Don Henley Beats Malicious Prosecution Suit Tied to Stolen Eagles Lyrics Dispute

Judge Dismisses Eagles Lyrics Lawsuit in Rare Books Dealer Legal Battle

A New York judge has dismissed a wrongful prosecution lawsuit filed by rare books dealer Glenn Horowitz. The civil case targeted Eagles co-founder Don Henley and the band’s manager Irving Azoff. This follows the collapse of a criminal trial against Horowitz last year.

The criminal case accused Horowitz of criminal possession of stolen property. This involved over 100 pages of handwritten lyrics for the Eagles’ iconic “Hotel California” album. According to Reuters, prosecutors abandoned that trial mid-stream, citing new information.

Eagles lyrics lawsuit

Court Finds Probable Cause Existed for Initial Criminal Case

Justice Kathleen Waterman-Marshall granted the motion to dismiss the civil suit. She ruled that the Manhattan District Attorney’s office had “ample probable cause” to initially pursue charges. A grand jury had indicted Horowitz based on an independent, years-long investigation.

The judge noted that the documents which led to the case’s abandonment did not exonerate Horowitz. She also stated their release did not result from any bad faith conduct by Henley or Azoff. The prosecution’s dismissal was based on the defense’s inability to access certain information, not misconduct.

Legal Wrangling Over Handwritten Notes Continues

This ruling represents a significant victory for Henley and Azoff. Their lawyer, Dan Petrocelli, called Horowitz’s lawsuit “the only malicious prosecution” in the matter. He stated the court rightly and promptly dismissed the claims.

However, the legal saga is not over. Horowitz’s attorney confirmed they will appeal the dismissal. A separate malicious prosecution suit against the city of New York is still moving forward. Ownership of the lyric sheets themselves remains in dispute, with the materials still held by the Manhattan DA’s office.

The dismissal of this Eagles lyrics lawsuit marks a pivotal moment in the long-running dispute. The legal fight over the handwritten “Hotel California” pages continues in other courts, ensuring this rare music memorabilia battle is far from over.

Thought you’d like to know

What was Glenn Horowitz accused of in the criminal case?

He was charged with criminal possession of stolen property. The case involved handwritten lyrics from the Eagles’ “Hotel California” album. Prosecutors dropped the charges during the trial last year.

Why did the criminal trial against Horowitz collapse?

Prosecutors stated new information had come to light. They admitted their confidence in the case’s merits had faltered. This led them to abandon the trial before its conclusion.

What happens to the handwritten lyrics now?

The lyric sheets remain in the custody of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Their ultimate ownership is still being decided in a separate civil case. Don Henley is seeking to reclaim them as his property.

Is Horowitz continuing his legal fight?

Yes, his attorney confirmed they will appeal this dismissal. He is also pursuing a separate malicious prosecution case against the city of New York. The legal battles are ongoing on multiple fronts.

How did Henley initially discover the lyrics were for sale?

He became aware when other parties attempted to auction excerpts of the material. This occurred years after Horowitz had sold the pages to memorabilia dealers. Henley then reported them as stolen to authorities.