According to court documents, prosecutors have dropped charges against three men accused of stealing the Eagles‘ handwritten lyrics, with Don Henley portrayed as the victim.
The decision to dismiss came after Henley turned over 6,000 pages of previously unseen materials to prosecutors, including emails between him, Eagles manager Irving Azoff, and their legal team. This late disclosure resulted in a confrontation violation, according to Justice Curtis Farber. Farber stated, “It is now clear that both witnesses and their lawyers, two of whom also shielded themselves from thorough and complete cross-examination by relying on Mr. Henley’s invocation, used the privilege to obfuscate and conceal information that they believed would be damaging to their case that the lyric sheets were stolen. This is a basic confrontation violation.”
Legal Principles Challenged
The musician’s lawyers argued that the attorney-client privilege, a cornerstone of the legal system, should not be jeopardized. He emphasized the unfair outcome for Henley, who has pledged to continue his fight in civil court. Daniel M. Petrocelli, Henley’s lawyer, stated the following to Rolling Stone.
“The attorney-client privilege is a fundamental safeguard in our legal system, and you should rarely, if ever, have to waive it to prosecute or defend a case. As the victim in this case, Mr. Henley has been victimized once more by this unjust outcome. He intends to pursue all of his rights in civil court.”
The case involved Glenn Horowitz, a rare book collector; Craig Inciardi, a former curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; and Edward Kosinski, a rock auctioneer. They were accused of attempting to sell nearly 100 pages of Eagles lyrics and Henley’s handwritten notes. Those are thought to be worth more than $1 million. Despite facing serious charges such as conspiracy and criminal possession of stolen property, all of them have been dropped.
Stance of Don Henley On The Lyrics’ Privacy
During the trial, Don emphasized the intimate nature of the Eagles‘ hit album ‘Hotel California‘. He claimed that the drafts were never intended for public viewing. Despite the defense’s claims that he willingly handed over the documents, the singer emphasized the personal violation he felt when these items turned up at auction.
Henley’s dedication to preserving his and the Eagles’ legacy was clear throughout the trial. He challenged the notion that physically transferring the lyrics drafts equated to relinquishing ownership. It emphasized that the right to keep or sell the documents was never granted.
