However, Justice Crane found these amended allegations to be both time-barred by a two-year statute of limitations and fundamentally flawed. She emphasized that Caruso lost the right to challenge the recording after his own counsel played the tape during depositions.
“This whole thing is ridiculous,” Justice Crane stated. “Both parties have affirmatively used this tape in this case. You cannot have a sword and shield situation. … This is an obvious tactic to delay this case, so it’s out.”
Legal Teams Face the Judge’s Wrath
Justice Crane’s frustrations extended beyond Caruso’s counsel, Paul Fishman of Arnold & Porter, who protested the dismissal. She also expressed displeasure with Sire Spirits’ lawyers for attempting to reinstate claims that had been previously dismissed.
The judge denied Sire’s bid to re-plead punitive damages and reserved judgment on whether to reintroduce Caruso’s wife, Gina, into the case and add a new claim against Beam Suntory for lost enterprise value.
“This is absurd,” Justice Crane remarked about the requests for amendments. “I don’t know why both sides have to repeatedly attempt to blow up this case. … You want to go down this road? I don’t really care. But I won’t have time to deal with this motion for quite some time.”
50 Cent Wiretap Claim : Ongoing Legal Battle
Mitchell Green, who pled guilty to wire fraud last year, is scheduled for sentencing in September. According to court filings by Sire Spirits, Green is cooperating with federal prosecutors in New Jersey, and the criminal investigation is ongoing.
