http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...hletes_videos_1

CHICAGO (AP) - A federal judge has ordered eight companies and three people to pay $506 million to 46 college athletes secretly videotaped in the buff, with the images sold over the Internet.



The athletes had sued over the footage. After the defendants failed to show up in court since at least 2000, a federal judge granted the students a default judgment.


The videotapes were made in locker rooms, rest rooms and showers during athletic competitions on several campuses and sold through Internet sites advertising "hot younger dudes."


"We look at this judgment as the court system sending a signal to the sexual predators that they're not going to get away with this," said attorney Cindy Fluxgold, who represents several of the athletes.


U.S. District Judge Charles P. Kocoras' Nov. 25 decision grants each of 46 athletes $1 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages. The remainder of the $506 million award will go to court costs and attorneys' fees.


Kocoras also ordered the defendants to surrender the videotapes and get out of the business of making and selling them.


The tapes, with names such as "Straight Off the Mat" and "Voyeur Time," first came to light in 1999, when the Chicago Tribune reported that hidden-camera videotapes, including footage taken during a 1995 wrestling tournament at Northwestern University, were being marketed online and by mail.


A wrestler at the match noticed a towel-covered camera case in the locker room and a camera was discovered inside.


No criminal charges were filed in connection with the tapes. Illinois has since enacted a law making it illegal to secretly film anyone in locker rooms or bathrooms.


Fluxgold said Wednesday that the 46 athletes represent a fraction of the hundreds of men caught on tape, many of whom have not been identified. The lawsuit alleged invasion of privacy, unlawful use of the plaintiffs' images for monetary gain, and mail and wire fraud under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.


Among the schools involved were Northwestern, Illinois, Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, Indiana, Penn, Iowa State and Michigan State.

Kocoras' judgment was entered against Franco Production, Franko Productions, Rodco, Hidvidco, Hidvidco-Atlas Video Release, AMO Video, Atlas Video, Gamport/Earthlink, and individuals Daniel Franco, George Jachem and R.D. Couture.

JR was one of the athletes.

damn, i wish i knew about this feed!!!

i wanna go see!!!!!

gay wrestling is an untapped niche.

have you been searching long sweetie?


:awinky:

cj, not long but i have been searching :)
traffic is a commodity, ya just gotta keep it moving

LOL

i'll keep it in mind for future site building ... i will need some content though ... volunteers?!?!

I'll do it....
;-))

I'll do it....
;-))[/b][/quote]
who would you like your opponent to be?!

who would you like your opponent to be?![/b][/quote]
Lisa!
;-)))

darling, lisa is a woman ... this is GAY WRESTLING ...

please choose an oponent or one will be assigned to you

Isn't all wrestling gay? C'mon Wig, tell us the truth....:agrin:

Isn't all wrestling gay? C'mon Wig, tell us the truth....:agrin:[/b][/quote]
>>enter stage left, wig and his mule

Okay, I admit it. Serge, do you want to wrestle? :)

My mule is straight... I think. :yowsa:

yes, but only with Uncle Mike
;-)))

What, a tag team? You dirty little russian. ;-))

Give him a few minutes with Serge and he'll be convinced that he IS gay! :biglaugh:

Give him a few minutes with Serge and he'll be convinced that he IS gay! :biglaugh:[/b][/quote]
LOL


he is FULL of funny stories, that's for sure ... very funny dinner we had that evening wig ;-)

CJ, one of these days I'm gonna get you to take a trail ride with me. Horse or mule, you will love it.

Of course, only after I do the Aussie BBQ. :D

i have ridden horses but the word 'mule' makes me think i'll want to be taking photos instead of riding it ;-)


:agrin:

Once you go mule, you never go back. :D

btw, I saw your post about the 4x4's... That looks like a lot of fun.

wig riding cj??

VERRRYYYY interesting!
;-))

Serge, want to tag team on that trio? I'm not into incest, even if I am the "Hillbilly from North GA".

Let's leave Uncle Mike out of it. LOL

wig,
I can't...
I sing "I lost my dick in San Francisco"
now a days
;-)))

wig,
I can't...
I sing "I lost my dick in San Francisco"
now a days
;-)))[/b][/quote]
plus, my brain doesn't even want to go there ...



wig, you let me ride your mule and i'll let you drive my truck ;-)

Deal! ;-))

LOL= DUH!

:biglaugh:

/me flashes Serge...see?!? :agrin: