Family Man: A reflection on the early days, when morals meant more than money to Copyright Troll John Steele(includes his own words)

(public domain pic, Mr. Steele)
I was recently reading the Arstechnica article: "Settle up: voicemails show P2P porn law firms in action"(http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/04/settle-up-voicemails-show-p2p-po... when I noticed this threat from a user named "John Steele"(99% sure it really is Mr. Steele):

++++"Unauthorized copying" is stealing and is why almost every judge we have been in front of throws out these goofy motions to quash you photocopy from each other. Sure, one judge in 10 doesn't like porn and kicks our case (and this causes ARS to act like this litigation is on its deathbed). [I wonder what the judge would say if he heard about how Mr. Steele thinks the only reason he tossed the case is because he doesn't like porn. The day that judge tore Mr. Steele a new one, must have been quite embarrassing for Mr. Steele]

Well, every couple of days we come here for fun to see what crazy things are written by armchair lawyers. I would be careful though, we were able to figure out one of the posters on an earlier 'article' and our client dropped him from the suit . . . and sued him directly the next day. Something tells me settlement will be tough.[I can not comprehend any reason why Mr. Steele would feel the need to try to threaten people for discussing their cases with each other. If they are just armchair lawyers, why is he paying so much attention? Also, I wonder what figured out refers to? If he tried to dox someone, I think it is only fair to return the favor]++++

After reading that comment, I decided to look into what might drive an attorney to try to threaten the Internet. I figured a person's blog is the most accurate representation of his internal workings, so I searched for a wefightpiracy_com blog. I couldn't find one, so I went with reviewing his familylawlifeline_com blog.

His familylawlifeline is intended to pertain only to his family law firm. However, I believe the statements contained within are accurate representations of the moral man that Mr. Steele once was(all of this is my opinion in case I need to clarify that for lawyers who may be reading this). The awkward highlights that emphasize how money can corrupt anyone, even a self-proclaimed "family man"

1) June 2008 "Even Attorneys can be bullies"

"I suppose I can see how being an ass might get you somewhere if you are up against a pro se party who has no idea of what is happening, or maybe a timid transaction attorney that somehow found themselves in a divorce case. "

----Being an ass does seem to be helping Mr. Steele force settlements out of people

"I am not sure why some Family Law attorneys purposely try to build up their mystique as a jerk."

----I asked myself the same question after I read the comment on the Arstechnica article

"Standing up to a bully, whether some blowhard attorney, or an 8th grader feels good.Try it sometime."

----I agree, Mr. Steele. Standing up to a bully(you) does feel quite good

see the rest here:http://familylawlifeline_com/archives/197(basically he says he enjoys beating bully and stopping their "antics")


2)March 2010 "How to be (or find) a happy lawyer, Part 1 of 2"

"First, I started my own firm a few years ago. This means I don’t have to take on clients I do not like, or that I think are scum bags. And the associates in my firm know they don’t have to represent scum bags."

---Mr. Steele's firm is representing individuals, who make millions each year while simultaneously demanding $1000s from working class individuals. Mr. Steele's clients have acknowledged the fact that they have nothing to lose, which probably means they don't care about people's guilt or innocence so long as "the check clears". If you try to make millions by blackmailing the parents of some teenager who downloaded a porno that only cost you a couple grand to make....I think you are a scum bag

"While I know other attorneys who believe that “all money is green”, I respectfully submit that getting the “what the hell are you arguing?” look from a judge, or being known as a legal whore in the relatively small community of family lawyers is not for me. I admit I like to take the high road and drill opposing counsels who are argue whatever their client’s want them to say (assuming the check clears of course)."

---Mr. Steele works for free in order to exploit US copyright laws so that his client can turn low budget adult films into cash cows. None of the money goes to the models in the videos. Models who accepted a payment of a couple $1000 just so they could pay their bills. If that doesn't make you a legal whore, I don't know what does.

Mr. Steele likes to take the high road???Really??Can someone help me find evidence for that

see the rest here: http://familylawlifeline_com/archives/341

3)August 2010 "Liar Liar Pants on Fire"

Mr. Steele discusses how a new attorney attempted to claim that Mr. Steele had lied to the court. The new attorney claimed that Mr. Steele did not document the fact that he was refiling a case on his petition.

" Now the other attorney looked pretty stupid, because he either cannot read or he was too lazy to read my Petition (I bet the former)."

----Mr. Steele sent out signed pre-settlement letters with dates 4-5 years in the past and false statements about not being able to contact people. I wonder which of the two choices he would pick to refer to his actions

see the rest here: http://familylawlifeline_com/archives/542

4) August 2008 "Attorney's work for.....Money!"

Mr. Steele discusses how he feels that people should realize that lawyers need to make money and that you should not expect them to work Pro Bono.

"The moral of this story is don’t ask attorneys to provide free legal services, and be very afraid of those attorneys that would actually agree to such a request."

---So one should not ask a lawyer to work for free. I wonder how Mr. Steele feels about attorneys, like himself, who offer to work for free. I would be even more scared of individuals who volunteer to work for free. Part of the reason Mr. Steele is using mass mailing is so he can curb his costs since he works for free

see the rest here: http://familylawlifeline_com/archives/219

5)June 2008 "Courtesy Please"

Mr. Steele discusses losing his cool.
"People want to be respected. And when we do not get respect, we get indignant and lash out."

---I wonder if Mr. Steele was able to see the accused as more that lying thieves(his opinion), then would he be able to sympathize with the anger coming from the thousands of individuals his firm is disrespecting

see the rest here:http://familylawlifeline_com/archives/204

6) October 2009 "The Judge is always Right"

"1. Reputation is everything in the legal system. And attorneys and judges know which divorce lawyers will sell their services to the anti-Christ if he paid a retainer. I don’t."

---The way things have been going so far, Mr. Steele's reputation is going to take quite the hit. Federal judges have "eviscerated him for abusing the legal system" and have called his cases "a fishing expedition"

see the rest here: http://familylawlifeline_com/archives/341


There are additional blog entries at: www.familylawlifeline_com

I would post more, but I'm not sure whether or not I have already posted an amount that will result in Mr. Steele trying to sue me.
According to the aforementioned Arstechnica article, Mr. Steele's firm made at least $43,000 last week. The ability for money to corrupt is amazing at times. Had I met Mr. Steele years ago, when he still stood by the morals he had as divorce attorney, I would have nothing but respect. Considering how his firm is acting these days, I must consider him to be a bully and will fight back. At least it is comforting to know that the old Mr. Steele would support me............