LOL - That Cobra Thing Is Getting Interesting

[Lee]

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - According to a press release issued by Cobra Video LLC today, the company filed a lawsuit here by Writ of Summons on October 27 naming Sean Paul Lockhart, a.k.a. Brent Corrigan, and John Doe as defendants in a case stemming from Lockhart's allegation that he had appeared in gay XXX videos for Cobra while underage.

Lockhart notified the press through his attorney Chad Belville on September 13 that he had been under 18 when he performed in four 2004 Cobra Video movies, Every Poolboy's Dream, Schoolboy Crush, Bareboned Twinks, and Casting Couch 4.

The Cobra release states in part: "The Writ of Summons was filed through Cobra Video’s legal counsel, attorney Al Flora of Wilkes-Barre. Sean Lockhart has also been notified by Cobra Video’s legal counsel that he must appear in Luzerne County [Pennsylvania] on December 6, 2005 to submit to an oral deposition under oath regarding matters relating to his entry into a modeling contract with Cobra Video, the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of the terms of that contract, whether or not Lockhart fraudulently induced Cobra Video to enter into modeling contracts for the purposes of obtaining trade secrets of Cobra Video and whether or not Lockhart conspired with John Doe to engage in such fraud."

Reiterating its September stance, Cobra Video avers that it has "color copies of the three State-issued forms of identification that Mr. Lockhart presented, including a birth certificate, all indicating a birth year of 1985."

Lockhart and Belville have told GAYVN that Lockhart's birthdate is October 31, 1986, and that Lockhart obtained false ID so he could enter the adult entertainment industry.

"Since the September 13, 2005, announcement," Cobra's press release says, "all requests for a State-certified birth certificate of Mr. Lockhart from Mr. Lockhart's attorney have been rejected. The issue is further complicated by the fact that the state that Mr. Lockhart was born in has declared birth certificates confidential documents, which can only be requested by the individual or 'immediate family'."

When GAYVN asked Belville why he and Lockhart have rejected Cobra's requests to see the real birth certificate he said, "Cobra owner Bryan Kocis was asked to stop contacting my client and to send all his requests to me. He continues to harass Sean with emails and phone calls. Until he begins to cooperate, neither will we. It's a two-way street."

The press release further states that "the owner of Cobra Video has not been contacted by any Federal authorities in regard to this matter."

At the same time, Cobra Video also issued an apology "to all of its retailers and valued customers for the inexcusable hardship, and disruption in business that this individual has caused and does appreciate all the support shown from other adult video companies, and from all their fans. Cobra Video would especially like to publicly thank their distributor, Pacific Sun Entertainment for handling such a difficult situation in a very prompt and effective manner."

Cobra's announcement concluded with the information that it has additional scenes of Brent Corrigan filmed after December 2004 that will be available in future videos.

http://www.gayvn.com/index.php?Prima...tent_ID=245471

I dont know it just seems like withholding the models birth certificate is actually going to damage the model (and Chad) more in the long run than it will Cobra.

Arent there disclosure issues at hand here to?

All i know is its going to be a shame if we find out the model actually was of legal age when these movies were shot.

Regards,

Lee

[Paco]

As far as I am concerned, IF Lockhart submitted false ID, it is he that should be on trial, not Cobra. If Cobra provides unaltered copies of the ID, send Lockhart to jail for falsifying documents as well for placing Cobra's exsistence at risk.

Again... IF Lockhart submitted false ID.

Because Cobra apologizes does not make them guilty (I do it all the time... say sorry for some other person's dumbass reaction), but rather more honest and honourable.

[Lee]

Paco,

I agree with you whole-heartedly.

Its fraud, nothing more, nothing less.

Regards,

Lee

[gaybucks_chip]

Yes, it's fraud by Brent, and Brent should take whatever punishment comes as a result of that. But as Chad pointed out (with the emails back and forth) Cobra KNEW that Brent was underage both from Brent's emails to him and from the legal notification from Chad, and Cobra did nothing at all about it. (Something they conveniently fail to mention in their press release. )

The only reason the titles got pulled at all was because Chad notified ASACP who, in turn, notified the distributor. Cobra played no role, and was completely silent on the issue until yesterday's press release. Not to mention the fact that rumors had been floating around all over southern CA for a year and a half that Brent was underage... which Cobra also conveniently ignored.

And THREE government issued IDs from three different states? That in itself sounds a little fishy to me.

I'm sorry, but I don't think that Cobra is in any way blameless here. I think it's safe to say that Brent forged or was complicit in forging false ID documents; Chad has stated that Brent was under age, and I think it's implied by that statement that false ID documents must have been used, so Brent is in the wrong, and therefore is the root cause of the problem... but Cobra should have suspected something was up and investigated further when the rumors started surfacing, and Cobra *certainly* should have pulled the titles immediately upon receiving notification from Brent that he was underage.

Plus, if you read the Juicygoo forum, it seems that Cobra is accused of doing some decidedly unprofessional and inappropriate things that, if true, border on harrassment and stalking.

I don't think either of them have clean hands in any way, but Cobra certainly isn't doing things to cast our industry in a positive light... and in the current climate, that's a really bad thing.

[Lee]

Cobra KNEW that Brent was underage both from Brent's emails to him and from the legal notification from Chad, and Cobra did nothing at all about it.

See thats the problem, right now, its just speculation as to whether the model WAS underage, we already know he has used forged documents at least once to prove his 'age' how do we know that the docs Chad has in his possesion arent forgeries? With the documents not being released to Cobra, there must be a reason for that.

The only reason the titles got pulled at all was because Chad notified ASACP who, in turn, notified the distributor. Cobra played no role, and was completely silent on the issue until yesterday's press release. Not to mention the fact that rumors had been floating around all over southern CA for a year and a half that Brent was underage... which Cobra also conveniently ignored.

Again, we dont know that the model was underage at the point of production, we only have the model telling us that he is underage, via his attorney who, for all intents and purposes, could very well have forged documents himself.

And THREE government issued IDs from three different states? That in itself sounds a little fishy to me.

Doesnt to me, i have a Driving license from Wales, a birth certificate issued in England and a Florida drivers license, just because you can show someone id from 3 different countries or states doesnt mean anything LOL

I'm sorry, but I don't think that Cobra is in any way blameless here. I think it's safe to say that Brent forged or was complicit in forging false ID documents; Chad has stated that Brent was under age, and I think it's implied by that statement that false ID documents must have been used, so Brent is in the wrong, and therefore is the root cause of the problem... but Cobra should have suspected something was up and investigated further when the rumors started surfacing, and Cobra *certainly* should have pulled the titles immediately upon receiving notification from Brent that he was underage.

Again though, we dont know if he actually was underage, there has been no proof shown to anyone as yet, you are basing your assumptions on the word of a model who has admitted fraudulent behavior in the past who seems to have aquired a 'conscience' as soon as he broke his contract with the studio.

Plus, if you read the Juicygoo forum, it seems that Cobra is accused of doing some decidedly unprofessional and inappropriate things that, if true, border on harrassment and stalking.

We all know that posts on a message board are factual in their entirity dont we

I don't think either of them have clean hands in any way, but Cobra certainly isn't doing things to cast our industry in a positive light... and in the current climate, that's a really bad thing.

I agree with you, Cobra could have handled this a lot better under the circumstances, had i been in their position i woulda initiated court proceeding immediately and sued Seans ass to hell and back, as i mentioned in another thread, there are countless suits that could be brought against the model and, if successfull which, by the model himself admitting he provided fraudulent documents to the studio he would at least be liable for damages of the funds he got paid, not to mention, State prosecution for falsifying documents.

There are 3 sides to every story usually, in this instance there are four sides, the models, the studios, the attorneys and, the truth.

Regards,

Lee

[desslock]

There are 3 sides to every story usually, in this instance there are four sides, the models, the studios, the attorneys and, the truth. Regards, Lee

It's all a Matter of Perspective

Remember, if you have Captain Picard, Data, Dr. Crusher and Worf all painting a still life of the same thing before them, you would end up with four very different paintings.

Steve

[Lee]

It's all a Matter of Perspective

Remember, if you have Captain Picard, Data, Dr. Crusher and Worf all painting a still life of the same thing before them, you would end up with four very different paintings.

Steve

It has absolutely nothing to do with perspective.

What it all boils down to is a model who was to ignorant to have to wait another year or two before he got his cock out on camera. If he was in fact underage at the time of the productions.

On the other hand, if he wasnt underage at the time of production, not only is the model a liar and a cheat but, he potentially endangered the industry needlessly in addition to the reputation of his attorney.

No matter how anyone candy coats this, the fault still lays in the same place, with the model.

Regards,

Lee

[gaybucks_chip]

Lee, your post is so incredibly cynical, but then I shouldn't be surprised.

So what I hear you saying is that when a respected industry attorney makes a report that he has credible evidence that child pornography is being distributed, that people should just sit on their hands and wait until a court determines if it's true? That the studio is within its rights to sit back and ignore the situation?

Obviously everyone who had the titles or ads for them and pulled them disagrees with you. Whether for ethical reasons or out of concern for legal liabilities, this is not something that ANYONE in the industry should be questioning or fucking with.

Unlike our industry, lawyers are bound by their bar membership to a very high ethical standard. Chad has, in every way, shown himself to be a person of high ethics and standards in the way he conducts his business. He told AVN that he's personally examined the birth certificate and drivers license, that the birth certificate is a state-certified copy and not a photocopy, and obviously he feels confident that these are authentic documents.

Contrast this to what Cobra has said... basically that they have some photocopies of IDs that an apparently underage 17 year old kid sent them. Notice they AREN'T saying unequvocally that Brent was 18 when the videos were made, only that he told them he was and provided some photocopies.

Who do you want to believe? Who has better credibility?

Consider the legal as well as disciplinary ramifications to Chad, let alone his client, if he were publically making untrue statements against Cobra. I for one am betting that he's way too shrewd to get sucked in to a situation like that.

Of course, no one knows all of the facts. But I don't understand why you're so keen to jump to the defense of a studio that so far has not acted at all in a way that promotes a view of our industry as responsible and responsive to legitimate issues that arise. I'm not defending Brent, and I'm not saying that Cobra is the villan.

I'm simply looking at this from a business perspective. If we give a fuck about the industry, about maintaining the self-regulation we have so far, then each of us working in the industry HAS to take responsible actions when situations like this arise.

Sure, it's easy for a producer to bury his head in the sand and hope that the accusations aren't true, but that definitely isn't the way to show the justice department that we know how to handle these situations when they arise.

In a situation like this, when you have a credible member of our industry saying that he's verified that the kid was underage, and a non-denial-denial from the other side, it seems that the benefit of the doubt should go to the person with more crediblity. If you want to put more stock in the credibility of an adult video producer who has had other issues in the past than in one of our industry's better recognized legal specialists, then I guess that's your choice.

[Lee]

Who do you want to believe? Who has better credibility?

Right now, the injured party has the more plausable story, remember that thing we call 'innocent until proven guilty'?

Let me spell it out, the model has LOT to gain if these allegations are true or false, his attorney has a lot to gain, if these allegations are true, the studio has nothing to gain if the allegations are true, they are the injured party here, the victims if you like.

Not one of the three parties involved is any more credible than the other two yet, at the same time, the only ones who are actually 'doing' anything about it worth a damn, at the present time, are Cobra by starting legal action against the model, they must feel they are in the clear for starting the legal action.

I cant think of any reason a company who knowingly produced child porn (by its very definition) would go to court to argue that they produced such materials and that the model is in the wrong unless, they know something that WE dont and again, going back to what i said earlier, this case has 4 sides to the story and we'll never get to know them all.

If the model had a solid case, im pretty sure that the Feds would have been involved by now and we would have heard something about Cobra being charged with distributing child porn. As it stands, we havent.

That, to me, says a lot.

Also again, we know for a fact that this model has at least once alledgedly provided forged documents to prove his age, whats to say the documents his attorney has are not also forgeries? Nothing.

Regards,

Lee

[gaybucks_chip]

Right now, the injured party has the more plausable story, remember that thing we call 'innocent until proven guilty'?

Right. And Cobra has sued Brent, not the other way around, so Brent should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. As I said before, I'm not saying *either* party is in the right or in the wrong, I think both sets of hands are dirty.

Let me spell it out, the model has LOT to gain if these allegations are true or false, his attorney has a lot to gain, if these allegations are true, the studio has nothing to gain if the allegations are true, they are the injured party here, the victims if you like.

What, exactly, does either Brent or Chad have to gain? If the allegations are true, then Brent is by definition *admitting* he (or someone on his behalf) forged documents. I fail to see how he or Chad benefits in any way from this.

Not one of the three parties involved is any more credible than the other two

So a former prosecutor, known to this community, who represents a number of major players in our industry has no more credibility than an 18 year old kid or a studio owner that has, at best, acted questionably. Once again, your exquisite logic trumps any argument I would have.

yet, at the same time, the only ones who are actually 'doing' anything about it worth a damn, at the present time, are Cobra by starting legal action against the model, they must feel they are in the clear for starting the legal action.

Or they're in denial, or they're trying to salvage their credibility, or they're hoping to create a smokescreen. And that assumes that Chad isn't doing anything on Brent's behalf, an assumption that I suspect, knowing Chad, is flawed.

If the model had a solid case, im pretty sure that the Feds would have been involved by now and we would have heard something about Cobra being charged with distributing child porn. As it stands, we havent.

That, to me, says a lot.

You have a point there... but I'll also say that the wheels of justice, particularly at the federal level, tend to grind excruciatingly slowly. I know of someone who had a run-in and it took TWO YEARS after the Feds started investigating before they actually took any action, so I wouldn't count out any action from the feds yet.

Also again, we know for a fact that this model has at least once alledgedly provided forged documents to prove his age, whats to say the documents his attorney has are not also forgeries? Nothing.

Except the word of a respeted industry professional who, in order to protect his own credibility and liability, would be a fool to not have verified to his satisfaction that the documents are authentic.

[CorbinFisher_BD]

The combination legal announcment/promo announcement strikes me as odd.

"Hey everybody. This model is a sleaze who deceived us and lied and we're going to sue the pants off of him... but don't miss our upcoming release starring him available for purchase soon!!!"

Strange!

[allboysvideo]

What I find odd in the PR release is that the Federal Government hasn't even investigated Cobra or made any iquiries...you would think with all the 2257 rules changing and the Federal Government very concerned about "obscenity" they would have jumped all over this and started investigating and obtaining search warrants and making a "federal case" of this situation against Cobra.

Very Odd!

[Matt 26z]

And THREE government issued IDs from three different states? That in itself sounds a little fishy to me.

When did anyone ever say it was 3 different ID's from 3 different states?

I'm under the impression it was 3 different forms of ID in general. As in, birth certificate, photo ID and SS card.

[basschick]

brent wanted to get out of his contract with cobra - that's when the word came that he was not 18 when the shoot was down. it's possible that is true, but since no one wants to show proof to cobra, and they have proof he was over 18, it doesn't seem cut and dried to me.

sure, some people say cobra is sleazy - i don't know them - but we absolutely 100% know that at one point or another, brent provided false i.d. to someone or at least definitely lied about his age.

[Matt 26z]

You know, there's a lot of Cobra bashing going on. One person from this board even slams them at JuicyGoo in front of the surfers using a fake nick quite often. A lot of twink producers have something to gain in the downfall of Cobra, who produces the best quality amateur style twink videos. Frankly, they make people look bad.

I think all of this is uncalled for. The only mistake we know Cobra made was keeping quiet in the days and weeks after this incident. They should have released a statement right away, but the lack of one doesn't really point to anything.

We haven't seen any evidence whatsoever that Cobra was knowingly shooting CP (assuming he was even underage). None. Nada. Zilch. Those of you constantly bashing them, exactly what evidence are you going on aside from "they are assholes." ???