From:www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/01/spammer11bln.html

Florida spammer receives $11 billion fine

According to media reports, an Iowa-based ISP has been awarded $11.2 billion in a judgment against a Florida man who sent millions of unsolicited spam emails.

Robert W Kramer, owner of CIS Internet Services in Clinton, Iowa, filed a lawsuit against Florida-based James McCalla claiming that more than 280 million illegal spam messages were sent to CIS email accounts, advertising mortgages, debt consolidation services, pornographic and gambling websites.

The judgment handed down by US District Judge Charles R. Wolle on 23 December 2005, also prohibits McCalla from accessing the internet for three years.

"This judgment against a spammer is undoubtedly the biggest we have ever heard of," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "Spam is not just a nuisance for individual computer users who find their inboxes clogged up with unwanted mail, but for ISPs who are hit in the pocket by having to pay for the bandwidth to deliver and store hundreds of millions of messages."

Kramer said that he thought it was unlikely that he would ever see any of the judgment money.

"I'm pleased with Judge Wolle's ruling," Kramer said in a statement. "It's a victory for every email user and every responsible ISP. It's proof our courts and Congress are committed to protecting the public."

Sophos recommends companies protect themselves with a consolidated solution which can defend businesses from the threats of both spam and viruses.

About Sophos
Sophos is a world leader in integrated threat management solutions, developing protection against viruses, spyware, spam and policy abuse for business, education and government. Sophos's reliably-engineered, easy-to-operate products protect more than 35 million users in more than 150 countries. Through 20 years' experience and a global network of threat analysis centers, the company responds rapidly to emerging threats - no matter how complex - and achieves the highest levels of customer satisfaction in the industry.

out fucking standing!

LOL I'm sure he'll write them a check.

Jail time would be better suited for this asshole.

spammer gets 11 billion dollar fine.

a punk 34yr old rapist of a single digit old girl gets 60 days in jail.

sounds like our system is working.

They should have made it a bazillion...they would have about the same chance of collecting.

I bet the spammed people don't see one red fucking cent.

I hope it was the @sshole that keeps spamming this site with ads for ipods and junk like that.

praise the Lord...............

Quoted: I bet the spammed people don't see one red fucking cent.

<Danny DiVito voice> So sue me, asshole<Danny DiVito voice>

Quoted: They should have made it a bazillion...they would have about the same chance of collecting.

I had read something interesting on another board.  If a debtor forgives a debt, then the debtor can report the forgiven debt to the IRS, and the debtee(?) is then liable for gift taxes on the forgiven amount.  I'm not a tax lawyer, so I don't know how true this is.

If I were in the ISP's shoes, I'd follow this guy around for about the next 10 years with agressive wage garnishment, and then sick the IRS on him for a tax debt larger than the GDP of some African nations.

Quoted: They should have made it a bazillion...they would have about the same chance of collecting.

+1

What sense is there in this.  Whats the point?  How is the spammer going to pay?

Quoted: spammer gets 11 billion dollar fine. a punk 34yr old rapist of a single digit old girl gets 60 days in jail. sounds like our system is working.

+ eleventybillion

Quoted: Quoted: They should have made it a bazillion...they would have about the same chance of collecting. I had read something interesting on another board.  If a debtor forgives a debt, then the debtor can report the forgiven debt to the IRS, and the debtee(?) is then liable for gift taxes on the forgiven amount.  I'm not a tax lawyer, so I don't know how true this is. If I were in the ISP's shoes, I'd follow this guy around for about the next 10 years with agressive wage garnishment, and then sick the IRS on him for a tax debt larger than the GDP of some African nations.

I doubt he was sued personally.  I'm sure it was his corporation, which will simply declare bankruptcy.

Quoted: I doubt he was sued personally.  I'm sure it was his corporation, which will simply declare bankruptcy.

None of the articles I've read mention a corporation, and all mention the spamwhore by name.  I don't think he has a corporation to hide behind.  Oh, darn.  

www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/05/spam_fine/

Quoted: spammer gets 11 billion dollar fine. a punk 34yr old rapist of a single digit old girl gets 60 days in jail. sounds like our system is working.

Was the first thing that popped into my head as well. Yeah, the system really works

My understanding is that the plaintiffs will probably wind up settling the penalty, so the spamgoon will wind up with structured payments for life --  or they'll forgive it, and as a forgiven lein he'll have to make structured payments to the IRS for life.

It should be mandatory death for convicted spammers.

Give him a bat and 3 minutes in a locked room with the defendant.  We'll call it even after that.

Should 'a fined him a Google!  Get it?  Google as in big ole number.............ahem.  Never mind.

Quoted: Quoted: spammer gets 11 billion dollar fine. a punk 34yr old rapist of a single digit old girl gets 60 days in jail. sounds like our system is working. Was the first thing that popped into my head as well. Yeah, the system really works

wait. NM