Judge cuts $2M penalty in MN song-sharing case

(AP) -- A federal judge has drastically reduced a nearly $2 million verdict against a Minnesota woman found guilty last year of sharing 24 songs over the Internet.

U.S. District Judge Michael Davis says in his ruling Friday that the $1.92 million penalty a jury imposed against Jammie Thomas-Rasset of Brainerd was "monstrous and shocking." He reduced it to $2,250 per song, or about $54,000.

Davis wrote in his ruling he would have liked to reduce it further but was limited in doing so. He says the new penalty is still "significant and harsh."

Davis also denied Thomas-Rasset's request for a new trial.

Thomas-Rasset says she hadn't seen the ruling yet and couldn't comment. The Recording Industry Association of America did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

©2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.