Unbelievable. Seventh Circuit Judge Richard Posner is starting the Becker-Posner blog, with its first real post slated for tomorrow. You may recall he's shown great (indirect) support for libraries. He proposes that copying old copyrighted works should be permitted if the copyright owner has not taken minimal steps to place copiers on notice of his interest.
Whenever I feel I have too much work and not enough hours, all I need to do is look at him and sigh.
JUSTICE FOR SALE IN AMERICA
I am the author/owner of the copyright and service mark “Smart Foreclosure Buying” since 1992. In 2003 I discovered that two deep pocket defendants violated my copyright and/or service mark. I looked for an attorney for 2 years, each attorney told me; I had a case, should be able to win that case, and then asked me HOW MUCH JUSTICE CAN YOU AFFORD? I was surprised by the question, but still didn’t understand they were serious. As I looked further into what it was going to take to protect my rights; I got instructions from Federal Court on the rules and regulations. The Federal Court stated: if I were to hire an attorney to represent me from the beginning of the case including the appeal it will cost $ 775,000. Like most average Americans I didn’t have money put aside just in case I had to hire an attorney. Each of these attorneys wanted $ 30,000 or
$ 40,000 as a retainer. I found myself faced with two choices: (1) walk away from my life’s work or (2) represent myself.
Over the past 4 years, I’ve not only had to fight against 14 attorneys of record representing the defendants, but the Judge as well. On top of everything else I had to deal with; I’m in court with a Federal Judge, sitting in Federal Court, who refuses to rule according to Federal law.
Money allowed the defendants to drag an open and shut case; out for 4 years, and got a Federal Judge to over look the Truth, Facts, and Evidence in this case. What happens to the wealth in a court of law; doesn’t happen to the rest of us. Where I had to locate and pay for an attorney out of my pocket; a killer of 13 people can get a court appointed attorney paid for by you and me. The Judge in this case was so willing to help the defendants, he gave them 4 years on my back to come up some legal grounds under which he could throw this case out, and when that failed the Judge gave Summary Judgment to the defendants; despite the fact that all of the evidence in this case is in my favor. The defendants and the Judge hoped that after he violated my civil rights to a jury trial; I would be so devastated that I would give up.
I filed an appeal and won that appeal; but it didn’t change anything. I asked for Summary Judgment based on all the evidence in my favor and the Appellate Court decision; my request was refused. Understand this I have the Truth, Facts, and Evidence on my side, asked for Summary Judgment (3) times in the past 4 years, and the Judge rejected each request, then gave Summary Judgment to the defendants with no supporting evidence at all (JUSTICE IS FOR SALE). Check it out on Google: Vincent v. Chicago City Colleges
Posted by: Vincent | September 06, 2007 at 07:51 AM