NEW YORK — Don Henley, the Eagles’ singer, filed a lawsuit in New York on Friday to restore his handwritten notes and song lyrics from the band’s classic album “Hotel California”.

The civil complaint was filed in Manhattan federal court in March after prosecutors abruptly dropped criminal charges against three collectibles specialists suspected of attempting to sell the documents.

Henley | AP News Image

Eagles singer Don Henley sues for return of handwritten ‘Hotel California’ lyrics

When the criminal prosecution against rare books dealer Glenn Horowitz, former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and rock memorabilia vendor Edward Kosinski was dismissed, the Eagles co-founder insisted the pages were stolen and pledged to file a lawsuit.

“Hotel California,” published by the Eagles in 1977, is the third-best-selling album in the United States.

“These 100 pages of personal lyric sheets belong to Mr. Henley and his family, and he has never authorized defendants or anyone else to peddle them for profit,” Henley’s attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, said in an emailed statement Friday.

According to the lawsuit, the handwritten pages are still in the custody of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, which declined to comment on the case Friday.

Lawyers for Kosinski and Inciardi criticized the legal action as frivolous, stating that the criminal prosecution was dropped after it was discovered that Henley deceived prosecutors by omitting important material.

“Don Henley is desperate to rewrite history,” Kosinski’s lawyer, Shawn Crowley, said in an emailed statement. “We look forward to litigating this case and bringing a lawsuit against Henley to hold him accountable for his repeated lies and misuse of the justice system.”

In a separate statement, Stacey Richman, Inciardi’s lawyer, said that the lawsuit seeks to “bully” and “perpetuate a false narrative.”

A lawyer for Horowitz, who isn’t named as a defendant because he doesn’t own the files, did not respond to an email requesting comment.

During the trial, the men’s lawyers claimed that Henley sent the lyrical pages to a writer who worked on an unpublished Eagles biography before selling the handwritten sheets to Horowitz. He sold them to Inciardi and Kosinski, who began auctioning some of the pages in 2012.

Don Henley | AP News Image

Eagles singer Don Henley sues for return of handwritten ‘Hotel California’ lyrics

The criminal case was quickly abandoned when prosecutors acknowledged that defense lawyers had been caught off guard by 6,000 pages of conversations involving Henley, his attorneys, and associates.

Prosecutors and the defense said they only acquired the materials when Henley and his lawyers decided to forgo their attorney-client privilege at the last minute, which protected legal discussions.

Judge Curtis Farber, who presided over the nonjury trial that began in late February, stated that witnesses and their lawyers used attorney-client privilege “to obfuscate and hide information that they believed would be damaging” and that prosecutors “were apparently manipulated.”

SOURCE – (AP)

The mother of Pat Tillman, a US military hero, has criticized ESPN’s choice to honor Prince Harry (The Duke of Sussex) with the award named after her son. Mary Tillman said ESPN network never consulted on Prince Harry getting the Pat Tillman Award.

The award honors the late NFL safety-turned-Army Ranger who volunteered following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Tillman was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, the news stunned his fellow Americans.

“I am shocked as to why ESPN would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award,” Mary told the Daily Mail Newspaper. “There are recipients that are far more fitting than Prince Harry,” she said. “There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.”

The shocked mother also said that Prince Harry is already popular and has won many awards, so ESPN should have picked someone else who has never been in the spotlight.

Many unsung heroes have won the Pat Tillman Award. Last year’s winner was the Buffalo Bills training staff, who revived Damar Hamlin after he had a cardiac attack in the middle of a game.

Mary’s condemnation was echoed by ESPN analysts Pat McAfee, who accused his own network on Friday of “trying to piss people off” for picking Prince Harry, the New York Post reports.

“It’s going to Prince Harry,” McAfee said on his talk show, “who I don’t even think is a Prince anymore, right? He said don’t call me that? See, why does the ESPYs do this s–t?

“This is like actually the most embarrassing thing I’ve seen in my entire life,” he added.

In picking The Duke of Sussex and others to receive honors during the upcoming ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly), Kate Jackson, VP, Production at ESPN, touted the recipients as those who have changed the world.

Jackson said, “These honorees have used their platforms to change the world and make it more inclusive for marginalized and suffering communities. They have shown incredible resilience, positivity, and perseverance, and we can’t wait to celebrate them at the 2024 ESPYs.”

Others have praised Harry for starting the Invictus Games, even though his life as a royal has caused a lot of trouble. Harry served in the British military for 10 years and flew helicopters on two tours in Afghanistan.

The Games, which started in 2014, are multi-sport competitions in the style of the Paralympics for soldiers and service members who have been hurt or sick.

When Prince Harry found out he was going to get the Pat Tillman Award, he said, “This one is for our whole service community.”

This award was made in 2014 and is given to someone who has worked in ways that are similar to Tillman’s.

Tillman was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals and served in Iraq and then Afghanistan before being killed by friendly fire in 2004. For his service, the hero was given the Silver Star and the Purple Heart after his death.

Source: Daily Mail, NY Post

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Popularity Hopes Dashed

WIMBLEDON, England — Andy Murray, a two-time Wimbledon champion, said Sunday that it is “impossible” to predict whether he would be ready to compete at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament despite feeling “better every day” as he recovers from surgery to remove a cyst from his spine.

Murray, 37, is slated to play the first round of singles at the All England Club on Tuesday. He and his older brother, Jamie, were also awarded wild-card invitations for doubles, which begin later this week.

Andy Murray | AP news Image

Andy Murray Is Still Not Sure Whether He Will Be Able To Compete At Wimbledon

The Scot underwent back surgery on June 22 after being forced to stop during a match at Queen’s Club a few days prior. He stated that the cyst was compressing a nerve, rendering his right leg numb and difficult to use and that he expected to miss Wimbledon “highly likely” before the surgery.

“It’s been a tough 10 days,” he stated.

Murray played a practice set on Sunday.

“It went pretty well, but I still don’t have 100% feeling and sensation in my leg,” stated the surgeon.

Murray intends to take medical checks on Monday, the first day of Wimbledon, and play another practice set before deciding in the evening.

Andy Murray | AP News Image

Andy Murray Is Still Not Sure Whether He Will Be Able To Compete At Wimbledon

Murray has won three major championships: the U.S. Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016. In 2013, he became the first British guy to win the All England Club’s singles trophy in 77 years.

He is also the first player to win two Olympic singles gold medals. He triumphed in London in 2012 when the All England Club hosted the sport’s Summer Games and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Murray underwent two hip procedures in 2018 and 2019. Murray returned to action after the second surgery, in which he received a metal hip implant, despite believing he would have to retire.

Subsequently, he has been sidelined by various medical difficulties, including injuring ligaments in his left ankle at the Miami Open in March.

Murray lost in the first round of the French Open in May.

Andy Murray | AP News Image

Andy Murray Is Still Not Sure Whether He Will Be Able To Compete At Wimbledon

He is not the only 37-year-old with multiple Wimbledon titles on his resume who is recovering from recent surgery: Novak Djokovic, who won seven of his 24 Grand Slam titles at the All England Club, had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee less than a month ago after being injured at the French Open.

Djokovic stated Saturday that he feels good enough to compete at Wimbledon and possibly win another trophy.

SOURCE – (AP)