Where Politics And Video Games Collide

I'm in the camp that views this as not only a great settlement on T2's part, but a great victory over Laddy Jack and his bag of ad terrorem litigation tactics. First and foremost, this is the remedy T2 wanted: to enjoin Jack's ability to bring direct suits against the company in the name of himself, a State (Florida), or any other entity that would impinge on the release of GTA IV, Manhunt 2, etc. It also (theoretically) stops the flood of vitriolic letters--sorry, "Press Releases"--going directly to Take-Two management (I guess with Paul Eibeler out of the picture, Jack's just not in the mood anymore). The whole contempt issue is minor to T2 (honestly, I sincerely doubt Laddy Jack was ever in much danger of going to jail--the far likelier outcome is that he'd have to pay a fine and probably get yet another notch on his ethics record), but nonetheless important to JT (because, after all, he COULD have gone to jail, had to pay a hefty fine, and/or take a hit to his record that would've provided great fodder for the still-in-process Bar cases against him). Plus, in the event of Take Two's (likely) victory against him at trial, T2 could ding him for both costs and attorney's fees--and as you can imagine, that ain't cheap.

My concern is this: Jack might, at some point later down the line, break this contract (which, after all, is what a settlement agreement really is), continue his verbal and written assaults on T2's ability to release its products, and then claim that this contract is void for public policy, as it impinges on his personal First Amendment rights and his right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. He tried a similar tactic in one of his many cases against Norm Kent, Beasley Broadcasting, and the rest of the radio folk with whom he's constantly sparred. There was some settlement agreement in place that said something to the effect of Jack cannot complain to law enforcement about these guys' on-air shenanigans (I can't remember off the top of my head; I'll look it up later). In one of his more recent suits, he claimed that this agreement was void as against public policy because he couldn't engage in a citizens' duty of reporting crimes (or some other BS).

That being said, I think Jack realizes that he's got a couple of bigger fish to fry (or rather, that he's about to BE fried by much bigger fish): obviously, he's got two rather nasty Bar cases for which he needs to button down (as can be seen from the Florida Supreme Court's docket in Case No. SC07-80), and also, he and his lil' team are facing a massive dismissal hearing in the Posey case here in Albuquerque in June. In sum, great day for T2, not so much for Laddy Jack (especially after Chris Matthews basically handed Jack his *ss, much in the same way as ABC's guy did in that little Nightline piece a while back).