Catherine Trammel Bill, Sacramento.

Matthew X profrv at nex.net.au
Sun May 9 08:50:29 PDT 1999


California Assembly committee passes new 'Son of Sam' bill
By The Associated Press
08.19.02
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SACRAMENTO — An Assembly committee unanimously passed a bill late last week 
that would allow victims to sue criminals for monetary damages long after 
the crime.
The state Supreme Court struck down the original version of the "Son of 
Sam" law in February, declaring it a violation of free-speech rights. That 
law, enacted in 1983, banned felons from profiting from their criminal 
actions with books or movies, diverting their profits to the victims instead.
SB1887, which passed the Assembly Judiciary committee on Aug. 16, attempts 
to circumvent the court's ruling by simply extending the statute of 
limitations for victims' lawsuits from one year after the crime to 10 years 
after the felon is freed from prison and completes parole. That would allow 
time for victims to sue for any money made by the felon as a result of the 
crime.
The "Son of Sam" bill, authored by Sen. Bruce McPherson, D-Santa Cruz, is 
named after the first such law passed in New York, inspired by "Son of Sam" 
serial killer David Berkowitz, who was offered a substantial sum for his 
story. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down that law in 1991.
The Senate unanimously passed the bill in June. It will move next to the 
Assembly floor.
Related
California 'Son of Sam' law struck down
State high court says statute barring felons from profiting from their 
crime stories could threaten many published works. 02.22.02
Yates story could test state's ban on profiting from crime
Analysis Texas' 'Son of Sam' law would likely face constitutional challenge 
if anyone were to try to buy rights to Houston mother's story. 06.06.02
Massachusetts high court knocks down 'Son of Sam' bill
Asked by lawmakers to issue advisory opinion, justices say legislation is 
too broad, targets a certain kind of content. 03.18.02
http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=16770





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