies: prenda, prenda law
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
You do not represent close family members unless absolutely egregiously necessary until at such time you can secure them other counsel that they agree too, and even then you should only act in an advisory capacity and not as counsel.
Same as representing close friends, its fraught with dangers not the least being that you could be called as a witness due to your friendship dependant on the case and if character is being brought into a case.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
I believe the last paragraph was more of a P.S. then anything else. The original Ars Technica interview ended as abruptly, as Mullen kept asking the pointed questions Hansmeier had no intention of answering.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Of course, what he really means is "commit", not "correct".
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
That's remarkable. He sends a letter demanding $30,000 and then spins it as being offered $30,000 to retreat from the case. Oh, to have a mind like his!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Plus he also says if he were offered $30,000 dollars he would walk away, but he is really motivated by correcting injustice. Does he even hear the words that are coming out of his mouth?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
yes, but is there data behind it?
I'm sure that's true. But does that have anything to do with whether any of your bunch of lawyers have represented family members? It seems unlikely that your bunch of lawyers routinely give you a list of their representees, or do you make a habit of asking them about their families and the history of their legal practice? Otherwise you're just offering opinion wrapped up in rhetoric dressed up as data.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: yes, but is there data behind it? part two
But its OK that you do the same thing?
You're just offering opinion wrapped up in rhetoric dressed up as data.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
How awesome is that hey?
It seems in Paul's mind two injustices must make a right.. He's only thinking about the charities no less!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A good old fashioned Bench slappin flyer [pdf] - Print out, amuse your friends, invite everyone
The troll map of who's doing what to whom - if you're not confused you haven't been paying attention.
all credit goes to John Henry Lawyer Esq. a legend---wait for it ---dary gentleman
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The injustice being that the Prenda lawyers are not yet rich enough.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
-Paul Douchemier
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Off Topic, But
So, to Masnick et. al.: Thank you.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
and in the very next claim it's all about fighting injustice
uhhhhhh
[ link to this | view in chronology ]