Eagles singer Don Henley filed a lawsuit in New York to get back his handwritten notes and song lyrics from the Hotel California album.
This is his second attempt to retrieve the documents. Earlier this year, criminal charges against three experts—Glenn Horowitz, Craig Inciardi, and Edward Kosinski—were dropped during their trial for trying to sell the items.
Henley says the pages were stolen and decided to take legal action after the criminal case against them was dismissed.
Attorney Daniel Petrocelli said in a statement:
“These 100 pages of personal lyric sheets belong to Mr. Henley and his family, and he has never authorized defendants or anyone else to peddle them for profit.”
The attorney added:
“Don Henley filed suit today in a New York federal court for return of property that was stolen from him — his private handwritten notes and lyrics to the iconic songs from the ‘Hotel California’ album.”
The Case Was Dismissed
Kosinski and Inciardi’s lawyers have dismissed the lawsuit as unfounded. They pointed out that the case was dropped because they claim Henley withheld crucial information from prosecutors.
Shawn Crowley, representing Kosinski, stated in an email:
“Don Henley is desperate to rewrite history. We look forward to litigating this case and bringing a lawsuit against Henley to hold him accountable for his repeated lies and misuse of the justice system.”
Inciardi’s lawyer Stacey Richman also commented that the lawsuit is an attempt to ‘bully’ and perpetuate a false story.
Henley’s lawyers said he wants a jury trial for any issues that need one. After the case, the Eagles’ lyrics stayed with the New York District Attorney’s Office while they figured out who owned them.
There was no response from Glenn Horowitz’s lawyer to an email requesting comment.