In a stunning turn of events, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has abandoned its pursuit of criminal charges midway through a high-profile trial centered around the sale of the Eagles’ iconic 1976 album “Hotel California.” The decision, announced Wednesday, follows the emergence of newly-produced evidence that has rocked the courtroom and cast doubt on the prosecution’s case.
Manhattan DA Drops Hotel California Suit : Shocking Twists Unfold
The trial, which had captivated legal observers, saw rare book dealer Glenn Horowitz, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and New Jersey auctioneer Edward Kosinski accused of attempting to auction off stolen, handwritten album notes belonging to Eagles’ frontman Don Henley. These notes included precious lyrics to renowned songs such as “Hotel California,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” and “New Kid in Town.”
Henley, along with Eagles’ longtime manager Irving Azoff and legal representatives from Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP, had initially asserted that biographer Ed Sanders pilfered these notes from Henley’s California barn in the 1970s. However, a bombshell revelation emerged over the weekend when Henley waived his attorney-client privilege and furnished thousands of communications. These communications suggested a startling possibility: Sanders might have legitimately acquired the documents.
Courtroom Drama Unfolds
Reacting to this revelation, New York Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber expressed grave concerns over the late disclosures, labeling them as violations of both discovery mandates and the defendants’ constitutional rights. He criticized Henley and Azoff for using attorney-client privilege to shield themselves from rigorous cross-examination and accused them of obfuscating vital information that could have influenced the case’s outcome.
