The defense lawyers for Jammie Thomas-Rasset, who illegally downloaded 24 songs, have requested the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, either to reduce the $1.92 million damage she was asked to pay or to grant her a fresh trial.

If all that is not possible, then the court could reduce the damage award to the statutory minimum of $18,000.

Lawyers for Jammie Thomas-Rasset said the verdict in this case was grossly excessive and shocking as for 24 songs available for $1.29 on iTunes, the jury assessed statutory damages of $80,000 per song.  

In the first trial in October 2007, the court had ordered Thomas-Rasset to pay $222,000 for illegally downloading and sharing 24 songs. However, that judgment was later overturned by a U.S. district judge.

But the second trial added another $1.7 million, forcing Thomas to publicly refuse to pay the damages.  

On the other hand, RIAA, the Recording Industry of America is blaming Thomas for prolonging the case and denying accepting responsibility for the illegal act.

For the time being, it is very hard to say which way the wind will blow. However, another option is there for the RIAA to resolve the issue out of court with Thomas-Rasset for a few thousand dollars it has already done in many other cases.