State of Louisiana Ordered to Pay ESA $91,000

[fitbabits]

Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5245&Itemid=2) is reporting that the state of Louisiana has been ordered to pay The ESA (http://www.theesa.com/) $91,000.

The State of Louisiana will be paying the games industry $91,000 to reimburse legal fees incurred from fighting an unconstitutional game law, as a Louisiana judge offers damning words for the State’s actions.

It would seem that the recent history of games legislation would encourage lawmakers to try different approaches to game regulation, but some aren't getting the hint even yet.

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“This Court is dumbfounded that the Attorney General and the State are in the position of having to pay taxpayer money as attorney’s fees and costs in this lawsuit,” wrote Judge James J. Brady of the Middle District of Louisiana in his ruling. “The Court wonders why nobody objected to the enactment of this statute. In this court’s view, the taxpayers deserve more from their elected officials.”

The unconstitutional Louisiana law would have fined vendors between $100 and $2,000 and threatened up to one year in jail for selling games with “violent” content to minors.
Will this give lawmakers pause for thought? No, it won't, although this is a small victory.

[camberiu]

Since it is not THEIR money, the law makers could not care less. Now, if the elected officials had to pay for this from their own pockets, it would be a different story.

[51|RandoM]

Well, the lawmakers who pushed the legislation will have to answer up to their constituency now about the waste of their hard-earned tax dollars.

Good news to see a higher court maintaining its grasp of the law(and sanity).

[Arglor]

that would be nice.

the amount of corruption in louisiana politics coupled with the amount of poverty in the state, makes me think that this is not going to help the state move forward.

My biggest problem with this is that the population will pay, and the politicians got paid to be a guiney pig for this legistlation. Its a sad day for Louisiana, but we seem to have alot of those down here anyway. Wish we had some attorneys/investigators who would investigate La. politician's bank accounts to see how many special interest groups were convened to pull this stunt.

-edit (sarcasim in the second paragraph didn't come across as what i wanted it to come off as so added the not for clarification)

[Ultima Thulian]

Well whaddya know? Good news and sanity can still be found.

[camberiu]

Well, the lawmakers who pushed the legislation will have to answer up to their constituency now about the waste of their hard-earned tax dollars.

Do NOT overestimate the Louisana voters. They love politicians like Huey P. Long and Edwin Edwards.

[Arglor]

Do NOT overestimate the Louisana voters. They love politicians like Huey P. Long and Edwin Edwards.

I argue that Louisiana voters love worker's images and promises of a better future. But it all boils down to the best politicans are great at giving rhetoric for embracing both those ideals.

Not to mention, unfortunatly, the populace has an incredibly large percentage in poverty (as of 2003 census 20% (as of 2002 it was the number 2 most impovershed state)).

(sarcasim)
Oh but don't worry, after Katrina chased out the largely black and poverty stricken populace, their "median" salary is on the rise!
(/sarcasim)

[Ghost Rider]

Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5245&Itemid=2) is reporting that the state of Louisiana has been ordered to pay The ESA (http://www.theesa.com/) $91,000.




Umm..funny how governments care about taxpayers money when they lose, not when they start going around trying to enforce stupid laws and prosecute people for doing virtually nothing.

[Texas Speed]

I've yet to turn the channel, but I hear everyones favorite Mr. Thompson is on Fox News blaming the Virginia Tech deal on various forms of interective digital entertainment.

[Loganrapp]

I've yet to turn the channel, but I hear everyones favorite Mr. Thompson is on Fox News blaming the Virginia Tech deal on various forms of interective digital entertainment.


I have already e-mailed FOXNews about this.

I would encourage everyone to please do the same. Even if you think it won't do anything. I believe volume will make them reconsider Thompson.

myword@foxnews.com - this is the show that's on right now. Please e-mail it.

[Atepsflame]

Well, the lawmakers who pushed the legislation will have to answer up to their constituency now about the waste of their hard-earned tax dollars.

Good news to see a higher court maintaining its grasp of the law(and sanity).
I seriously doubt there will be much rumbling over a meager $91,000. Those amounts never make headlines.

[Telefrog]

I seriously doubt there will be much rumbling over a meager $91,000. Those amounts never make headlines.

Additionally, this will be spun so that a "callous judge allowed violence-pushing game publishers to win by hiding behind the 2nd Amendment." Luckily, brave men like Jack Thompson are here to save us from our darker and irresponsible impulses.

Cases like these are legal testbeds that legislators use to probe constitutional law. Losing these allows them to push laws that undermine the precedent.

Check back into the early anti-smoking company lawsuits. They lost quite a few of those before laws were put into place that allowed the next cases to be spun into victories.

[Amalor]

Do NOT overestimate the Louisana voters. They love politicians like Huey P. Long and Edwin Edwards.

Quite right, I'm from Louisiana and yes the voters at large are mouth breathing retards who vote for the most ridiculous candidate then bitch about the results. I don't even bother voting anymore but we seem to always get just what we deserve though. lol


-Cheers
-Amalor

[Trazzlo the Magnificant]

I've yet to turn the channel, but I hear everyones favorite Mr. Thompson is on Fox News blaming the Virginia Tech deal on various forms of interective digital entertainment.
My wife's nephew goes to Virginia Tech (his classes didn't start until later so he is ok), but the scuttlebutt about the story is that it was a fellow who was very upset with his girlfriend, but that is all rumor at this time.

Are we to outlaw social activity as well? Odd too when people often say "Stop playing those video games, go out and get a girlfriend!".

[Kagger]

My grandfather, who has lived in the New Orleans area since 1967, once said this.

"Most states expect corrupt Politicians, but Louisiana demands it."


By the way, I was born there, so I have no problems saying things like that (But I still love the state)

[Manzy]

By the way, I was born there, so I have no problems saying things like that (But I still love the state)

I think I just love LSU (and Mardi Gras i.e New Orleans). The rest of the state seems to suffer from severe incompetence.