The other day I realized I still had a copy of A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. Good thing I didn't throw that out! The Law Blog is reporting news of a settlement between disgruntled plaintiffs that truly believed that crack addicts recover by pure willpower (and the love of their organized crime friends) and Random House. Peter Lattman quoted my University of Illinois colleague Andrew Morriss as writing in a letter to the editor that a better remedy would be "consigning Mr. Frey's book, and his future work as well, to the remainder bin." I completely agree, but this way I could get "up to" $14.95!
However, I would have to sign a sworn statement saying that I bought the book because I thought it was true. I can't possibly say that with a straight face when I'm not even sure I knew it was a memoir when I bought it. (Strangely, Target doesn't seem to have a "fiction" section and a "nonfiction" section; it merely has a "here are books a lot of people buy" section.) Plus, I guess I would have to find a notary. Now this is sounding like all of those rebates I never send in because the transaction costs are too high. I can see the lawyers negotiating now: "OK, we won't say you have to have a receipt because they'll never go for that. So let's pretend that we're sticklers for requiring that all plaintiffs must have actually relied on the fraud. But we'll require it to be a "sworn statement." Notary fees can be up to $10. Who is going to jump through these hoops? Nobody!" Now, giggle evilly like Vizzini right before the iocane powder kicks in.
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1. Posted by Fred Tung on May 21, 2007 @ 11:01 | Permalink
Christine, I bet you have notaries floating around the law school who would do it for you for free. But I take your point. Invitations to join class actions are becoming almost as common in my mailbox as credit card solicitations.
2. Posted by Nobody on May 21, 2007 @ 13:07 | Permalink
A statement doesn't have to be notarized to be "sworn." You can affirm under penalty of perjury that your statement is true, obviating the need for notarization. See 28 U.S.C. s 1746.
3. Posted by alkali on May 21, 2007 @ 13:31 | Permalink
Have you considered objecting to the settlement?
4. Posted by AM on May 25, 2007 @ 19:40 | Permalink
Why are you buying books at Target? If you have a free afternoon, hit the Jane Adams bookstore in downtown Champaign.
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