GARDEN CITY, NY – Jeffrey Toback, a Democratic member of the Nassau County legislature, has dropped his lawsuit against Google Inc., which Toback had claimed had “paid links” to child pornography sites and had made advertising for child porn and “other obscene content” an “obscenely profitable and integral part” of Google’s business model.Toback said he dropped the lawsuit because Google “has offered to sit down and discuss the issues,” according to ABC News. “They didn’t want to do that while litigation was pending, so we’re taking them up on their offer.” Toback added that he hoped to meet with Google officials “at their earliest convenience.”

Spokesman for Google Steve Langdon said the company was “pleased that the suit has been dismissed and believe it was completely without merit.”

“If Mr. Toback would like to talk with us about something, he should consider approaching it with a phone call, letter or other common form of communication, not an irresponsible lawsuit,” Langdon said. Langdon added that the suit contained “some of the most far-fetched accusations we’ve ever heard.”

Toback said last month that he filed the lawsuit because oversight of Google was outside the purview of county legislators.

Toback’s suit was filed in state Supreme Court in Mineola, NY, and was later moved to federal court in White Plains. A notice of discontinuance dropping the case was filed by Toback’s attorneys on in federal court on Wednesday.

Google’s policies prohibit the “promotion of child pornography or other non-consensual material”, and Langdon stated at the time Toback filed his lawsuit that links to child porn are removed as soon as Google is made aware of them, and the company reports all suspected child porn to law enforcement officials.

GARDEN CITY, NY – Jeffrey Toback, a Democratic member of the Nassau County legislature, has dropped his lawsuit against Google Inc., which Toback had claimed had “paid links” to child pornography sites and had made advertising for child porn and “other obscene content” an “obscenely profitable and integral part” of Google’s business model.Toback said he dropped the lawsuit because Google “has offered to sit down and discuss the issues,” according to ABC News. “They didn’t want to do that while litigation was pending, so we’re taking them up on their offer.” Toback added that he hoped to meet with Google officials “at their earliest convenience.”

Spokesman for Google Steve Langdon said the company was “pleased that the suit has been dismissed and believe it was completely without merit.”

(more…)