Last Summer Jammie Thomas lost her retrial against the RIAA and was ordered to pay $1.92 million for 24 songs she shared via Kazaa. Many were shocked by the high amount of the fine, and so was Judge Davis who now lowered the fine to $54,000.
According to Judge Michael Davis the damages are lowered because the initial fine was “so grossly excessive as to shock the conscience of the court. A verdict is not considered excessive unless there is plain injustice or a monstrous or shocking result.”
The result is that, if Thomas is able to pay anything at all, the RIAA will have ‘only’ $54,000 to add to their anti-piracy funds instead of the $1.92 million it was awarded initially.
RIAA spokesman Jonathan Lamy previously informed us that the ‘damages’ will not go to any of the artists, but to more anti-piracy campaigns. “Any funds recouped are re-invested into our ongoing education and anti-piracy programs,” he said.
The RIAA has 7 days to challenge the reduced verdict and request for a new trial.
Joel Tenenbaum, the Boston student hit with $650,000 in damages back in July 2009, has filed for a new trial earlier this month, also because of excessive damages.
Article from: FreakBits