Much like our own embarrassment over faux television judges, it appears that psychologists are not happy with Dr. Phil’s conversion of their field into a form of entertainment. A complaint has been filed that Dr. Phillip C. McGraw’s (his real name) rush to interject himself into the Britney Spears controversy constitutes practicing without a license. It could present an interesting question for both medical and legal personalities on television. Continue reading “Dr. Phil Charged With Practicing Without A License in Britney Spears Stunt”
Category: Torts
Scientology has long been criticized for using litigation to wear down anyone who challenges or investigates its church. Now, Gawker and other sites found themselves the recipients of threatening letters not to show the video, which contains a rather odd interview with Cruise in a frenzy over Scientology and its powers. The claim of copyright infringement and criminal violations appears a scare tactic given the newsworthy content of the video. While some sites immediately buckled under the pressure, Gawker has taken a public and defiant stance against Church. While Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard told his supporters that litigation is meant to harass enemies not win cases, this is one first amendment fight the Church may want to avoid. Continue reading “Scientology Lawyers Go After Bloggers and Sites Featuring Bizarre Cruise Videotape”
In a rare defamation action, a group of retired federal drug enforcement agents are suing NBC Universal, alleging that the movie “American Gangster” falsely portrayed them. In the film starring Denzel Washington, the agents are portrayed as the bad guys in the story of a Harlem heroin trafficker. The former agents are seeking $50 million in damages plus profits from the film, including punitive damages. NBC Universal seems to be making matters worse for themselves by alternatively claiming that the story is based of fact or completing fictional. Continue reading “DEA Agents Sue for Defamation Over Denzel Washington’s Film “American Gangster””
Archbishop Earl Paulk’s problems just got a lot more serious. As reported earlier, he has been under criminal investigation in Georgia and now an arrest warrant has been issued for the 80-year-old leader of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church after a long investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He is accused of felony perjury related to a civil lawsuit alleging that he coerced a church employee to have an affair with him. Continue reading “Arrest Warrant Issued for Archbishop Earl Paulk”
In the world of jail house law, Scott Anthony Gomez Jr. is a stand out. Convicted of weapons charges, Gomez escapted once from the Pueblo County Jail in Colorado, only to be caught again. In his his attempt, he fell from an 85 foot height, seriously injuring himself. He argues in his federal filing that, if the jail was better secured, he would not have attempt such an act. Continue reading “Inmate Sues Jail for Injuries from Escape Attempt — Alleges Negligent Security”
Torts lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs has long been famous or infamous depending on your view of his windfall, one billion fee award in the tobacco settlement. Now, the brother-in-law of Trent Lott will face a criminal trial on bribery and related charges with his son. To make matters worse, his legal team just withdrew from his defense. Continue reading “Famous Torts Lawyer Dickie Scruggs Indicted With Son for Bribery: Defense Counsel Withdraw From Case”
A federal grand jury is reportedly investigating possible criminal charges in the suicide case of 13-year-old Megan Meier. At the same time, the state is considering a new law to criminalize the conduct that led to the girl’s suicide after a mother faked the identity of a young boy on MySpace and then cruelly dumped the teenager after she became infatuated with him. The mother and neighbor, Lori Drew, has not been called, but could be a target for criminal charges. Continue reading “Grand Jury Reportedly Investigating Crimes in the Megan Meier MySpace Suicide Case”
The Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal from the decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court to uphold the alienation of affection tort and to award a man $750,000 to be paid by his wife’s lover. Sandra Valentine (yes, Valentine) was accused by her husband of having an affair with her wealthy businessman, Jerry Fitch, and having a baby with him. After divorcing Valentine, Johnny Valentine sued Fitch and won. In its ruling, the Mississippi Supreme Court rejected calls to reject the tort of alienation of affection as antiquated. Continue reading “Supreme Court Refuses Case of Cuckolded Husband Who Won $750,000; Mississippi Supreme Court Upheld Alienation of Affection Tort”
There has been a spate of recent defamation actions by and against celebrities from Roger Clemens to Tom Cruise and now Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld and his wife Jessica Seinfeld have been sued by Missy Chase Lapine over comments made on the David Letterman Show about her and her allegations of plagiarism of a cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld. This one could actually make some interesting new law if it goes the distance. Continue reading “Latest Celebrity Defamation Lawsuit: Jerry Seinfeld and Wife Sued for Defamation”
Umatilla Fire Chief Richard Shirk has resigned after he took photos of a 26-year-old woman being treated by emergency workers, including seminude photos of the victim — who later died. The resignation may not end the controversy if the family sues, as did the family of Nicole “Nikki” Catsouras after pictures of her decapitated body were sent around the Internet by emergency officials. Continue reading “Fire Chief Resigns Over Emailed Photos of Seminude Victim”
In what seems to be a trend among celebrities, Roger Clemens has joined the ranks of celebrities filing defamation lawsuits. In a Texas complaint, Clemens is suing former trainer Brian McNamee for 15 allegedly untrue statements about use of steroids and human growth hormones. On the same day his interview about alleged steroid use was broadcast on “60 Minutes,” Roger Clemens beat Brian McNamee to court, filing a defamation suit against the former trainer who claimed to have injected him with performance-enhancing drugs. Continue reading “Roger Clemens Files Defamation Lawsuit Over Allegations of Use of Performance-Enhancing Drugs”
Not long after the scandal of officials sending pictures of a decapitated Nicole “Nikki” Catsouras to friends on MySpace and the Internet, a fire Chief in Central Florida is accused to sending pictures of an accident victim to friends by e-mail. Umatilla Fire Chief Richard has been suspended after he allegedly took (and later e-mailed) pictures of a 26-year-old woman being treated by emergency workers after she crashed her sport utility vehicle into a tree. The woman died later from her injuries. The pictures include nudity. Continue reading “Another Official Accused of Sending Graphic Pictures of Accident Victims to Friends”
In a curious lawsuit, accused terrorist Jose Padilla has sued Law Professor John Yoo. Yoo is the supposedly one of the authors of several memos supporting President Bush’s enemy combatant policy and has been linked to the abuse that resulted from that policy. Yoo and Georgetown Professor Viet Dinh have been criticized for their roles in creating these abuses that include a formal torture program and the denial of basic constitutional rights. Continue reading “Accused Terrorist Jose Padilla Sues Law Professor John Yoo”
There is an interesting fight brewing over the arrest of Chris Wilson. Wilson is hardly Thomas Paine, unless Paine dabbled in porn. Wilson, 28, is the founder and manager of a controversial site, nowthatsfuckedup.com, where guys post sexually explicit shots of their wives and girlfriends. Nice. However, recently Wilson began to post explicit and disturbing pictures of the carnage from Iraq, photos reportedly sent by soldiers posted abroad. In October, Wilson’s home was raided, his computer seized, and he is now facing life in prison. Beneath the gore and porn, Wilson may have a valid first amendment case. Continue reading “Chris Wilson’s War: Publisher of Iraqi War Dead Arrested and Computer Seized: Was it Porn or Politics?”
Tom Cruise has long proclaimed his faith in Scientology. Now, however, he is reportedly preparing a lawsuit against author Andrew Morton for his book, Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography, in which he details an assortment of cult-like episodes involving Cruise and states that Cruise is now the de facto second-in-command of the Church. If filed, it could prove a fascinating case since discovery would probably not appeal to the notoriously secretive Church of Scientology. Among other things, Morton would be entitled to call Scientology leader David Miscavige, who is discussed at length in the book. Continue reading “Tom Cruise Reportedly Preparing Defamation Suit Against Andrew Morton’s Book on His Scientology Practices”