Get the latest gossip

Charges Abruptly Dropped in ‘Hotel California’ Lyrics Trial

Prosecutors abruptly dismissed the case involving "Hotel California" lyrics they say were stolen from Don Henley.

The trial was heading into its third week on Wednesday when, in a letter to Judge Curtis Farber, Assistant District Attorney Aaron Ginades wrote, “The People brought this matter forward because we believed the evidence, when fully presented, would prove defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In comments Wednesday, Judge Farber noted, “It is now clear that both witnesses and their lawyers, two of which also shielded themselves from thorough and complete cross-examination by relying on Mr. Henley’s invocation, used the privilege to obfuscate and hide information that they believed would be damaging to their position that the lyric sheets were stolen. The first week of the criminal trial, which began in New York State Supreme Court on Feb. 21, included testimony from Henley, Azoff and a former executive at Christie’s, the auction house that had considered selling some of the paper (but opted against it after concerns over the pages’ ownership).

Get the Android app