Legal Victory: Don Henley Cleared in Stolen Lyrics Lawsuit, Glenn Horowitz Continues Legal Battle
Don Henley of the Eagles has successfully defended himself against a lawsuit accusing him of stealing lyrics to the song 'Hotel California'. The case involved three men who were initially charged with stealing the handwritten lyrics. One of the defendants, Glenn Horowitz, later filed a civil suit against Henley and his manager, Irving Azoff, alleging malicious prosecution and emotional distress.
The lyrics to 'Hotel California', 'Life in the Fast Lane', and 'New Kid in Town' were stolen in the 1970s by Ed Sanders, who was hired to write a biography on Henley and the band. The stolen lyrics were eventually sold to rare books dealer Horowitz for $1 million. Horowitz then sold them to Edward Kosinski and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi. In 2022, all three men were charged, and Inciardi was suspended pending trial.
Emails between Don Henley, Irving Azoff, and their attorney revealed that they were aware Sanders had legally obtained the lyric sheets, leading to the dismissal of the case. Despite this, Horowitz claimed he suffered significant damages, including loss of reputation and financial losses amounting to over $10 million. However, the case against him was recently dismissed by Kathleen Waterman-Marshall, citing ample probable cause for the initial criminal case.
Waterman-Marshall stated that the documents did not exculpate Horowitz and that there was no evidence of bad faith conduct by the defendants. Horowitz's lawyer, Caitlin Robin, announced plans to appeal the dismissal and pursue a malicious prosecution suit against the city of New York. The case against Don Henley and Irving Azoff has been dismissed, but Horowitz continues to seek legal recourse.
In conclusion, Don Henley has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the case involving stolen lyrics, with the lawsuit against him and his manager being dismissed. The legal battle continues for Glenn Horowitz, who is appealing the decision and pursuing a malicious prosecution suit against the city of New York.