Vintage Poster Scandal Update: Judge Sentences Kerry Haggard to over 6 years in Federal Prison and Orders to Pay $1,380,000 in Restitution to Victims

This is an update to the ongoing series of articles into various claims and charges of fraud in the posters, one sheets, and lobby cards art market that have rocked the collectibles industry over the past two and a half years. Today, per reports from Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, the Athens Banner-Herald, and other mainstream media sources, Kerry Haggard was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon to six years and six months in federal prison.  The court also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.38 million dollars. Read more

Judge Sentences eBay Entertainment Memorabilia Dealer to over 8 years in Federal Prison and Orders to Pay Nearly $175,000 in Restitution to Victims

As reported on last year (see “eBay Entertainment Memorabilia Dealer Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges in U.S. District Court“), eBay entertainment memorabilia dealer David Bruce Shyrock plead guilty to fraud charges in federal after defrauding over 1,200 eBay users out of nearly $175,000 by selling memorabilia with forged autographs on the popular online auction website.  Today, the Joplin, Missouri man was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr to eight years and four months in federal prison without parole.  The court also ordered Shyrock to pay $174,894 in restitution to his victims.  Read more

EU Court of Justice Rules eBay May Be Held Liable in Sale of Trademark Infringing and Counterfeit Goods

As part of an ongoing series of legal disputes that have challenged the manner in which eBay operates its auction business and website, today the European Union Court of Justice provided clarification on questions pertaining to a case before the High Court in the United Kingdom over a dispute brought by L’Oréal against the global auction giant.  The Court of Justice ruled that eBay may be liable for the sale of counterfeit and trademark-infringing goods, based on the circumstances and what kind of “active role” it plays in the sale of the goods.   Read more

eBay Shill Bidder Ordered By Judge To Pay £5,000

As reported back in April (see New eBay Legal Development in the UK – Seller to be Fined up to £50,000 for Shill Bidding), an eBay seller in the UK, Paul Barrett, plead guilty to shill bidding his own auctions. Yesterday, the judge in the case ordered Barrett to pay £5,000 in fines and court costs and to do 250 hours of community service. Read more

New eBay Legal Development in the UK – Seller to be Fined up to £50,000 for Shill Bidding

The latest in a series of interesting legal developments related to eBay in the past few years, breaking news today is the case of an eBay seller in the UK who faces up to £50,000 in fines for shill bidding his own auctions.  The Daily Mail reports this is the first case in which someone is being fined for such activities. Read more

AFP Report: Court Finds eBay “Guilty of Negligence” In Power Seller Fraud Case, Buyer Awarded $22,000

Per a report from the AFP, an Austrian court has found eBay to be guilty of negligence in a case about a buyer who used the auction site to purchase gold from an eBay “Power Seller” dealer, which he never received.  Read more

Latest High Profile eBay Fraud Story in the Media – Millions Lost in Fake Golf Goods Scam

eBay’s reputation as a marketplace for fraud continues to worsen, with high profile mainstream media stories about lawsuits over the sale of fake, counterfeit, and copyright-infringing goods.  The latest example comes from a court case in the UK, regarding a “global network of criminals [that] duped eBay customers into buying millions of pounds worth of fake golf clubs“. Read more

Judge Sentences eBay Fraudster to Over One Year in Prison

U.S. District Judge Peter C. Dorsey today sentenced a Connecticut man, who plead guilty to committing fraud on eBay, to one year and one day in prison.  He also ordered that he pay over a quarter of a million dollars in restitution, perform 150 hours of community service, and have three years of supervised release, following the completion of his prison term.  Read more

Landmark Decision in U.S. Federal Court: California Jury Finds ISPs Liable for Hosting Websites Selling Counterfeit Goods

In what is being called a landmark decision, a jury in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California this week found that two ISPs and their owner are liable for contributing to trademark and copyright infringement for hosting sites selling counterfeit Louis Vuitton merchandise. Read more

eBay Live Auctions: R.I.P.

While there are still two weeks until eBay Live Auctions is retired officially, given that the Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 34″ ended over the weekend, for all intents and purposes for the original prop hobby, it is finished. Read more

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