Also recommends a $50k penalty.
If you're a video gamer and you've never heard of Jack Thompson, you're living under an even larger rock than many accuse us of doing. What you may not know though, is that Mr. Thompson has been convicted in the last few months on multiple charges of professional misconduct - a big deal for a lawyer. A 10-year disbarment was recommended by the Florida State Bar Association. Well the judge (who is actually just a referee for the State Supreme Court) has ignored that recommendation and imposed her own.
If the State Supreme Court follows her recommendation, Jack Thompson will be disbarred for life in Florida, and subject to a $50,000 fine. From the judge's report:
The Florida Bar has recommended disbarment for a period of ten (10) years. This Court respectfully declines to follow the Bars recommendation... This case involves factual findings of cumulative misconduct, a repeated pattern of behavior relentlessly forced upon numerous unconnected individuals, a total lack of remorse or even slight acknowledgement of inappropriate conduct...
Additionally, the Court is taking into consideration a review of the Respondents conduct not only as proven by the evidence, but by what this Court has witnessed of the Respondents behavior throughout the eighteen (18) months of litigation. The undersigned finds no evidence whatsoever to indicate that the Respondent is amenable to rehabilitation, or even remotely appreciates the basis upon which a need or purpose for such rehabilitation is warranted...Over a very extended period of time involving a number of totally unrelated cases and individuals, the Respondent has demonstrated a pattern of conduct to strike out harshly, extensively, repeatedly and willfully to simply try to bring as much difficulty, distraction and anguish to those he considers in opposition to his causes. He does not proceed within the guidelines of appropriate professional behavior, but rather uses other means available to intimidate, harass, or bring public disrepute to those whom he perceives oppose him.
Thus, after careful consideration of the underlying facts in the instant cases, together with the Florida Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, the applicable aggravating and mitigating factors and the precedent case law, this Court makes the following recommendations for John Bruce Thompson:
A. Permanent disbarment, with no leave to reapply for admission.
B. Disciplinary costs currently totaling $43,675.35.
Yep, I'd say that's a pretty accurate description of the Jack-o we know and love to hate.
Thanks much to Game Politics.com for their willingness to read the full 170 page report and let us know if there are other goodies in there.
