Why Filing Your Own Motion in a Strike 3 Holdings Case Can Destroy Your Privacy
Recently I helped a client who made a very common — and potentially very expensive — mistake.
Her son had recently left the trades and was now working as a server in the restaurant industry. When the ISP subpoena notice from Strike 3 Holdings arrived, she panicked. She didn’t want her name — or her son’s name — appearing anywhere near a copyright lawsuit involving adult films.
Instead of calling an attorney, she started doing her own legal research and filed a pro se motion in federal court.
Unfortunately, that motion disclosed her full name in the public docket.
By the time she called me, she was convinced the damage was already done.
The Hard Truth About Handling Strike 3 Holdings Cases Yourself
Strike 3 Holdings cases are not like regular legal problems. They are highly technical federal copyright lawsuits with very specific rules.
When you try to handle them on your own:
- You can accidentally put your name into the public court record (exactly what this client did)
- You could lose all negotiating leverage
- You miss critical deadlines and procedural opportunities
- You often end up paying far more than necessary
In this client’s case, her well-intentioned pro se filing made the situation much worse before we even got involved.
How Professional Representation Fixed It
Once I stepped in, I immediately contacted the East Coast attorney representing Strike 3 Holdings. We’ve known each other and worked together professionally for many years on these cases.
Because of that long-standing professional relationship, along with underlying financial hardship circumstances, the conversation was direct and productive. We were able to reach a very reasonable settlement agreement without any further public disclosure or unnecessary escalation.
The client was enormously relieved — and grateful — that we resolved the matter quietly and for a fair amount.
The Lesson Every ISP Subpoena Recipient Needs to Hear
If you’ve received a Strike 3 Holdings subpoena or ISP letter, do not try to file anything yourself.
Even one small mistake — like a pro se motion — can permanently damage your privacy and your ability to negotiate a good outcome.
These cases move fast. The earlier you get experienced BitTorrent copyright defense counsel involved, the better your options are.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
At Torrent Defenders® (Antonelli Law), we’ve helped over 5,000 clients defend against Strike 3 Holdings and other BitTorrent copyright claims since 2010.
We know exactly how these cases work, which opposing counsel are reasonable, and how to protect your identity from public disclosure.
If you’ve received a Strike 3 Holdings ISP subpoena or demand letter, contact us today.
We offer free, confidential consultations and will tell you exactly what your options are — with no pressure and no obligation.
Contact Torrent Defenders® Now →
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About Author
JAntonelli
Jeffrey Antonelli is a member of the federal trial bar of the Northern District of Illinois and is admitted to numerous federal courts around the country. He has been a civil litigator nearly 25 years in a broad range of actions representing corporations and individuals as plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court. Jeffrey has been interviewed by the media many times, including Bloomberg BNA, NBC, The New York Times, Chicago Lawyer, Chicago Tribune, and the longstanding lawyer’s publication Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Prior to forming Antonelli Law Ltd. in 2007 Jeffrey worked for several litigation boutiques in Chicago’s Loop as well as a full service firm. His litigation experience includes hotly contested issues in intellectual property, business, insurance, and consumer fraud. He is an adviser to the Illinois Board of Higher Education Advisory Council for Private Business and Vocational Schools (PBVS), and was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Education Law Section Council from 2012-2013. Jeffrey is especially proud of his work representing hundreds of students defrauded by improperly accredited educational institutions, including as certified class counsel. Before attending law school, Jeffrey was interested first in business, and then in biomedical ethics. These interests led him to graduate from the nation’s largest philosophy department at Loyola University in Chicago, where some of his favorite (and most challenging) subjects were cognitive science and philosophy of science. During college he held positions at the University of Chicago’s Ben May Institute; as a medical assistant for a University of Chicago foot and ankle surgeon; and volunteered in the emergency room at the University of Chicago Hospitals. These experiences led to studying health law at the DePaul College of Law where Jeffrey earned his law degree and a certificate in health law. At that time DePaul’s Institute for Health Law was consistently ranked in the top 10 health law specialty programs nationwide. During law school Jeffrey immersed himself in studying the practical and public policy aspects of health care through internships at the American Medical Association in Chicago, and on Capitol Hill at the Governmental Relations Office of the Association of American Medical Colleges in Washington, DC. Jeffrey has concentrated in civil litigation throughout his legal career, and is a member of the federal trial bar of the Northern District of Illinois, the Central District of Illinois federal court, and all federal courts of Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. In addition, he is a member of the DuPage County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. Jeffrey prides himself on his strong personal ideals, passionate, ethical advocacy, and working hard to bring the best possible results for his clients. He also maintains a special interest in cases involving fraud. Whether due to good parenting, his family’s law enforcement employment, undergraduate studies in philosophy including ethics, or a fortuitous outcome of good breeding, one essence of Jeffrey’s character is a drive to root out the truth behind fraudulent practices.