"Prosecutors Drop Charges in Stolen 'Hotel California' Lyrics Trial"

New York prosecutors dropped charges midtrial against three men accused of possessing stolen "Hotel California" lyrics, citing newly available emails that raised questions about the trial's fairness. The case centered on 100 pages of hand-drafted lyrics to Eagles hits, with the accused contending they were rightful owners. The defense argued that the newly disclosed communications, resulting from Eagles star Don Henley waiving attorney-client privilege, raised questions that hadn't been addressed. The prosecution alleged the men knew the pages had a dubious chain of ownership but peddled them anyway, while the defense maintained that Henley had given the documents to a writer who later sold them.