Jonathan Lee Riches

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Jonathan Lee Riches is known for the many lawsuits he has filed in various United States district courts.[1] Riches is incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Williamsburg in Salters, South Carolina, for wire fraud under the terms of a plea bargain.[2][3][4] His projected release date is March 23, 2012.

[edit] History

Since January 8, 2006, Riches has filed over one thousand lawsuits in federal district courts across the country,[5] some of which have received considerable press attention.[6] Among the more famous defendants of his lawsuits are New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick,[7] U.S. President George W. Bush,[8] entrepreneur Martha Stewart,[9] NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon,[10] Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick,[11][12] entrepreneur Steve Jobs,[13] celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, [14] and pop star Britney Spears.[15] A number of Riches's lawsuits have been dismissed as being "frivolous, malicious" or failing "to state a claim upon which any relief could be granted".[11] Willis Hunt, the U.S. District Court Judge who dismissed Riches' suit against Vick as "farcical," opined that his lawsuits were clearly self-promotional.[11]

On April 9, 2008, Riches filed a request for a temporary restraining order in a US District Court against Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two, developer Rockstar Games, FCI Williamsburg and "Grand Theft Auto" itself, claiming that the defendants "put me in prison." The inmate stated, "Defendants contributed to Plaintiff committing identity theft. Defendant's games show sex, drugs and violence which offends me."Riches continued, "Defendants put me in prison. I face imminent danger from violent inmates who played Grand Theft Auto who will knock me out and take my gold Jesus cross."[16]

[edit] References

  1. ^ South Caroline intmate hits Michael Vick with '$63,000,000,000 Billion Dollar' lawsuit alleging Al Qaeda ties Fox News. (August 15, 2007) Accessed October 2, 2007.
  2. ^ Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator Accessed October 3, 2007.
  3. ^ Transcript: CNN presents 'How to Rob a Bank' (May 20, 2006). Accessed October 3, 2007.
  4. ^ Feldstein, Dan. (June 27, 2004). Identity thieves stealing attention / Horror stories help crime gain notoriety Houston Chronicle. Edition 4 Star; Section A; Page 1. Accessed October 3, 2007.
  5. ^ US Pacer US Party/Case Index Website maintained by the federal courts; search for Jonathan Riches prisoner cases on March 3, 2008 returned 1017 cases.
  6. ^ "Man of Many Suits" Emil Steiner The Washington Post
  7. ^ TSG
  8. ^ Howard, Brian. (April 13-19, 2006). Trial of the century. Philadelphia City Paper. Accessed October 3, 2007.
  9. ^ Prisoner known for suing celebrities takes on Martha Stewart Boston.com, in connection with The Boston Globe. (September 19, 2007). Accessed October 3, 2007.
  10. ^ Saxon, Eric. (2007). Inmate files federal complaint against NASCAR star Jeff Gordon wsoctv.com. Accessed October 3, 2007.
  11. ^ a b c Rankin, Bill. (August 17, 2007). Inmate's bizarre lawsuit against Vick thrown out of court The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Accessed October 3, 2007.
  12. ^ Transcript: 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for August 15 MSNBC. Accessed October 3, 2007.
  13. ^ Jade, Kasper. (September 25, 2007).Inmate's suit claims O.J. Simpson is "hitman" for Steve Jobs. Apple Insider. Accessed October 3, 2007.
  14. ^ An Embarrassment Of Riches. Retrieved on October 19, 2007.
  15. ^ Contactmusic.com. Prison Inmate Seeks Spears Restraining Order. Retrieved on October 12, 2007.
  16. ^ Inmate Files Restraining Order Against 'Grand Theft Auto' Makers FoxNews.com. Accessed April 20, 2008.