New York Prosecutors Drop Case Against Men Accused of Possessing ‘Hotel California’ Lyrics
In a surprising turn of events, New York prosecutors have decided to drop their criminal case against three men who were accused of conspiring to possess a collection of hand-drafted lyrics to iconic Eagles songs, including the legendary “Hotel California.” The trial, which had been underway since late February, came to an abrupt halt when Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Aaron Ginandes informed the judge that they would no longer proceed with the case. The decision was based on newly available emails that defense lawyers argued raised questions about the trial’s fairness.
The case revolved around approximately 100 pages of legal-pad notes that were instrumental in the creation of the Eagles’ 1976 album “Hotel California.” This album remains one of the best-selling records of all time in the United States, largely due to its haunting title track that speaks of a place where one can check out anytime but can never leave.
The accused individuals were prominent figures in the collectibles world. They included rare books dealer Glenn Horowitz, former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and rock memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants knew the pages had a questionable chain of ownership but still attempted to sell them, concocting a provenance to deceive auction houses and avoid returning the documents to Eagles co-founder Don Henley. The defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to criminally possess stolen property, asserting that they were rightful owners of the pages and that they had not been stolen from anyone.
Following the dismissal of the case, Jonathan Bach, an attorney for Horowitz, expressed relief and stated, “We are glad the district attorney’s office finally made the right decision to drop this case. It should never have been brought.” Horowitz, visibly emotional, hugged his tearful family members but did not provide any comments as he left the courtroom. Inciardi also refrained from speaking to the media but released a statement saying, “The next step is building back our reputations.” Scott Edelman, one of Kosinski’s attorneys, commended the prosecutors for their decision but criticized them for being blinded by the fame and fortune of a celebrity, referring to Henley.
Henley’s current lawyer, Dan Petrocelli, emphasized the importance of attorney-client privilege and expressed disappointment in the outcome. Petrocelli stated that Henley, as the victim in this case, would pursue his rights in civil courts. The defense maintained that Henley had given the documents to a writer decades ago for research purposes, who then sold them to Horowitz. Horowitz subsequently sold them to Inciardi and Kosinski, who began auctioning off some of the pages in 2012. Henley reported the documents stolen when he discovered they were missing after they appeared for sale. He testified during the trial that he had allowed the writer to examine the documents but had never gifted or authorized their sale.
The trial took an unexpected turn when Henley decided to waive attorney-client privilege, leading to the emergence of approximately 6,000 pages of material that had not been previously disclosed. In a letter to the court, Ginandes, the prosecutor, acknowledged that these delayed disclosures contained relevant information that should have been explored during cross-examination of the prosecution’s witnesses.
While the case against the men accused of possessing the “Hotel California” lyrics has been dropped, the legal battle may not be over. Henley’s lawyer has indicated that they will pursue civil action to protect his rights. As for the defendants, they now face the task of rebuilding their reputations after being embroiled in a high-profile legal battle that has captivated music enthusiasts and collectors alike.