This takes the harassment of Evil Unveiled and takes it to a whole new level. This business has already been exposed by the blog "OffendExtortion.", which is out at much of the activity of this organization. my belief is if this website is to successfully, it could open the doors for suing other organizations like Perverted Justice, Absolute Zero United, and Evil Unveiled.
http://californiarsol.org/2013/03/california-rsol-challenges-websites-in-federal-district-court/
California Reform Sex Offender Laws Challenges Websites in Federal District Court
3-20-2013 California:
California Reform Sex Offender Laws (CA RSOL) filed a lawsuit in federal district court today challenging websites which identify individuals as sex offenders and include their personal information, including names, photos, and home addresses as well as demand up to $500 for removal of that information from the websites.
“It is time to stop the extortion of more than 750,000 individuals in this country,” stated Janice Bellucci,President of CA RSOL. “Those who work for or with these websites have engaged, and continue to engage, in a pattern of racketeering activities.”
According to the lawsuit,individuals connected with three websites – Offendex, Online Detective and SORarchives– have violated both federal and state laws. The laws include the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act(18 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.), the right of publicity (California Civil Code 3344)as well as the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
“We’ve heard so many stories of people who have completed their registration period and yet are unable to move on with their lives,” stated Brenda Jones, Executive Director of Reform Sex Offender Laws, Inc. “The only way they can be free is to submit to the extortion of profiteers like Offendex and that is simply appalling.”
There are a total of 10 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, including residents from five states (California, Washington,Oregon, Kentucky and Tennessee). Plaintiffs include individuals convicted of sex-related offenses as well as one wife and one mother who have never been convicted of a crime.
“For-profit companies that provide false information about a former offender cause collateral damage to the families of offenders,” stated Vicki Henry, Director of Women Against Registry. “The additional financial burdens placed on the families by the companies that require a fee for removal from their website and the misinterpretation of the individual significantly limit the employment opportunities of a former offender.”
The lawsuit was filed today in U.S.District Court, Central District of California, Western Division in Los Angeles, California. Organizations providing support, including financial support, to this effort include Women Against Registry, Reform Sex Offender Laws, Inc., and Families Against the Registry.
7 comments:
We are extremely pleased that we could help and assist the RSOL lawsuit.
Offendextortion.com
I would like to join this lawsuit, as I too continue to have my name dragged through the mud by these extortion sites. Isn't it just awesome how these a-holes prey on those of us who can statistically least afford to pay them, since many of us can't find work (in no small part due to them putting our names right at the top of Google searches)? I in fact appear on no fewer than SIX of them (and twice on two of them). My question is, how do I get in touch with Mrs. Bellucci? (I'll check back for responses).
Each time I muster the courage to Google myself is an exercise in maintaining my sanity.
http://californiarsol.org/contact-us/
I too would like to join this lawsuit. My background has been expunged and they have no legal right to list my information on their sites. Generally how long does it take to get a response back? I just sent one to Mrs. Bellucci. To the Anonymous listed above my response here, I hope you are able to join the lawsuit and be free and clear once and for all. Hopefully I will be joining the lawsuit as well.
I too wish to join this lawsuit. My background has been expunged and they have no legal right to have me on their archives. I hope that the Anonymous that posted before me is able to join this lawsuit as well and become free and clear. Does anyone know how long it takes to get a response?
Then you should contact California RSOL, the lawsuit is one of their projects:
http://californiarsol.org/
I cant really say Im all for Any Criminal Registration. Since the internet is world wide, and honestly there is alot of bad or sick people out there who can misuse private information, even if its just a name, and home address. Its easy to forge fake id's with access to your pic, and home information, attempt to get loans credit cards or whatnot ect. While so, Im just glad an attorney out there is taking interest in this, and making an effort to do the right thing, and do something about people misusing this information. Maybe this can be a good example as a start to show Society as a whole how bad of an idea of a public registry was to begin with, and how private people can misuse information posted by a any State Government. The Salem witch trials AKA "WITCH HUNT" laws were immediately changed when certain select of people became involved themselves. Sometimes a Law can feel real good until it bites you on your own hind lol..
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