Judge orders photographer to pay $101,030 in weddings DVD case
Couples stiffed by a Darien wedding photographer may be getting some of their money back.
A Cook County judge Wednesday ordered Orlando Copeland to repay least 31 couples $101,030 for services the couples paid for he didn't provide. The judge also ruled Copeland can never work again as a professional photographer in Illinois.
The suit was brought against Copeland by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office and filed several months ago. Copeland never appeared in court to contest the lawsuit.
Initially, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of 10 couples, but officials from Madigan's office said 21 other couples came forward after the Daily Herald began profiling some of Copeland's victims.
Natalie Bauer, a spokeswoman for Madigan's office, said they would put a lien on Copeland's assets in an attempt to recoup the money for the victims.
"The attorney general's office is pleased with the court's decision, and we'll continue to pursue restitution for the couples who have been victimized in this case," she said.
Calls to Copeland's home Wednesday were not answered.
Many of the victims have received DVDs with images from their weddings and receptions, but not all the bells and whistles they were promised by Copeland when they paid him thousands of dollars up front for his services.
The DVDs were virtually useless, though. Copeland didn't include a copyright waiver, so the images on the disc couldn't be reprinted.
The judge rescinded Copeland's rights to those images and a copy of the judge's order should serve as a waiver to allow the couples to finally reproduce the images, legal experts said.
"I don't know what to say about this at this point," said Steve Wiemeler, a victim of Copeland's formerly of Westmont now living in Florida. "Hopefully, we can kind of get on with our lives."
Bauer said any other couples who may have been victims who are just now learning of the case can call the Consumer Fraud Hotline at (800) 386-5438 or visit www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov.