Thompson to be accused of contempt?

Take-Two lawyers reportedly ask that the incendiary anti-game attorney be brought up on charges related to his outburst following a judge's ruling on Bully.

For years, Jack Thompson has been famous--and infamous--for his own personal brand of heated rhetoric. Often using biblical references and the odd bit of apocalyptic language, the Miami-area Attorney has called for the banning of numerous games, including The Sims 2 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

The latest game to earn Thompson's ire is Bully, Rockstar Games' critically acclaimed adventure game that follows a teenage troublemaker through the travails of boarding school. Earlier this month, Thompson tried to have sales of the game--which has sparked controversy for its depictions of teenager-on-teenager violence and boy-on-boy liplocks--halted on legal grounds.

As part of his efforts to halt sales of Bully, Thompson petitioned Miami Judge Ronald Friedman to view the game before it went on sale last week. However, when the judge approved the game for sale, Thompson became angry, accusing the judge of "smiling" as he approved the sale of a game that would inspire teenagers to commit acts of violence as extreme as murder.

Now, it appears Thompson's sharp words to Judge Friedman may land him in hot legal water. According to the blog GamePolitics.com, lawyers for Rockstar Games parent Take-Two Interactive are asking that Thompson be held in contempt of court for his comments to Judge Friedman.

Lawyers from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, law firm Blank Rome, which Thompson has publicly accused of organizing a conspiracy against him personally, have reportedly filed a "Petition for Order to Show Cause" against Thompson. If granted, the petition would compel Thompson to appear in Friedman's court to explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt of court--a charge that could carry a hefty fine and imprisonment of several months if Thompson were convicted.

While potentially serious, no contempt charges have yet been leveled at Thompson. However, that has not stopped the attorney from attacking Take-Two in a flurry of e-mails sent out to media outlets. "The motion to show cause filed by defendant Take-Two is a transparent, panicked attempt to cover up the misconduct, including the fraudulent misrepresentations to the public and to this Court, by its employees and its counsel, Blank Rome," Thompson said in an e-mail.

"If this court in any fashion proceeds toward issuing a show cause order, given its utter baselessness and the bad faith goo in which it slithers, then Thompson will add whatever judge should do so as a defendant in the aforementioned federal civil rights action," he said, referring to the case he brought to halt Bully's sale. (Emphasis in the original.) "Plaintiff has seen arbitrariness from judges before in his thirty years of practicing law, but nothing close to this. If the federal judiciary must restrain this Court and punish it, then so be it."

551 Comments

  • re01234crusader

    Posted Oct 1, 2009 8:08 am PT

    SCREW JACK THOMPSON!!!

  • GamerErman2001

    Posted Mar 25, 2007 1:52 am PT

    What a moron. I play Mortal Kombat and all sorts of violent games. I would seriously not harm a person unless I was trying to defend for my life.

  • KIM7813

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 1:00 pm PT

    Yeah...Beat him till he bleeds!

    I still love the idea of sending him to prison. Then he can feel his own sting. A taste of his own medicine.

  • cheeseman777

    Posted Jan 10, 2007 5:08 pm PT

    man id bet hed have fun in prison, he could just blame videogames for the fact that he got raped 18 times while in prison.

  • Daffy101

    Posted Jan 4, 2007 3:28 pm PT

    ROFL at mephistroth

  • Mephistroth

    Posted Dec 31, 2006 12:28 am PT

    [Warning] -not for the weak

    ok, for one I wouldnt say video games make people crazy.. thats just something young kids fall back to to get outta trouble.. now activist lawyers protesting games and trying to make games look bad.. lets beat his sorry butt red and tell him the bible was my inspiration to do it then nail him to a cross.. that might confuse him a bit [

  • Hameyadea

    Posted Nov 8, 2006 6:13 am PT

    i'm surprised.... ONLY NOW JACK FACE POSSIBLE FINES AND IMPRISONMENT!?!?!?!?!?!? i hope he'll be found "guilty as charged"!

  • L1qu1dSword

    Posted Nov 6, 2006 11:50 am PT

    Jack Thompson is a media whor. I know retirement is boring but can't you hang out at the bingo parlor instead of going on a senile "Don Qixote" quest?

  • E-MC2

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 8:55 am PT

    IMO playing violent games won't suddenly make a person turn violent. I've been playing GTA games since I was 12 (I particularly enjoyed seeing how many people I could run over before I got busted) and *I* haven't been going around doing anything violent...

  • clownofpoetry

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 2:38 pm PT

    It is for a fact that violent people don't get inspired by violent things on TV, video games, or any media outlet. The real matter of the fact they grow up in violent tendencies because of their parents outlook on things. Those with moms or dads in jail for murder or rape look at the past of their parents and see that this is probably the only way out. As long as we try to teach our children the values that we should, the video games and TV shows we love will not affect them in anyway. They know what's right and wrong, so they know better. Teach the children, that's what should be done. Religion has nothing to do with the way you raise your kids. My mom tried to make me a Christian but I am not one, but I respect her beliefs because she has them. The first amendment stands clear to voice opinions and a Bible cannot cover that up. Take that Mr. Thompson, for overlooking the parents job, and the environments we grow up in. This in the near future sociologist has proven you wrong. Enjoy the humiliation.

  • fkholmes

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 2:05 pm PT

    He should just shut up!

  • Reindeer911

    Posted Oct 30, 2006 2:38 am PT

    Amazing how the bible thumpers often turn out to be the biggest hypocrites of all. Civil rights indeed. Obviously Thompson only believes in the First Amendment when it is convenient for him, or he wouldn't be attempting to push censorship (which is what this amounts to) through the courts. However, when the tables are turned and Thompson actually breaks the law (civil contempt of court in that he insulted the dignity of the court), he immediately cries about how *his* civil rights are being violated. I don't think so. I wonder if there is any chance he could finally get disbarred for this little stunt this time??

  • Night_Frost

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 7:42 pm PT

    That reminds me of that line from Chronicles of Riddick: 'Convert now or fall forever' either convert to the religion of Jack Thompson or may your soul burn in a fiery of fire and brimstone for playign Bully. Seriously, when will he ever Shut the heck up? If he's charged, he'll be the star of his own video game called 'Jack Thompson's Amazing Adventures at Prison' where you play as the man himself, trying to corrupt the prisoners and guards to hate video games and avoid becoming the wife of a man named Big Turk, oh man do I smell a classic in the making

  • RanXer0x

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 6:54 pm PT

    He's pulling the blanket of: "Your with me or against me (us)." template.

    It's like he's already on the ballet for president of (2000whatever).

  • noelveiga

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 7:47 am PT

    Wow, what an ugly, sad person this guy is. The worst part is that there are plenty of mini-Jacks out there in charges of responsibility who are pushing to impose censorship in all forms of media, based on the gut feeling that violent or sexual content is bad for society and children.

    Only it's not. There's not a single reliable study indicating such effect. The "needle" theory that claims that children and people in general do what they see or what they are told in media was pretty much abandoned and scientifically discarded decades ago.

    For what it's worth, I'm a media studies major, so I know what I'm talking about. Unlike Jack.

  • _Sam_

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 6:57 pm PT

    he should quit while he's ahead... oh wait, he's not

  • Robacon1

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 6:21 pm PT

    This guy lives and breathes the publicity stunt.......

  • assfault88

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 3:14 pm PT

    If we want to fix our society the first thing we need to get rid of is lawyers. Thompson's blaming video games, but he fails to se that he and his kind are the true cause of all the ails of our society!

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 11:58 am PT

    As precedent has shown, nothing will come of this. Despite Thompson's total lack of respect for the entirety of the legal system (when it's not going his way), he'll never be disciplined. He's like that kid in school who's so horrible, so foul, and so ill-tempered that the district gives up trying to change him and instead tries to push him through (or out of) school to leave as society's problem.

    Now, if someone were to take the approach of having Thompson committed to a mental health facility. . .that could be more successful. The psychological screening would have to be from somewhere other than Florida, though, because I'm sure Thompson still has his cheat sheet from last time. . .

  • Snake-Drinker

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 10:24 am PT

    My God Mr. Thompson, why will you not quit? This has to be the 83rd time you've failed to make a difference.

  • CheddarLimbo

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 9:00 am PT

    I think it's universally understood that everyone has contempt for Thompson...

    If there is a God, may he strike down Jack Thompson and smote his ruin upon the mountainside.

  • the_ice_phoenix

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 4:28 pm PT

    Somebody must have heard me when I said he should be got for exactly that.

  • Sanguis_Malus

    Posted Oct 27, 2006 5:46 am PT

    I'm all for freedom of speech but this Thompson guy needs to be taught a stern lesson, throw the book at the guy !!!

  • GoldenSilence87

    Posted Oct 26, 2006 9:37 am PT

    I find Thompson to be a sad minority in todays world. Video games are slowly becoming an accepted, and mature, medium. Its not long before he turns his attention to MySpace and Facebook.

  • angus73

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 8:26 pm PT

    WOOOOOOOO GET IMPRISONDPLEASE!!!!

  • AuspexAO

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 7:05 pm PT

    ACH Double post. Sorry but I got this definition of contempt of court from LAW.COM (great site please don't sure me, I'm giving you full credit)

    contempt of court:

    n. there are essentially two types of contempt: a) being rude, disrespectful to the judge or other attorneys or causing a disturbance in the courtroom, particularly after being warned by the judge; b) willful failure to obey an order of the court. This latter can include failure to pay child support or alimony. The court's power to punish for contempt (called "citing" one for contempt) includes fines and/or jail time (called "imposing sanctions"). Incarceration is generally just a threat and if imposed, usually brief. Since the judge has discretion to control the courtroom, contempt citations are generally not appealable unless the amount of fine or jail time is excessive. "Criminal contempt" involves contempt with the aim of obstruction of justice, such as threatening a judge or witness or disobeying an order to produce evidence.

    Based on this we can see that Thompson's antics are clearly contemptful. If it can be proven that his remarks were meant to be an implied threat they can get him on criminal contempt. Thompson angry comment was most likely an attempt at intimidating the judge into changing the verdict. Intimidation implies unpleasant consequences so it could be said that he threatened a federal judge. If so...well, bye Jack.

  • AuspexAO

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 6:49 pm PT

    I think it's really cool to see that someone like Jack Thompson who represents not just a threat to an amusing game or two , but a threat to basic constitutional freedoms is finally getting a taste of his own negativity. I have absolutely no problem with someone who hates GTA or The Sims and thinks that they are evil. That's what America (and many other free nations) is founded on: differences in opinion. I just hate to see someone like Thompson use a religion which preaches tolerance and brotherhood (in it's true form) to attempt to brainwash the masses out of their rights.

    I don't want to see Thompson dead or maimed or anything, I don't even want him to shut up. However, I demand as a free citizen of the U.S. that he no longer be allowed to single-handedly tear apart our first amendment rights by bringing these witchhunts to our courts. Hey Jack, buddy, can you leave the courts alone so they can get back to punishing all those teenage murderers and delinquents that you love to rant about. I'm sorry for the language, but man what a $%^%.

  • crlake

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 4:35 pm PT

    Please “Take Two”, Please send that loser (Jack Thompson) to jail. You’ll be protecting the public at large, from a man who is clearly suffering from mental illness.

  • daggerknight

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 4:34 pm PT

    Proof that Thompson is a stuck up, pompus, ignorant fiend who lacks any sense: In 1992, a complaint from Thompson led Florida Secretary of State Jim Smith to withhold a $25,000 grant to the Miami Film Festival; Thompson claimed that the festival was using state money to show pornographic films.[96] In response, Thompson was named an “Art Censor of the Year” by the ACLU.[97] The next month, Thompson faced disbarment over allegations that he lied while making accusations against prominent Dade County lawyer Stuart Z Grossman.[98] Thompson ultimately admitted violating bar rules of professional conduct, including charges that he contacted people represented by an attorney without first contacting their attorneys, and agreed to pay $3,000[99] in fines and receive a public reprimand.[100]

    In 1999, Thompson represented the parents of Bryce Kilduff, an 11-year old boy who committed suicide by hanging himself. Police believed that the death was an accident, and that Kilduff was imitating Kenny, a character from the Comedy Central series South Park, which Bryce, according to his parents, had never watched. Thompson called for Comedy Central to stop marketing the show and toys based on the series to children. “You see, the whole show — thrust of the show is it’s — it’s cool for kids to act like the characters in South Park.”

    That is taken from Wikipedia.

    So...he blamed South Park for a suicide commited by someone who never saw the show....he blamed a film arts festival for developing/ showing porno...riigght......this guys nuts....

  • Iditarod_Musher

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    So Thompson uses Biblical references in an attempt to ban a videogame? I fail to see what relevance religion has in the videogame industry, besides if people don't approve of it then they don't have to play it, right? Anyway, Thompson seriously needs to get a life. It seems to me that he is just like a kid, who has a tantrum when he doesn't get things his own way. What does everyone else think?

  • joshel

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 12:13 pm PT

    I hope that man dies slowly and painfully. People like him are slowing down the evolution of the human race.

  • B-bad

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 10:51 am PT

    Jack has tried to use the Courts for years to ban game, now it's time the courts put a ban on Jack, maybe some time in a cell will help Jack to understand that real world violience isn't caused by game. Sad to say but the violience in the world is caused by human nature and until people can learn to live without hurting one another thing aren't going to change!

  • obywan

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 5:00 am PT

    Some people destroys their lives over silly things.. Poor Thompson he refuses to be happy unless the world is like he want it to be.. he seriously need medical and psychiatric attentions.

  • Vegnarok

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 10:42 pm PT

    God I absolutely despise Jack Thompson for his lack of common sense and scrape-goatism. Video games does not inspire Real life violence! With that said let's look at the side and say that it indeed does. So Violence in game inspires real life violence? Okay. Let's take it a step further and say: What inspire games to have violence in them? Real life! Jack Thompson should focus on making the actual violence stop and not the digital kind. I sincerely hopes he become convicted of contempt.

  • Payback7

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 10:35 pm PT

    Yeah I get really peaved with all these people trying to blame games for the world's violence.
    Apparently games caused the violence that occured during the crusades (When they didn't even know what electricity was!)
    Oh and don't forget that it was games fault that there was a World war. Apparently Pong was the cause of World War 2 as well. Seriously though, people are upset about violent games. Well simple - don't let your kids play the game! And if your kids are getting ahold of the games then you obviously your not being a responsible parent. VIVA LA NINTENDO!!!

  • Hellfire93

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 10:12 pm PT

    He deserves it, how could he ban San Andreas, free country isn't it?

  • Scorpion16

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 10:11 pm PT

    This was long overdue. I personally am tickled pink by this, I've had enough of this fanatical zealot abusing the legal system to try to force his warped vision of morality on the public. Lock him up for as long as they can and fine him to the point of bankruptcy. He should be banned from practicing law in all 50 states. This guy deserves everything that's coming to him and I think that the industry should have started fighting back a long time ago. I hope he enjoys his stay in the big house. He should enjoy getting some jailhouse lovin since that's the only love he'll get in his whole pointless life.

  • bam416

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 8:01 pm PT

    these people are full of crap they should stop blaming games for everything like people killing them selfs it is there falt that they belive the games and they should quit messing with games

  • stealthbitch

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 7:15 pm PT

    dont drop teh soap jack!

  • TKnHappyNess

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 6:23 pm PT

    I wouldn't be surprised if one of those gamers who play "violent video games" ends up murdering this guy. All the gamers would celebrate, and if he gets arrested, he should be found not guilty for one reason: Jack Thompson is a nutcase and he's hurting the entertainment industry with all these excuses instead of blaming the parents.

  • dalejrgamer

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 6:00 pm PT

    Jack(ass) Thompson is an idiot. He deserves to be sued.

  • the_real_VIP

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 4:58 pm PT

    Go Take-Two, sue & win over him. Empty out his bank account; I wanna see him rot in a cardboard box on the side of a sidewalk.

  • tylergamereview

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 4:54 pm PT

    oh how the mighty have fallen. With the peaceholics protesting, the game retailers banning it, and the hundreds of 'crusaders' trying to ban games for good, this is punch that that Take-Two and Rock Star need to knock Jack of his hill. Win or lose, Jack already lost his footing. He won a few battles but it's gonna be over soon. Cheers to failure of those who are wrong!

  • Captivator

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 4:49 pm PT

    The guy is a complete and total HELMET. There can't be any doubt about it anymore. I don't even get riled by Thompson anymore - I just pity the fool. [/mrT]

    That said, it's been hella fun watching him disintegrate mentally. When he gets disbarred - for yea, verily, it must surely be just around the corner - I hope he hears the whole video gaming world laughing its socks off.

  • XBoxGamer504

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 4:44 pm PT

    Jack Thompson is an idiot. I can not stand that guy! He's always trying to stop me from having my fun with violent games. Jack, I'm a grown ass man, dawg (I'll be 22 next Tuesday). I don't need to hear your ssss, and I don't need to have a game taken off the shelf because you didn't like it. I could care less what you do to kids playing these kinds of games... ban the sale of games to them, not me. When you're ffffing with the video gaming industry, you're ffffing with me. Jack must be stopped and soon! I do hope that he'll be charged and get some jail time out of this. Hopefully, that'll fix his ass. If that don't, then I can think of something that will...

  • GameBeaten

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 4:44 pm PT

    Thompson just refuses to lose. What an idiot.

  • goodind

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 3:40 pm PT

    Jack needs to quit while he's ahead. WOW what a total idiot! I can't believe he would run his mouth off in court because he lost. His statement sounded like a threat to me. It would serve Mr. Thompson right if he got a hefty fine and at least an overnight stay in jail. Jack still doesn't get it. Good parenting is the key here. Not banning a game. Duh! Jack tried SO HARD to keep Bully from being sold, Now that this big dummy made such a big deal about Bully, the game is even more popular because of the controversy that Jack himself started. Good job Jack! I can't wait to see what happens next! (Jack spends time in jail and changes his name to Ben Dover) LOL!

  • MoldOnHold

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 3:02 pm PT

    way to go jack. you just made an idiot out of yourself AGAIN.

  • thefjk

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 2:26 pm PT

    Get rid of this Thomson guy, he's probably never played a game ever. You know what we need to get CJ to make him sleep with the fishes! (Dont take this stament seriously though, I don't want lawyers stomping me!)

  • scarybarry

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 1:54 pm PT

    If a game truly inspires someone to kill or otherwise act deviantly, it is not the fault of the developer, it is the fault of the parents for raising a wackjob that can't separate reality from fantasy. Many people drive responsibly, yet others drive with reckless abandon and put inncocent lives at risk all the time. If the deviant behavior of a random few can justify the banning of an otherwise worthwhile activity, why isn't Mr. Thompson trying to ban automobiles? A video game's purpose is not to inspire immorality just as a vehicle's purpose is not to kill someone, yet both happen from time to time. Mr. Thompson, the judge laughed at you because he knows your logic is only applied where it is convenient for you. He was right to laugh at you, and the fact that a respected member of the judiciary is laughing at you should be proof enough that if you define yourself by your campaign against video games, then your life has truly been a waste, because it is a campaign that is totally separated from reality.

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