What if you got sued for millions?

[MeddyDuo]

If you got sued for millions, for downloading music or some other reason, what would happen? Assuming you are making a middle class income, you would never be able to pay that bill. So what do you do?

 

[leftyman]

call myself O.J.

 

[Aharami]

laugh. then post a copy of the lawsuit on ATOT

 

[MeddyDuo]

This didn't happen to me, I was just wondering how you could ever pay it off if it happened.

 

[Alone]

Out of court settlement. That's what the RIAA forces on everyone stupid enough not to fight it.

 

[imported_cheapdude]

They usually just find ways to ruin your life, wage garnishment and such.

 

[Jeeebus]

"sued" does not necessarily mean held liable. And held liable doesn't necessary mean someone can collect from you.

 

[Zolty]

I would laugh, then I would claim my wireless was unsecured and then they would have to prove it was me, if this is a civil suit then I should have time to destroy my hard disks. Then I might win, if I lose then declare bankruptcy and go on with my life.

 

[goatjc]

A student at our campus got pinched for running torrents / server of illegal music. I think the original claim was like 5 million or something but they settled for a few thousand. I'll try and look up a link.

 

[randomint]

well EXCUSE ME for verifying my isp's claim that I can download multi-media at "blazing fast speeds"!

 

[FoBoT]

just don't pay

the US doesn't have debtors prison

you can't go to jail just for oweing someone money and not paying them

 

[MeddyDuo]

Originally posted by: Zolty
I would laugh, then I would claim my wireless was unsecured and then they would have to prove it was me, if this is a civil suit then I should have time to destroy my hard disks. Then I might win, if I lose then declare bankruptcy and go on with my life.

So you could just declare bankruptcy and not owe anything?

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo

Originally posted by: Zolty
I would laugh, then I would claim my wireless was unsecured and then they would have to prove it was me, if this is a civil suit then I should have time to destroy my hard disks. Then I might win, if I lose then declare bankruptcy and go on with my life.

So you could just declare bankruptcy and not owe anything?

You can lose property and it ruins your credit for a bunch of years but yeah that is the idea.

 

[glutenberg]

Originally posted by: Zolty
I would laugh, then I would claim my wireless was unsecured and then they would have to prove it was me, if this is a civil suit then I should have time to destroy my hard disks. Then I might win, if I lose then declare bankruptcy and go on with my life.

Destroying evidence means you lose automatically. Also, declaring bankruptcy does not make you immune to payment.

 

[nutxo]

Originally posted by: Zolty

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo

Originally posted by: Zolty
I would laugh, then I would claim my wireless was unsecured and then they would have to prove it was me, if this is a civil suit then I should have time to destroy my hard disks. Then I might win, if I lose then declare bankruptcy and go on with my life.

So you could just declare bankruptcy and not owe anything?

You can lose property and it ruins your credit for a bunch of years but yeah that is the idea.

Its not quite that simple. I won a suit against a guy and he was denied protection and forced to liquidate eveything he owned. Then the people he owed split the proceeds.

 

[meltdown75]

curl up in a corner and cry.

 

[MeddyDuo]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
just don't pay

the US doesn't have debtors prison

you can't go to jail just for oweing someone money and not paying them

What would happen then?

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo

Originally posted by: FoBoT
just don't pay

the US doesn't have debtors prison

you can't go to jail just for oweing someone money and not paying them

What would happen then?

Yeah, I think you could say goodbye to ever having some sort of good standing in terms of credit. Most likely never own a house, getting a loan, or anything significant in life.

 

[maddogchen]

you can get sued for millions? i thought they could only sue you for how much you're worth.....unless you owe a them money.

 

[goatjc]

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/aug/21/ku_student_settles/

meh. . .well, maybe I was a little off on the first estimate.

 

[manowar821]

Commit arson at the RIAA/MPAA headquarters, then move to mexico. It's nice there anyway.

 

[daniel3168]

screw the RIAA its going to be a never ending story with copyrighted music, apps, movies, books. They are beating a dead horse with a stick. They can try to put an encryption on cds and dvd and some one will come along and break it. Plus students are idiots for downloading music at school or at work. There is no such thing as privacy when at work or at school. as for being sued for millions don't know what i would do probably give them a penny and say thats all i got take it or leave it or ask them do you take monopoly money i got a hotel on park place and board walk

 

[brandonbull]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
just don't pay

the US doesn't have debtors prison

you can't go to jail just for oweing someone money and not paying them

Actually you can. Try not paying child support and see if they don't put you in jail.

 

[lokiju]

I'd just tell them to add it to my tab.

 

[Rage187]

Originally posted by: brandonbull

Originally posted by: FoBoT
just don't pay

the US doesn't have debtors prison

you can't go to jail just for oweing someone money and not paying them

Actually you can. Try not paying child support and see if they don't put you in jail.

there is a big difference between family and civil judgements.