Monday, February 11, 2008

eBay to Buy Back Stolen Items

Some noteworthy [and precedent-setting?] fallout from the Daniel Lorello thefts: eBay has agreed to buy back the items sold by Lorello and return them to the New York State Library, the AP reports. "The online auction giant has no liability in the sale of the stolen artifacts, but agreed voluntarily to offer buyers the amount that they paid, according to the [NYS] official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because not all details of the investigation have been announced."

Buyers, who will face no criminal charges relating to the items purchased from Lorello, will be contacted by eBay and by NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office.

"The total cost of buying back the documents for which eBay has sales records is estimated at $68,000. The offer by eBay means the state won't have to spend money to buy the records. If there is a conviction, a court could order restitution."

Lorello is supposed to appear in court today.