Vice City Wrongful Death Suit Dismissed

Jack Thompson's $600 million Grand Theft Auto: Vice City wrongful death suit has been dismissed by a New Mexico appeals court.

New Mexico Judge Valerie Huling first ruled against the suit in December 2007 on two grounds: that the state had no jurisdiction because neither Sony nor Take-Two had offices there, and because New Mexico laws did not support Thompson's wrongful death claim. A report in the Las Cruces Sun-News said the plaintiffs were given 30 days to appeal following the dismissal, but none was filed prior to the deadline.

Thompson refused to respond to a GamePolitics request for comment, but in April he told the site, "[The local attorney] is in charge of filings in New Mexico. I have nothing to do with the appeal."

The suit was brought in the case of Cody Posey, who was 14 years old when he murdered his father, stepmother and stepsister in a case that gained national attention primarily because it took place on Sam Donaldson's ranch, where Posey's father was a caretaker. It was later determined that Posey had suffered from brutal long-term abuse from his father, according to a Joystiq article, including being beaten with a board and burned with a metal rod after he refused his father's urging to have sex with his stepmother.

Even Posey's lawyer, who was approached with the Grand Theft Auto defense prior to the beginning of the trial, declined to bring it up, saying, "I didn't see it as a meritorious defense. I was far more concerned about the abuse Cody suffered over the years than any connection to playing a game on the computer." The judge in the case found Posey was suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and sentenced him to treatment at a juvenile facility until he's 21.

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Yes! Justice at last!

Another victory for common sense!

(Whilst I admit it's deplorable to the child and his family; it's even more deplorable to use it as a wagon for your own insane viewpoint)

How could Jack Thompson even consider bringing a $600 million lawsuit around this case?

Just for the record, the actual dispute of "Did GTA make the kid kill his family" was never tried in the court.

You can't sue a corporation in a state court if they aren't a resident there (you have to take them to Federal court), so it was chucked out on those grounds and the fact that there wasn't a law broken that would've held either company liable in New Mexico anyways. Basically, the lawsuit never got off the ground to begin with, so the issue is still out there.

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer...

Having read this (and the Joystiq atricle mentioned) I feel really sorry for that kid, after what he went through and when what he actually needed was help Thompson, being the parasite that he is, tried to piggy-back his crusade against games onto the tragedy that was this kids life, that's disgusting.

I honestly didn't think I could see Thompson in a lower light then I already did but, dammit he once again exceeded my expectations.

Jeezuz. Jack T sinks to a new low....

So, I take it Jack Thompson has exhausted our good will following the whole Mass Effect scandal?

Damn, this guy is sick. For once, there was not a single hint that a video game was the kid's problem, and he's trying to force his own problems on the poor guy. I really hope the kid gets the help that he needs.

"It was later determined that Posey had suffered from brutal long-term abuse from his father, according to a Joystiq article, including being beaten with a board and burned with a metal rod after he refused his father's urging to have sex with his stepmother."

Aha! So it was real-life that was to blame. Maybe we should get Thomspson to represent us in a class-action suit against God/Allah/Zeus/FSM/Great Green Arkleseizure for the creation and perpetuation of the underlying cause of all crime and depravity in existence.

bobafettucine:
"It was later determined that Posey had suffered from brutal long-term abuse from his father, according to a Joystiq article, including being beaten with a board and burned with a metal rod after he refused his father's urging to have sex with his stepmother."

Aha! So it was real-life that was to blame. Maybe we should get Thomspson to represent us in a class-action suit against God/Allah/Zeus/FSM/Great Green Arkleseizure for the creation and perpetuation of the underlying cause of all crime and depravity in existence.

Well lets face it, he's probably the only lawyer who's batshit insane enough to take that sort of case on.

I wish that major news websites would finally stop posting that pic with everything related to Jack Thompson and/or GTA4.

It's obviously p-shopped.

1. What the fuck is that thing in place of JT's cheek? It looks like somebody's trying to copy-paste a side-view of JT into a straightforward picture.That or somebody accidentally cropped a bit of his neck along with the actual face.

2.Why is the skin on his chest a lot darker compared to his pale-white face? As far as I'm aware, it's completely opposite...with normal white human beings at least.

PS: Will post a pic ASAP but I can't get imageshack working.EDIT> There it is.

EmperorDude:
Yes! Justice at last!

It's hardly justice.

It'd be ironic if this chap were to be killed GTA style. He needs to get a life, really.

jackbergin:

EmperorDude:
Yes! Justice at last!

It's hardly justice.

It'd be ironic if this chap were to be killed GTA style. He needs to get a life, really.

No, no, we can't do that. That would just prove his point and make him a martyr. Like Jesus. He needs to fade away alone and unloved, immersed in his insanity while the rest of the world has moved on and acknowledged that parents and other adults need to take responsibility for what they are giving their children and what they are playing. Then he can die... in bed!

Broken Blade:

jackbergin:

EmperorDude:
Yes! Justice at last!

It's hardly justice.

It'd be ironic if this chap were to be killed GTA style. He needs to get a life, really.

No, no, we can't do that. That would just prove his point and make him a martyr. Like Jesus. He needs to fade away alone and unloved, immersed in his insanity while the rest of the world has moved on and acknowledged that parents and other adults need to take responsibility for what they are giving their children and what they are playing. Then he can die... in bed!

Just hire a non-gaming hit-man to do him in GTA style; sure if we all pitched in, it shouldn't cost too much each :P

Or, we could genetically engineer a headcrab! Muhahaha

$600 million!? How in the hell do you pick a number like that?

And wouldn't any half-way competent lawyer figure that maybe having a psychotic family is more likely to make you a murderer than frigging Vice City? Is he that blind to anything not pertaining to his crusade?

Nice to see the case dismissed, if more on a technicality than anything.

JT's thinking is pretty archaic. There is no evidence that GTA, or any other violent video game, causes violent behaviour. The only cases of people inspired to commit violent acts after going on a violent game are those in which the person had a pre-existing violent disposition, so any violent suggestion would trigger them.

And seriously. $600 mill? Seriously?

Loving the headcrab idea.

Somebody please open a paypal fund for the assasin.

Whatever you do, no headcrab please. He's bad enough as it is without him tossing barrels across the room.

JakubK666:
It's obviously p-shopped.

Actually, that photo was submitted to GamePolitics and Kotaku by Thompson himself on GTA IV release day.

Broken Blade:

jackbergin:

EmperorDude:
Yes! Justice at last!

It's hardly justice.

It'd be ironic if this chap were to be killed GTA style. He needs to get a life, really.

No, no, we can't do that. That would just prove his point and make him a martyr. Like Jesus. He needs to fade away alone and unloved, immersed in his insanity while the rest of the world has moved on and acknowledged that parents and other adults need to take responsibility for what they are giving their children and what they are playing. Then he can die... in bed!

The problem with that is, there's no way to get rid of people like this without violent means. The surgeon general should issue a warning: "Jack Thompson can only be removed with a shotgun and/or a chainsaw, preferably administered rectally."

To Posey's Lawyer, damn strait.

I feel sorry for the kid in this case. Being used by Thompson to try to sue Rockstar.
And no one has even mentioned this, but he went though a lot of abuse.
"It was later determined that Posey had suffered from brutal long-term abuse from his father, according to a Joystiq article, including being beaten with a board and burned with a metal rod after he refused his father's urging to have sex with his stepmother."
What kind of family is this?

Jayact:

"It was later determined that Posey had suffered from brutal long-term abuse from his father, according to a Joystiq article, including being beaten with a board and burned with a metal rod after he refused his father's urging to have sex with his stepmother."
What kind of family is this?

No kidding.

Real-world cruelty like this really puts game violence in perspective. With all the evil out there, digital content in which no one gets hurt seems pretty innocuous.

I really hope that kid gets the help he needs. His problems run far deeper then any video game.

I just can't help but think back to Columbine when I hear claims about media inducing behavior. The fact of the matter is any child, or adult for that matter, must have the idea and desire to behave in such a way (however minuscule the desire is) to be influenced by media to do it. Especially in this case, the problem lies with the environment around a person and his role-models. But, everyone knows that. The only reason Jack T gets his point even heard is because parents (and everyone else for that matter) are looking for a scape-goat instead of admitting fault in their shitty parenting. Nevermind the fact that MOST (not all) video games that feature senseless violence have some form of good vs evil in them, and typically feature main characters that are somewhat admirable (for some games it's a stretch, but the admirable qualities are still there). Nevermind the fact that even in games like Grand Theft Auto there are consequences for violent behavior.

I like what DreamerM said about real-world cruelty putting violent video games into perspective.

To Jakub: That is some face fat. If avoid his beautiful eyes you will notice he is turning his head for some people when you turn your head and push it back (like you would do for taking a photo I suppose) than you get that side...face...fat...thing.

Does he win ANYTHING? All I hear about is all his cases being ruled against him.

Well, he wins at losing.

(Does that count?)