Famed author of ‘Mockingbird’ says she never OK’d biography by journalist who moved next door

Fiercely protective of her privacy, the 88-year-old author of one of the most famous trial novels ever published says she never willingly cooperated with a journalist who moved next door to her Monroeville, Alabama, home in 2004. Nonetheless, the journalist wrote a book about Harper Lee and her older sister,…

Jul 15, 2014 10:25 PM CDT

Federal judge won’t repeat name of Washington NFL team; policy disclosed in a footnote

A federal judge doesn’t want to repeat a controversial team name in a suit claiming pro football players received bounties for injuring opposing players. U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte revealed his policy in a footnote, report the Wall Street Journal Law Blog, the Washington Post and WJLA. “Pro Football’s team…

Jul 15, 2014 1:25 PM CDT

Jury says Dodgers must pay $13.9M in Giants fan’s beating case

Although a jury found the Los Angeles Dodgers to be only partially responsible for a Giants fan’s 2011 beating in a stadium parking lot, that means the team must pay nearly $14 million. Team attorney Dana Fox said a Los Angeles jury’s determination Wednesday that the team was 25 percent…

Jul 10, 2014 3:55 PM CDT

Donald Sterling shouts at his wife in court, calls her a pig

Donald Sterling shouted at his estranged wife and called her a pig during a trial on Wednesday to determine whether he has the capacity to remain as co-trustee of the trust that owns the Los Angeles Clippers. The day before, Donald Sterling had kissed Shelly Sterling and said he trusted…

Jul 10, 2014 1:48 PM CDT

Donald Sterling is combative on stand, calls lawyer a ‘smartass’

A combative Donald Sterling testified on Tuesday that he can get more than $2 billion for the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers, and his own doctors have determined he is “razor sharp.” Sterling frequently sparred with opposing lawyer Bert Fields in the probate hearing on Tuesday to determine whether…

Jul 9, 2014 12:51 PM CDT

Insane Clown Posse lawsuit over fans’ gang designation is dismissed

Insane Clown Posse. Featureflash Shutterstock.com A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the rap group Insane Clown Posse that contended the FBI had wrongly labeled its fans as members of a “hybrid gang.” U.S. District Judge Robert Cleland of Detroit dismissed the suit last week,the Associated Press reports.…

Jul 8, 2014 4:49 PM CDT

Judge turns down Donald Sterling’s bid to remove case to federal court over medical privacy issue

A federal judge has refused a request by Donald Sterling to remove to federal court a probate case that claims Sterling does not have the capacity to remain as a trustee and block the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers. Donald Sterling had contended a federal court should decide whether…

Jul 8, 2014 3:00 PM CDT

Sleeping Yankees fan caught on camera sues for alleged defamation

A Yankees fan who was caught on camera napping at an April 13 game has filed a $10 million suit for alleged defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The suit filed on behalf of fan Andrew Robert Rector claims the ESPN announcers “unleashed [an] avalanche of disparaging words” about…

Jul 8, 2014 1:33 PM CDT

Lawyers in Donald Sterling case battle over removal to federal court for medical privacy issue

Lawyers for Shelly Sterling claim in an emergency brief filed Sunday in federal court that Donald Sterling’s bid to remove a probate case to federal court is an attempt to delay resolution of the dispute over his capacity and sabotage the sale of the Los Angeles Clippers. Lawyers for Donald…

Jul 7, 2014 4:02 PM CDT

New law in Virginia will ban controversial fox-penning sport

Jul 1, 2014 9:39 AM CDT

App translates rules of golf into plain English

Jul 1, 2014 9:30 AM CDT

Player’s 4-month ban over bite in World Cup match ‘grotesque and absurd,’ his lawyer says

A lawyer for Luis Suarez, the Uruguay forward who got a four-month suspension this week after FIFA’s disciplinary committee determined he bit an opponent’s shoulder, says that the punishment has been unfair, from a legal perspective. The Belfast Telegraph reports that Alejandro Balbi, Suarez’s lawyer, indicated that there are plans…

Jun 27, 2014 4:19 PM CDT

New NFL concussion settlement has no cap on damages

The National Football League has agreed to a new settlement in a concussion suit by retired players that places no cap on damages. Documents filed on Wednesday described the deal, reached after U.S. District Judge Anita Brody refused to approve a $765 million settlement to compensate retired players who suffer…

Jun 26, 2014 12:58 PM CDT

Former minor leaguer, now a lawyer, sues MLB over salaries said to be below minimum wage

Former minor league pitcher Garrett Broshuis never made it to the big leagues, but Major League Baseball is taking notice of him now. Broshuis went on to become valedictorian of his class at St. Louis University School of Law and then to file suit against MLB over the low salaries…

Jun 26, 2014 10:45 AM CDT

Being hit by a flying hot dog isn’t an inherent risk of watching baseball, state supreme court says

The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled on behalf of a baseball fan who says he was hit in the eye with a hot dog thrown by Sluggerrr, the Kansas City Royals mascot. The court found that being hit in the eye with a flying hot dog was not one of…

Jun 25, 2014 1:52 PM CDT