“Porno-Trolling” Lawyer Could Get Disbarred

A lawyer in Minneapolis faces possible disbarment or “otherwise appropriate discipline” for, among other things, filing numerous John Doe copyright lawsuits against individuals who had downloaded pornography off sites he and partners had obtained rights to, then agreeing to quick settlements for a few thousand dollars from the alleged infringers. The attorney’s  machinations in his current bankruptcy proceedings, in the face of previously imposed sanctions, are also cited in a petition filed with the state Supreme Court by Minnesota’s Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility. The attorney’s current practice consists of filing civil lawsuits against businesses he alleges don’t comply with disability laws – a practice which, he says in an interview, is not implicated in his current disciplinary woes.