JERRY_SANCHEZ Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Seems like everyone is suing for anything.... Seattle suit filed for "lost time" over controversial best-seller By Peter Lewis Seattle Times staff reporter James Frey said he made up some details about his life in "A Million Little Pieces." The latest thump on the controversial best-seller "A Million Little Pieces" is a Seattle federal court lawsuit seeking damages on behalf of consumers for the "lost time" they spent reading the book. Marketed as a redemptive tale in the form of a drug and alcohol memoir, the book by James Frey had sold more than 2 million copies as of last week, according to The New York Times. But it has also drawn fire after an investigative Web site, The Smoking Gun, reported this month that it was full of exaggerations and inaccuracies. Frey subsequently said he made up some details about his life. TV talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, whose inclusion of the memoir in her book club led to a huge sales spike, stood by her endorsement, contending that "the underlying message of redemption ... still resonates with me." Doubleday, a division of Random House, the book's publisher, issued a statement promising to issue refunds to readers who purchased directly from the publisher. In a lawsuit filed Thursday, Seattle Attorney Mike Myers lists as plaintiffs two Seattle residents, Shera Paglinawan and Stuart Oswald, who each received or purchased the book "before news of the book's falsity was disseminated." The suit, apparently the third of its kind to be filed across the nation, seeks class-action status against Frey and the publisher. Myers distinguished his suit from actions filed in Illinois and California by saying only his seeks compensation on behalf of consumers for "the lost value of the readers' time." Myers alleges several legal causes for the suit, including breach of contract, unjust enrichment, negligent misrepresentation, intentional misrepresentation and violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act. A Random House spokesman said Tuesday the publisher had not yet been served with a copy of the Seattle complaint and would have no comment. Meantime, a University of Washington law professor who reviewed the complaint said he thought its chances of success were "fairly slim." Sean O'Connor, who teaches intellectual property and corporate securities law, said it appears that the plaintiffs were trying to force a "legal apology. ... They want Frey and Random House to say, 'This was wrong what we did.' " O'Connor thought that angle "might get the most sympathy from a jury — if it gets in front of a jury." But the professor was generally dismissive of other claims. For example, he maintained that the "unjust enrichment" claim would have problems since the publisher is willing to make refunds and in light of the fact that some booksellers also apparently have offered to do likewise. O'Connor also foresaw difficulty calculating the "lost time" claim. He noted the value of time could differ widely among consumers, as well as the logistics of distinguishing between "slow versus fast readers." O'Connor said that in some ways he was sympathetic toward the Seattle lawsuit's claims. "But when you roll it into a legal action like this, it's hard to see what the remedy is coming out the other end." Quote
jordop Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 I'm gonna start a class action suit against Tim and Jon for this disease of a website ruining my life Quote
olyclimber Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 better hire mike as your lawyer then Quote
jon Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Chuck Norris is our lawyer. Don't fuck with us. Quote
Dechristo Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Seattle federal court lawsuit seeking damages on behalf of consumers for the "lost time" they spent reading ...full of exaggerations and inaccuracies...the lost value of the readers' time... Jon, is the cc.com legal team prepared? Still, the underlying message of redemption ... still resonates with me Quote
Chuck_Norris Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Mess with the best, die like the rest. That goes to any fool who wants to try any biznatch against my homies at cc.com headquarters. I'm trying out this snazzy new lingo I've been learning at a course at Devry University. What do you think? Quote
Cobra_Commander Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 sounds like heroin is still addicted to you chuck, kudos. Quote
Dechristo Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Mess with the best, die like the rest. That goes to any fool who wants to try any biznatch against my homies at cc.com headquarters. I'm trying out this snazzy new lingo I've been learning at a course at Devry University. What do you think? Certainly not DaWry University. Quote
MrT Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Mess with the best, die like the rest. That goes to any fool who wants to try any biznatch against my homies at cc.com headquarters. I'm trying out this snazzy new lingo I've been learning at a course at Devry University. What do you think? Chuck leave that jibba jabba to me foo! Quote
jordop Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Chuck Norris is our lawyer. Don't fuck with us. The opening carnage of Saving Private Ryan is based on a dogeball game that once happened many years ago in Chuck Norris's Grade Two P.E. class Quote
KFed Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Yo! KFed in da hizzouse! Don't tell Britney though. Quote
Dru Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Star headline this week "Britney puts on 20 MORE pounds". She's starting to look like the Vegas era Elvis! Quote
archenemy Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Star headline this week "Britney puts on 20 MORE pounds". She's starting to look like the Vegas era Elvis! You are shitting me! A pregnant/post-parturition woman gained weight? The nerve... Quote
archenemy Posted January 25, 2006 Posted January 25, 2006 Her chins have chins. Maybe she's chinese Quote
Dr_Flash_Amazing Posted January 26, 2006 Posted January 26, 2006 Her chins have chins. Maybe she's chinese Bound to be. Quote
ZimZam Posted January 26, 2006 Posted January 26, 2006 Star headline this week "Britney puts on 20 MORE pounds". She's starting to look like the Vegas era Elvis! Soon she'll look like AnnaNicole whats her name. Quote
TrogdortheBurninator Posted January 26, 2006 Posted January 26, 2006 This thread is like an episode of the Surreal Life. Celebs everywhere. Quote
EWolfe Posted January 26, 2006 Posted January 26, 2006 Hush, or I'll bind your feet. You know you want a euro 30. Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 26, 2006 Posted January 26, 2006 Dave Ross interviewed the attorney bringing this lawsuit. As Click and Clack, The Tappet Brothers, would put it, this guy is completely "unemcumbered by the thought process". Quote
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