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[This message was edited Thu Apr 8 13:57:30 2004 by Abrazo]

The 'emotional distress' shouldn't be such a big deal. You all know it's a standard accusation in the US in cases like these. Besides when Prince would accuse someone of battering him he would also claim emotional distress.

The fact of the matter is that the kid was not acting illegally by taking the picture, but Prince's bodyguard was by stealing it. Other fact of the matter is that Prince is a celebrity, for more than twenty years already, and his pics are all over the internet without permission, so what's the big deal?

So some of you say the kid could be making money off it? Since when does the possibility of profiteering give you the right to take someone's property?

Prince will lose this case.


--

I'd actually like to see Prince go to prison for this. Then he could do a musical number, like in Jailhouse Rock. Hey, it worked for Elvis.

Goldniga, he was in an airport; you have the right take anyone's picture there.

I really wish they would get a law stating that you can only get so close to people when snapping photos otherwise it's considered an offense and these entertainers can legally kick their ass saying it was self-defense.

Yes, I like seeing pictures of my favorite artists, but not candid shots where these guys are like stalking them or getting in front of them not allowing them to get where they're going. People have always asked to take my photo when getting close to me and I think entertainers deserve the same respect.

LQ

lovemachine said:

Abso-frikkin-utely. He could have saved himself all this hassle by just asking the bodyguard 2 make sure the pix were deleted from the digi cam then handing it back - maybe an autograph wouldn't have gone amiss..oh, hang on, he doesnt like doing that either does he?

Maybe the kid could've shaken the kid's hand? Oh...hang on, he doesnt like doing that with guys either does he? Oh well kid, yer fucked. U lose on all counts.

He was in a public space, so fuck him if he can't handle having a picture taken in that situation - if this had been his back yard, then I would totally agree otherwise, but he wasnt - end of story. As someone who's been int he bizness YEARS now, he should know betta.

Besides, what's he afraid of? The camera stealing his soul? Oh...hang on, D'angelo did that years ago didnt he?

:spank:sue, or sue, or sewer?.....y'all get your mind out of the gutter.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

My hubby is a Lawyer... He said its PERFECTLY legal to take some ones picture in a PUBLIC PLACE!!!!! Prince's body guard could of just walked up to the guy and said "please stop that".. he had NO RIGHT To grab the camera and be so mean to the kid.....
I could understand it if the kid ran in front of Prince shoved the camera in his face and started to snap pictures.. that is NOT cool.... but so what if he clicked a picture or 2.. Stars have that happen ALL the time.. Prince should NOT think he is above this..... That is all part of being a star.. lets face it people....
Princes "people" are very odd tho-.. a couple of years ago we were in Chanhassen and we stopped our car across the street from Princes house... There is a HUGE field next to Princes house and there are always deer there. I love deer so I was snapping some pictures.. well this BIG burly guy comes trotting out of the guard house and says "HEY! You can't take pictures.. that is private property".. I said, I am just taking pictures of some deer.. and he said "NO WAY.. you can't do that" Well, my Attorney husband said....
"Oh yes we can.. we are standing on PUBLIC PROPERTY we are NOT on Princes property.. by law we can do what ever we want.. and if you wanna call the cops.. please do, I would love to talk to them".. Well this security guy just stood there with his mouth open! LOL
As far as this law suit.. I think they guy should just be sueing TREVOR.. and JUST for the price to replace his camera.. PERIOD!!!!!

Tom said:

You're

Anxiety said:

First of all if the kid was a fan then he already knows that prince does'nt like people taking pics of him, plus the kid or anybody else needs 2 ask any persons celeberty or not that persons approval and not just start rudly snapping pics. And since prince is a celeb the boy could make $ off of the pics. The bodyguard did his job bcuz he does'nt know if the kid was hired by a tabloid paper or not! I don't have a problem with p's bodyguard taking the camara bcuz all celebs know that as long as u don't physically harm the person u will probably end up paying 4 the camara but u get to destroy the pic and as far as i can tell the kid was'nt ruffed up,bcuz if he was there would definitely be pics of his injuries. Therefore no harm no foul. The kid got a 1nce in a lifetime upclose and personal experience with a celeb. I betchya he will know better next time and ask first which is what he should have done in the 1st place!

Orionforever said:

Most celebs would respond the same way. They show it on the E CHANNEL on cable all of the time on that show called CELEBRITYS CAUGHT ON CAMARA. Prince is no different!

BobGeorge999 said:

A couple grand is the price prince is willing 2 pay, and most celebs already have these kinds of expenses in the budget. They will pay 4 as much privacy they can get. Thats y they have bodyguards!

ELBOOGY said:

My hubby watches that show ALL the time and MOST of the Celebs are pretty cool about being "caught on tape"..... You chose to me in the lime light..... That is just how it goes.....
personally..... I would love to be so hot that people wanted to take my pictures...

I hope they give him the chair!




Prince, I mean

Sorry Prince or no Prince, I hope this guy wins, the bodyguard had no right to take the camera off this kid, he guy could have just said "stop taking photo's" and that would have been the end of it. Also this crap about how "Prince doesn't like getting pictures taken", so what? he's just as human as the rest of us, if some one takes his picture he or his bodyguard should never go to the length of destorying property, all these fans/fams are going around saying "he was defending prince" and from what was he defending Prince from a flash? One more question why is Prince being sued? shouldn't only the bodyguard be sued because he not Prince broke the camera?

I really cannot understand the fuss here.

I know that Prince doesnt like his picture being taken but is that not ever so hypocritical for a man who stands on stage and milks the adoration of millions of fans worldwide - a man who has cultivated his celebrity and mystery as a money spinner? Cant have it both ways can you now? If you are a celebrity then you accept that with that comes the adoration of the public and that means along with it that your picture is going to be taken - oh and dont ask me whther I would like it either - I didnt choose to be a celebrity and to cultivate my myth

Also he has no right to take someones camera. Prince should actually be charged with theft - plain and simple. I love his music but he is not God. When I go to a concert his camera crews may well film me/photo me - they did not ask my permission - that does not give me the right to steal his cameras.

Face it - the only reason why he is bothered is because he strives so hard to cultivate the perfect image of himself - he is a control freak

I m sure its hard being photo'd all the time but I am afraid it is tough tits - it comes with the goody bag

Emancipation88 said:

Well, this is getting kinda technical, but if the bodyguard was acting in the course of his employment then his employer may also be liable for his actions. Simply put, if Trevor was instructed not to let people take pictures, and to take cameras if necessary then his employer could be liable. (matt if ya wanna throw up some "course of employment" law, be my guest).

Actually, if he isn't already, he should probably be suing "Paisley Park Enterprises" rather than Prince as an individual, but that's something for the lawyers to figure out.

LoveRobot said:

My hero!!!

I haven't heard of this case,suprisingly. It happened 2003? Dang,that boy woulda lost. No chance cuz many others know Prince dun like pplz takin' pix of him or havin' ne otha type media equipment. Yea all he wanted wuz sum e-z money he betta finish up college & finda job 2 get sum money in his pocket insteada tryna get sum from P. & havin' 'Emotional Stress'??? WDF??!! Naw! that's all BS right there. That whole lawsuit thing wuz just dumb I could see if it wuz like witta nutha MA & they neva said nething about they dun want no pix & etc. takin' of'em,OR say they ripped ya off witta song(use 2 be most well-known fake lawsuits back in the day)--when ya wanna tryda get quick cash.

Tom said:

You took the words right out of my mouth. All of them!

This kid more than likely got talked into the emotional distress part by his lawyer, and we all know how damn greedy some lawyers are.

This kid did nothing wrong. If I saw someone famous in public I would snap a photo. I once saw Rod Stewart but nobody believes me because I had no proof. Anyway it's a public place and you can take a picture of anyone. How many pictures of people you don't know and didn't ask permission do you have from those shots of a building or monument. Now this kid is without a camera. Not to mention the other pictures he had on there. Maybe he had pictures of visiting family. Or of a place he traveled to that he can't get back. Those are memories that were stolen. Digital camera $500.00 - Memories, priceless.

Prince needs to chill out with the whole picture thing. He thinks that everyone who takes one is out to make money. That kid was just excited to see the man. I hope the kid takes him for a little change.

Well first of all, why in the hell was he that stupid to take a picture of a famous internationally known rock star when he knows that that is a definite no-no!! I mean any idiot knows this. We hear the stories all the time of how people take pictures of stars and then sell the crazy looking things to tabloids so that they can tell lies about them.

I think he needs to grow up and get a life. And if he needed that much proof to tell his friends that he saw Prince get off of a plane, then he has entirely too much time on their hands. Who cares if you have seen someone famous and your friends don't believe you, I mean it should only matter to you only. Those type of people suing Prince over Bulls**t like this are losers. They are the kind that turn into stalkers and thats a whole other issue in itself.

Let's face it, he's only trying to get free tuition money, but that ain't gonna happen.

missfee said:

Let me steal something from you, and then we'll see if you're singing the same song.

reminder: keep shit on-topic, please.

kthx.

missfee said:

Tabloids don't need pictures in order to tell lies about someone unless it's an incriminating photo. They can make up lies perfectly well without the photos and use stock film instead.

It is a polite gesture to at least ask if you can take a photo of someone. You don't want another Sean Penn incident.

Which reminds me, he should sue the company that made his camera for not putting a label on it stating not to take pictures of celebrities who may assault the user of such camera. (Thank you, Berke Breathed.)

JACKAL said:

You wouldn't steal a damn thing from me cuz I would be do something THAT DUMB!!!

missfee said:

MrShockadelica said:

I agree...if I saw Prince, I wouldn't take his picture just to be polite to him. But any other celebrity and I am snapping away...I've got to admit. So I don't blame the guy that much for being rude. Prince's bodyguard was rude and broke the law by assaulting the kid and robbing him of his camera. I agree that the other pictures might have had great value to him as well. I hope Prince has to at least give him $10K or much more.

Universaluv said:

No need--you've summed it up nicely. I'd also point out that Prince and/or Paisley Park surely have deeper pockets than the bodyguard does.

The way I predict this will end is that there will be a confidential settlement agreement whereby Prince and/or Paisley Park admit no wrongdoing, but pay the kid some money to make this go away.

I'm glad the kid took it to court.

He wins, simple as that.

Like I said before, Assault is kind of hard to prove (he said, they said), and the distress is customary to add to a suit.

The Theft easily stands.


"Should have known better" BLAH BLAH BLAH. Not sure what world you're living in, but facts are facts and laws are laws.

Now, maybe we can focus on the MUSIC and CONCERTS rather than try to reshape the laws of the United States.