In an interesting ruling, the Utah Supreme Court has rejected the use of a standard waiver of liability by a ski resort as against public policy. Continue reading “Utah Supreme Court Rejects Waivers as Defense for Ski Resorts”
Category: Torts
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael L. Stern has awarded dancer Michael Flatley (of Rvierdance fame) more than $11 million in his lawsuit against Tyna Marie Robertson, a real estate agent who accused him of rape. Flatley showed that the sex was consensual in the case. In the meantime, Robertson’s former lawyer, D. Dean Mauro has been found to have extorted Flatley and also made a substantial settlement over the case. Continue reading “Riverdance Star Michael Flatley Wins $11 Million Against Woman Who Falsely Accused Him of Sexual Assault”
Archbishop Earl Paulk, co-founder of Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church now faces an allegation from his adult granddaughter, Penielle “Penie” White, that he touched her inappropriately when she was about eight years old. This allegations will be thrown on the top of a growing pile of sexual misconduct allegations against the head of the megachurch. Continue reading “Archbishop Earl Paulk Faces New Allegation of Sexual Misconduct — From His Own Granddaughter”
Fort Thomas, Ky. has a deer problem that may soon be a human problem. The city council is allowing hunting (with bow and arrow) within city limits. Given the number of hunting accidents each year, it seems an invitation for accidents. Continue reading “Kentucky City Allows Deer Hunting Within City Limits”
In a rare criminal case, a New York jury convicted a millionaire perfume makers Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani, 51, and Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 45, of enslaving two Indonesian housekeepers while using bizarre forms of punishments like forced eating of hot peppers and vomit. While the defense insists that the allegations are merely “histrionics,” the jury clearly found the two women credible and convicted the wealthy couple. Continue reading “Wealthy Couple Convicted in Slavery Case in New York”
The former head of the Black Panther Party, Elaine Brown has filed a remarkable lawsuit against Kathleen Cleaver, ex-wife of the late Panthers spokesman Eldridge Cleaver. Continue reading “Former Black Panther Elaine Brown Sues Black Panther Kathleen Cleaver for Defamation For Being Called FBI Snitch”
In Boston, a jury awarded $2.5 million in damages Wednesday to Audrey Serrano, who received HIV treatments for almost nine years before discovering she never actually had the virus that causes AIDS. It is only the latest in misdiagnosis cases. Continue reading “Woman Misdiagnosed with AIDS Wins $2.5 Million Verdict Against Doctor”
A label on a small tractor that warns, “Danger: Avoid Death,” has been chosen as the nation’s wackiest warning label in an annual contest sponsored by a consumer watchdog group. The Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch (M-LAW) has released its eleventh annual results of “The Wacky Warning Label Contest” featuring the silliest warnings on products. However, the contest itself should come with a more prominent warning about the basis for the contest and the motives of its organizers. Continue reading “Tort Reform Group Releases Annual List of Wacky Warnings — Without A Warning of its Own Motivation and Bias”
Medical studies have found that a shocking 1500 patients each year have medical devices (often sponges) left inside of them by doctors. Continue reading “Doctors Leave Medical Objects Inside 1500 Patients Each Year”
In light of the Larry Manzanares suicide case in Denver, this South Dakota case for a couple years ago may be illustrative. It got very little attention but should have. The South Dakota Supreme Court has ordered a new trial in the suicide case of Kristi Dodson. At issue is an interesting question of the standard to apply to a suicidal mind and the concept of contributory negligence. Continue reading “South Dakota Supreme Court Rules that Suicide Case Not Subject to Reasonable Person Standard for Contributory Negligence”
The family of former judge and Denver City Attorney Larry Manzanares announced their intention to sue Jefferson County district attorney, Scott W. Storey, his deputy and an investigator for contributing to her husband’s death. It is a case that raises disturbing questions over the causes of suicide and the increasing tendency of prosecutors to play to the media in high-profile cases. Continue reading “Family of Former Judge and Denver City Attorney Sue District Attorney Over Suicide”
It appears that there may finally be prosecution for cyber-bullying in the infamous Megan Meier case, but not to protect the Meier family, but the woman accused of triggering her suicide: Lori Drew. Continue reading “Prosecution Finally Considered For Cyber-Bullying in Megan Meier Case: To Protect Lori Drew, the Alleged MySpace Hoaxster”
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has handed down an interesting decision that rejects a defense of innocent possession of ammunition by a felon. James Baker of Wichita claims that he was in possession of a speed loader with bullets because he found it on the ground outside of a party and was in the process of turning it in. Continue reading “Court of Appeals Rejects Necessity and Innocence Defenses to Unlawful Possession of Ammunition”
There is an extremely interesting case developing in California over the release of graphic photos ofNicole “Nikki” Catsouras, 18, who was decapitated in a two-car crash on a toll road near Lake Forest, California. Continue reading “California Parents Suing Police for Release of Decapitated Daughter Found on Internet and MySpace”
One of the key lessons for avoiding prosecution for brutality is to avoid doing it in front of a camera or thousands of witnesses, or in this case, both. The Honolulu Police Department has opened a criminal investigation after an officer was videotaped beating a man who simply ran onto the field at Aloha Stadium field after a big win of the University of Hawaii football team over Washington. Continue reading “Shock Video: Honolulu Police Department Beat a Fan Who Ran on to Football Field”