civil lawsuits

Read the latest reports on civil lawsuit cases in the news on Newser.com

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Recession Delivers Double Whammy to Legal Aid Offices

(Newser) - The recession has crippled funding for legal aid even as it has bumped up the number of people requesting representation, McClatchy reports. Though the federal government ramped up spending this year—and plans an even bigger increase for 2010—state funding and private donations have cratered, forcing legal aid to...

Female Brokers Sue BofA for Discrimination

Men got higher retention bonuses, they allege

(Newser) - A former Merrill Lynch broker is leading a class-action lawsuit against Bank of America for offering female workers lower retention bonuses, Reuters reports. The suit alleges that Merrill had a longtime practice of steering wealthier clients to its male brokers. Because of that, when BofA acquired the firm and offered...

Countrywide's Mozilo Charged With Fraud

Mozilo, two others accused of fraud, misleading investors

(Newser) - The SEC has charged former Countrywide chief Angelo Mozilo and two other former execs with civil fraud, the Wall Street Journal reports. The agency accuses them of insider trading and withholding information from investors about the condition of what was once the nation's largest mortgage company. They are the first...

Battle Over Prop 8 Moves to Federal Court

(Newser) - California’s gay marriage battle continued today as lawyers for the American Foundation for Equal Rights announced a lawsuit challenging Proposition 8 and called for the restitution of marriage rights while the suit is decided, the Los Angeles Times reports. The lawyers—Theodore Olson, then the solicitor general, and David...

Bankruptcy Looms in Leibovitz's Viewfinder

Lighting supplier claims photog has unpaid bills

(Newser) - Annie Leibovitz pulls down $2 million a year from Vanity Fair to shoot Hollywood A-listers, but a lighting company that claims the shutterbug owes it about $200,000 may force her to file for involuntary bankruptcy. Leibovitz is already underwater—with other lawsuits over real estate and unpaid bills, she...

Courts Unlikely to Block Release of Torture Pics

White House has slim hopes for appeal, may look to Congress

(Newser) - Barack Obama has said he wants to prevent the publication of photos depicting abuse of  detainees, but legal experts say the White House has an uphill battle in reversing the court decision to release them. The administration thinks that the Bush-era lawyers did not make a sufficiently strong case in...

Woody Seeks to Block Ex, Wife Testimony in Racy Trial

American Apparel wants to prove director's endorsement not worth $10M

(Newser) - Woody Allen asked a judge yesterday to stop American Apparel from airing his dirty laundry in court, the AP reports. Allen, who is suing the clothing company for $10 million for using his image on billboards without permission, wants to block American Apparel’s summoning of ex Mia Farrow, his...

Fired 'Noose' Prof Sues Columbia for $200M

Plagiarism allegation was 'cooked up,' lawyer says

(Newser) - The Columbia University professor fired for plagiarism shortly after a noose was found hanging on her office door is suing her former school for $200 million. Madonna Constantine’s reputation was ruined by the “baseless” allegation, her lawyer tells CNN. The black professor has previously charged that the noose...

Fam of 3rd Wife Sues Peterson for Her Death

Lawyer who won OJ civil suit files before grand jury expires

(Newser) - Sick of waiting for a grand jury to act, Kathleen Savio’s family has filed a wrongful death suit against husband Drew Peterson, the Chicago Tribune reports. The grand jury, which expires next month, has been investigating the death of Savio, Peterson’s third wife, and the disappearance of fourth...

Allen Lawsuit Over Billboards Turns Racy

Defendant American Apparel uses director's love life against him

(Newser) - American Apparel plans to defend a $10 million lawsuit brought by Woody Allen over the unauthorized use of his photo on billboards by arguing that the company hasn't hurt his image—because he got there first. A lawyer for the clothing company tells the AP that the director's checkered romantic...

Housekeeper Sues Kobe Over Dog Poop
Housekeeper Sues Kobe
Over Dog Poop
Mar 25, 2009 5:47 PM CDT

Housekeeper Sues Kobe Over Dog Poop

Wrongful termination suit alleges his wife made her handle it

(Newser) - A former housekeeper for Kobe Bryant is suing the NBA star and his wife for wrongful termination, the Orange County Register reports, alleging that Vanessa Bryant “badgered, harassed, and humiliated” her and, as punishment for a laundry mistake, made her pick up dog droppings with bare hands. Maria Jimenez,...

LA Parents May Have to Pay for Graffiti Cleanup

Politicians push new strategy to curb city's rampant tagging

(Newser) - Here’s a reason to rein in unruly teens: Los Angeles parents may soon be financially liable for their kids’ vandalism. Officials want to allow residents to turn graffiti cleanup over to the city, which would then allow it to sue the perpetrators, and their parents, to recoup some of...

Crash Passenger: I'm Not Freeman's Mistress

Plaintiff says he offered her a place to stay

(Newser) - The woman suing Morgan Freeman for damages after a car crash says the actor was drinking all night before getting behind the wheel, the Commercial Appeal of Memphis reports. Demaris Meyer also denied that she was his mistress but said they were headed for his home when they piled into...

Geronimo's Heirs Sue Yale to Get Skull Back

Descendants of Geronimo allege students robbed his grave

(Newser) - Descendants of the legendary Apache chief Geronimo are suing Yale and its secretive Skull and Bones Society for the return of his skull and other remains, reports the Hartford Courant. The suit alleges that members of Skull and Bones—including Prescott Bush, father and grandfather of a pair of presidents—...

Florida Jury Awards $8M to Smoker's Family

Philip Morris vows to appeal verdict

(Newser) - Philip Morris must pay $8 million to the widow and son of a 55-year-old lung cancer victim, a Florida jury says. Jurors in the closely watched case decided that the cigarette maker hid the health risks and addictive qualities of cigarettes, the Miami Herald reports. Stuart Hess smoked about two...

Ex-GM Baylor Sues Clippers for Discrimination

(Newser) - NBA Hall of Famer and former Los Angeles Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor has sued the team, alleging that owner Donald Sterling had a “vision of a Southern plantation-type structure,” the Los Angles Times reports. The suit claims Sterling often talked about “poor black kids” and at...

Juror Booted for 'Sitting in Hell' Facebook Post

Ohio man's Facebook message prompts calls for mistrial

(Newser) - An Ohio man inadvertently discovered a new, high-tech way to get out of jury duty: write about it on Facebook. A judge in a high-profile civil lawsuit booted Barry Price from service after the plaintiff’s attorney discovered his Facebook status: “Barry Price is sitting in hell… aka jury...

Obama Signs Ledbetter Act as His First Bill

Law allows suits for decades-old pay discrimination

(Newser) - President Obama signed his first piece of legislation today, selecting an equal pay bill that makes it easier for women to sue for decades-old discrimination. Lilly Ledbetter—who for 19 years endured a pay discrepancy at Goodyear—stood at his side as the president signed the Fair Pay Act named...

Firm Behind Richardson Flap Has Pay-to-Play History

Financial adviser is under investigation, mired in lawsuits

(Newser) - CDR, the Beverly Hills financial firm at the center of the pay-for-play scandal investigation that's snagged New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, is no stranger to the inside of a courtroom. It's being targeted by the SEC, the IRS, and the Department of Justice, the Los Angeles Times reports. The company,...

Suit Claims In-Flight Booze Led to Domestic Violence

Courts must decide if United jet constituted a bar

(Newser) - A couple has sued United Airlines for deliberately serving the husband too much wine on a 2006 international flight, triggering a physical fight with his wife upon landing. The case rides on whether US courts find United beholden to the same liabilities as bars, and if they can preside over...

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