[4] At issue in the case was a film, Military Takeover in New York City, a work of fiction concerning the events of the upcoming New Year's Eve 1999.
[5] The complaint in the case later described the film as following the historical tradition of fictional portrayals of supposedly real events like The War of the Worlds and The Blair Witch Project.
That night, West Caldwell police and FBI agents went to Zieper's home, although he was not arrested.
[5] The American Civil Liberties Union represented Zieper in suing the FBI for First Amendment violations in December 1999.
[8] Agent Joe Metzinger of the FBI, one of the defendants named in the case, was involved in the investigation of Military Takeover in New York City.