Another GTA related lawsuit - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Shady · 02-17-2005, 08:40 AM

Yet another videogame related lawsuit.

link

Quote:

Grand Theft Auto sparks another lawsuit

Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive, Sony, Wal-Mart, and GameStop are blamed for the murder of three policemen by a teenage car thief.
Just when the furor over Grand Theft Auto: Vice City's "Kill all the Haitians!" level had finally died down, the game sparked another lawsuit. Along with its predecessor Grand Theft Auto III, the crime-action game is being blamed for inspiring the triple murder of three Fayette, Alabama, police officers.

Devin Thompson, 18, is accused of the slayings, which occurred after he was arrested in 2003 for suspicion of the crime of grand theft auto. According to the Associated Press, when he was caught, Thompson said, "Life is a video game. You've got to die sometime." While being booked at the station, he allegedly grabbed a police officer's pistol and then shot its owner and two other officers in the head--all three died. Thompson is then said to have driven off in a stolen police car, but was later apprehended. He is currently being charged with three counts of first-degree murder, and is set to go to trial on July 11.

Two of the victims' next-of-kin have filed a lawsuit accusing the two GTA games as having "trained and motivated" Thompson to commit his crimes. Besides Take-Two, the other defendants named in the near-60-page, $600 million suit are Wal-Mart and GameStop, where Thompson is said to have bought both M-rated games while under the ESRB-mandated 17-year-old purchase age. Sony Computer Entertainment America, makers of Thompson's PlayStation 2 console, is also named in the legal filing.

"I don't want another family to go through what our family has been through the past few years. It's about saving lives," said plaintiff Steve Strickland, a brother of one of the victims. The plaintiffs' attorney is none other than Jack Thompson, the Miami-based lawyer who has waged a one-man crusade "over the past twelve years in a national effort to hold accountable the entertainment industry for the harm it does to our children," according to his Web site, Stopkill.com.

After targeting gangsta rap's violent lyrics in the early 1990s, Thompson has spent the last half-decade railing against the perils of violent video games, which he refers to as "murder simulators." While speaking to the local NBC affiliate, Thompson said "[the game] industry has targeted, with the most popular and violent game in history, every police officer in America and put a bull's eye on their back." To back up his claims, Thompson cites studies at Harvard University and the University of Indiana that he asserts "prove that adolescents' brain functions are damaged by a steady diet of violent images."

For its part, Take-Two was conciliatory to the victims' relations, saying, "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the officers killed." However, it gave no ground to the plaintiffs' attorney. "With regard to Mr. [Jack] Thompson, unfortunately he has a habit of doing this kind of thing often. No court has yet to take his legal claims seriously. The suggestion that there is a link between the use and sales of Grand Theft Auto and this tragic incident is utter nonsense. Anyone suggesting that such a link does exist is either misguided, misrepresenting the facts, or both."

By Tor Thorsen -- GameSpot
POSTED: 02/16/05 05:37 PM PST

I do have sympathy for the victims and their families, but they should be targeting their anger toward the person that actually committed the crime. If this lawsuit actually goes anywhere I hope it sends a final message to people that they can't blame the whole video game industry for one idiot's action.

Carno · 02-17-2005, 08:57 AM

Hahahaha, that lawsuit isn't about saving lives, it's about getting money.

skinnymofo · 02-17-2005, 12:30 PM

watch in upcoming weeks in the news that states violent videogames cause brain tumors and male genetalia to shrink

ChasingAmy · 02-18-2005, 02:07 PM

I hate this shit about Video games corrupting the youth of nations... the same with violent behavior being portrayed through the media.

IMO, it comes down to the parents. Fucking step up and do you fucking job... raise your children. Love them. My parents did a fine job with me and my brothers. We aren't fucked up. We have played those games all our lives, observed violence in the media and movies etc etc... we aren't fucked up. These kids have issues... pyschological no doubt... but if the parents were there to see what was/is going wrong with their children maybe incedents like this could be avoided. Dunno... guess thats what always goes through my mind when I hear about this kinda shit going down. It is sad about the officers involved, and their families wanting to sue... yes it is about the money... shouldn't they have enough closure when the man accused of the crimes is locked up/death sentenced?

Sorry... pissy today I guess! ;P

Later.

Dwayne · 02-18-2005, 02:39 PM

As said above, its the parents job to raise their children. Video Games dont controll peoples brains. These felons must have had problems in the first place in order to decide that they wanted to go on a killing spree.

ElwoodBlues · 02-20-2005, 07:27 AM

That makes me angry. This is the only country in the world where some psycho kid can kill three people, and the victims families can get $600 Million from a department store because of it.

Don't get me wrong, it is tragic, and I have sympathy for the money-grubbing bastards of a family that have been effected by the acts of some insane teenager. But the videogame industry is not to be blamed.

Make sure to remind me to tell my family to file a lawsuit if I ever get hit by a car. I'll take those "Frogger" bastards for all they're worth

Furry · 02-25-2005, 11:34 AM

This kind of thing just mades me sad. He was responsible for his own actions. "The PS2 told me to do it" is like telling someone the voices/devil/fridge did. No-one made him play the game. No one made him pull the trigger.

default_i · 02-25-2005, 11:41 AM

As long as lawyers exist, everything will get blamed for everything else at some point. I've just learned to accept it, because the most that's gonna happen is a bigger warning label. There's simply no money in making the parents raise their kids right.

Coppertop · 02-25-2005, 12:15 PM

Strange how I didn't spent most of my youth eating mushrooms to grow larger and eating flowers to throw fireballs at turtles.

omega2K4 · 02-25-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coppertop

Strange how I didn't spent most of my youth eating mushrooms to grow larger and eating flowers to throw fireballs at turtles.

You...didn't? I guess I was the only one.

But seriously though, this kid is a fucking idiot for blaming shit he did on something else (video games in this case), rather than taking responsibility for his own actions. It probably isn't his fault he's fucked up mentally, its probably his shitty parents.

asudevil83 · 02-25-2005, 12:41 PM

ok....i'm done with hearing lawsuits that blame video games. i'm waiting for a lawsuit that spawns from televsion....not kids shows or some shit like that, but shit that adults love to watch. i'm talking about:

1.) Law and Order
2.) NYPD Blue
3.) CSI

those shows offer ANYONE thousands of ideas of how to murder some fool....and its only a matter of time IMO before someone gets the idea and sues NBC, CBS, or ABC over the violence in those shows. i hope it happens soon because i'm tired of this shit being reported. "Grand Theft Auto is teh bad, but Law and Order is the most amazing show ever....blah blah blah."

granted i love Law and Order, but the violence contained in that show is ten times worse at time than GTA

miggity99 · 02-27-2005, 11:47 PM

I think this is hillarious.

omega2K4 · 03-02-2005, 09:45 PM

Here's a somewhat related news story on a possible law that's very, very fucked up.

Quote:

Bill Holds Game Makers Liable for Violence
Washington state considers dramatic legislation.
by David Adams

March 2, 2005 - A bill under consideration in Washington state would hold videogame developers accountable for violent acts ostensibly inspired by a particular game.

Currently under review by the state legislature, House Bill 2178 would hold game retailers and manufacturers accountable for "injury or wrongful death" committed by a person under age 17, if the game "was a factor in creating conditions that assisted or encouraged" the perpetrator.

While the bill is still in committee stage and far from becoming law, its dramatic interpretation of criminal responsibility reflects growing concern and controversy about the effects of violent video games.

Seattle ABC affiliate KOMO quotes bill supporter Bill Hanson of the Washington Police and Sheriff's Association: "If you sit up and watch this and play these games over and over again... it seems that this is alright to walk up and hit a police officer over the head with a bat."

Needless to say, opponents of the bill point out that it simply shifts blame away from the person who actually commits a crime. Further, the connection between violent videogames and actual violence -- the controversy parallels a similar furor over violent films and television -- remains tentative at best.

Games sold in the United States carry ESRB rating codes warning parents of potentially objectionable material. Especially violent games are rated "M" for Mature, and are not intended for minors.

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/592/592...html?fromint=1

02-18-2005, 02:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
ChasingAmy Single :) FFA Location: Prince George, British Columbia	I hate this shit about Video games corrupting the youth of nations... the same with violent behavior being portrayed through the media. IMO, it comes down to the parents. Fucking step up and do you fucking job... raise your children. Love them. My parents did a fine job with me and my brothers. We aren't fucked up. We have played those games all our lives, observed violence in the media and movies etc etc... we aren't fucked up. These kids have issues... pyschological no doubt... but if the parents were there to see what was/is going wrong with their children maybe incedents like this could be avoided. Dunno... guess thats what always goes through my mind when I hear about this kinda shit going down. It is sad about the officers involved, and their families wanting to sue... yes it is about the money... shouldn't they have enough closure when the man accused of the crimes is locked up/death sentenced? Sorry... pissy today I guess! ;P Later. __________________ Don't you know about the bird?

02-20-2005, 07:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
ElwoodBlues Psycho Location: Massachusetts	That makes me angry. This is the only country in the world where some psycho kid can kill three people, and the victims families can get $600 Million from a department store because of it. Don't get me wrong, it is tragic, and I have sympathy for the money-grubbing bastards of a family that have been effected by the acts of some insane teenager. But the videogame industry is not to be blamed. Make sure to remind me to tell my family to file a lawsuit if I ever get hit by a car. I'll take those "Frogger" bastards for all they're worth __________________ I think Pringles initial intention was to make tennis balls. But on the day that the rubber was supposed to show up, a big truckload of potatoes arrived. But Pringles is a laid back company. They said "Fuck it. Cut em up." -Mitch Hedberg, '68-'05 Bauer's the man.

02-25-2005, 11:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
Furry Crazy Location: UK	This kind of thing just mades me sad. He was responsible for his own actions. "The PS2 told me to do it" is like telling someone the voices/devil/fridge did. No-one made him play the game. No one made him pull the trigger. __________________ Furry is the leader of his own cult, the "Furballs of Doom". They sit about chanting "Doom, Doom, Doom". (From a random shot in the dark by SirLance)

02-27-2005, 11:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
miggity99 Tilted Location: Starkvegas	I think this is hillarious. __________________ Chemical Engineers do it with packed beds...

02-17-2005, 08:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Carno Junkie	Hahahaha, that lawsuit isn't about saving lives, it's about getting money.

02-17-2005, 12:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
skinnymofo Addict ed to smack Location: Seattle	watch in upcoming weeks in the news that states violent videogames cause brain tumors and male genetalia to shrink

02-18-2005, 02:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dwayne Crazy Location: New England	As said above, its the parents job to raise their children. Video Games dont controll peoples brains. These felons must have had problems in the first place in order to decide that they wanted to go on a killing spree.

02-25-2005, 11:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
default_i Upright	As long as lawyers exist, everything will get blamed for everything else at some point. I've just learned to accept it, because the most that's gonna happen is a bigger warning label. There's simply no money in making the parents raise their kids right.

02-25-2005, 12:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Coppertop Getting Medieval on your ass Location: 13th century Europe	Strange how I didn't spent most of my youth eating mushrooms to grow larger and eating flowers to throw fireballs at turtles.

02-25-2005, 12:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
asudevil83 Psycho Location: Scottsdale, AZ	ok....i'm done with hearing lawsuits that blame video games. i'm waiting for a lawsuit that spawns from televsion....not kids shows or some shit like that, but shit that adults love to watch. i'm talking about: 1.) Law and Order 2.) NYPD Blue 3.) CSI those shows offer ANYONE thousands of ideas of how to murder some fool....and its only a matter of time IMO before someone gets the idea and sues NBC, CBS, or ABC over the violence in those shows. i hope it happens soon because i'm tired of this shit being reported. "Grand Theft Auto is teh bad, but Law and Order is the most amazing show ever....blah blah blah." granted i love Law and Order, but the violence contained in that show is ten times worse at time than GTA