Western Maryland couple ends Wal-Mart lyrics suit

Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Oct 31, 2007

A western Maryland couple is abandoning their lawsuit alleging Wal-Mart deceived customers by selling musical recordings containing explicit lyrics without parental advisory labels. An attorney for Trevin and Melanie Skeens, of Brownsville, says the couple won't stop a Washington County Circuit Court judge from dismissing their complaint for lack of activity on Thursday.

The decision comes nearly 22 months after a judge refused to certify the complaint as a class action. The couple sued the Arkansas-based retailer in 2004, alleging Wal-Mart sold them a copy of the album "Anywhere But Home," by the rock group Evanescence, knowing it contained explicit language. The couple said they bought the CD at Wal-Mart for their daughter's 13th birthday because they believed the company didn't sell uncensored recordings without warning labels.