[solefald]

http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/07/...startNumber=10

Bizarre suit accuses Apple of Mafia ties, bugged iPod

A bizarre lawsuit filed by Gregory McKenna in a U.S. District Court in Missouri accuses Apple, the St. Louis Police Department, the FBI, and an auto mechanic, of conspiring to stalk, extort and torture the plaintiff. McKenna, representing himself, explains the conspiracy and Italian Mafia connections throughout a 124-page document.

After purchasing an iPod shuffle on eBay, McKenna claims he quickly discovered that the device was manufactured "with an illegal receiver as the Mafia proceeded to transmit extortion threats and audible harassment to it." The plaintiff became even more convinced of Apple's involvement after allegedly purchasing a new iPod mini that was also bugged and would state "I'm about to kill him" in sync with a song.

McKenna's conflicts with the Mafia allegedly began when he worked at a New York modeling agency that withheld his paychecks and demanded sexual favors from him. After quitting that job, the plaintiff claims to have entered a St. Louis nightclub where he was told "We're going to kill you if you don't model for us in New York."

The plaintiff accuses the St. Louis police of neglect for not protecting him against a person that came to his house to threaten him. The filing explains that a stalker repeatedly left his home each time the police came, just to return when they left. The police department and FBI apparently began to ignore his claims, leaving the alleged perpetrator to "stalk, threaten, and kidnap plaintiff."

Along with the iPods, McKenna claims to have discovered listening devices in his 1998 Audi A4, at home, on a college campus, the Ritz-Carlton, Banana Republic, and no less than six different Catholic churches. "Well if you have bugs you should call an exterminator, not the Police," an officer reportedly told him, before recommending examination by a doctor.

The plaintiff also repeatedly heard the word "herpes" while listening to the song "Still Tippin" by Mike Jones. McKenna claims this was yet another attempt by the Mafia to "humiliate, degrade, and cause emotional distress." The additional content was only heard when listening from his cars, an iBook G4, PowerBook G4, iPods and other music players. Every iPod later purchased, including a Nano and Touch, were also claimed to have been bugged "prior to sale at the Apple Store as associates allegedly conspired with the Italian Mafia to sell it to Plaintiff."

McKenna is seeking a trial by jury, although the defendants and District Court still have an opportunity to reject the case. The paranoid filing adds a unique element to the wide range of ongoing litigation involving Apple. The company is listed as a defendant in a number of class action and intellectual property lawsuits, while continuing as a plaintiff in a case against the Mac-clone maker Psystar. [via AppleInsider]

[FStop7]

What's his username on here?