New York City – Prosecutors in New York made a sudden decision to drop their case against three men accused of possessing a cache of hand-drafted lyrics to iconic Eagles songs, including “Hotel California.” The trial, which had been ongoing since late February, came to an unexpected halt as Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Aaron Ginandes informed the judge of their decision.
The case revolved around approximately 100 pages of legal-pad notes tied to the creation of the Eagles’ renowned 1976 album, “Hotel California.” The album remains one of the best-selling records in the United States, marked by its hit title track that continues to evoke fascination among music enthusiasts.
The defendants, who included rare books dealer Glenn Horowitz, former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and rock memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski, were accused of dealing with pages they knew had a questionable ownership history. Prosecutors alleged that they had conspired to fabricate provenance to legitimize the sale of the documents and prevent demands for their return by Eagles co-founder Don Henley.
Following the dismissal of the case, attorneys for the defendants expressed relief, with Jonathan Bach stating that the decision to drop the case was the right one. Despite the outcome, concerns were raised about the integrity of the witnesses and the handling of the case by the district attorney.
In response to the developments, Henley’s lawyer emphasized the importance of upholding attorney-client privilege, indicating that Henley would pursue his rights in civil courts. The defense maintained that Henley had given the documents to a writer decades ago and was unaware of their sale until they appeared in an auction in 2012, leading to the subsequent theft report.
The prosecution’s decision to drop the case stemmed from the waiver of attorney-client privilege by Henley, which led to the disclosure of thousands of pages of material previously unknown to the defense. The trial’s conclusion marked the end of a legal battle that had cast a spotlight on the intricate world of collectibles and music memorabilia trading.