Reliving the Golden Oldies: Rockers Reclaim Tunes After Revised Copyright Laws

May 1, 2012 8:20 AM CDT

May 3, 1948: Court Rules on Hollywood Antitrust Case

May 1, 2012 5:20 AM CDT

Financier Sues 2 LA Law Firms for $100M, Says They Abetted In-House Counsel’s Breach of Duty

An entertainment industry financier has sued two well-known Los Angeles law firms, contending that they aided and abetted an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by his former in-house counsel. In a lawsuit (PDF) filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, plaintiff David Bergstein contends that his then-counsel, Susan Tregub provided…

Apr 20, 2012 9:21 PM CDT

Several Potential Clemens Jurors Haven’t Heard of the Baseball Great

Several potential jurors questioned for the retrial of former pitcher Roger Clemens said they have never heard of the Cy Young Award winner. Several people who had heard of Clemens couldn’t name any of his teams, the Associated Press reports. One potential juror said he would rather be sleeping than…

Apr 19, 2012 4:25 PM CDT

Would-Be ‘Bachelor’ Contestants File Suit Alleging Show Discriminates Against Minorities

Two black men who were unable to land roles on The Bachelor have filed a suit claiming the reality show discriminates against people of color. Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Johnson say in their federal lawsuit that they were given little consideration during a casting call in August, report the Associated…

Apr 19, 2012 1:42 PM CDT

9th Circuit Says Privilege Waived re Superman Comic Docs Stolen From Lawyer and Sent to Warner Bros.

Attorney Marc Toberoff cooperated with prosecutors after he said privileged documents concerning his efforts to help survivors of the creators of Superman gain rights to the famous comic character were stolen by another lawyer then working for him. But because of that he has lost his legal battle to prevent…

Apr 17, 2012 11:31 PM CDT

Roger Clemens Retrial Starts Today; Chain of Custody May Be an Issue

Jury selection begins today in the retrial of former pitcher Roger Clemens, accused of perjury for telling a House committee that he never used steroids or human growth hormone. Five prosecutors will face off against a six-lawyer defense team led by Houston lawyer Rusty Hardin, the Associated Press reports. Last…

Apr 16, 2012 2:37 PM CDT

Is Fan Jeering at Public University Sports Events Protected by the First Amendment? Few Cases Decide

As March madness heats up, so do the fans. The New York Times sees a legal issue in the yelling by spectators that sometimes results in ejection: Is a fan’s protest at a sports event a form of expression protected by the First Amendment? The free speech issue could come…

Mar 29, 2012 3:09 PM CDT

Owners of Mets Settle Madoff Suit on Day of Trial After Losing Burden-of-Proof Ruling

The owners of the New York Mets averted a jury trial scheduled for today with an agreement to pay $162 million to settle a suit filed by the Madoff bankruptcy trustee. The suit had sought $300 million in fictitious profits reaped by the team in accounts held with convicted Ponzi…

Mar 19, 2012 2:39 PM CDT

Courtroom Questioning Reveals Upcoming Death of ‘Desperate Housewives’ Character

Audience members in a packed courtroom gasped and two female jurors put their hands to their mouths yesterday as a producer of the Desperate Housewives television program revealed in his testimony the unexpected death of a character in an episode scheduled to air this weekend. Executive producer George Perkins was…

Mar 10, 2012 1:11 AM CST

Fetish Filmmaker Credits 75-Year-Old Juror in Snowman Sweater for 2nd Mistrial in Obscenity Case

A fetish filmmaker facing a criminal obscenity case has for the second time won a mistrial in federal court in Los Angeles. This time, Ira Isaacs tells the Los Angeles Times, a 75-year-old juror who wore a Christmas-themed sweater featuring snowmen to court one day last week was one of…

Mar 7, 2012 6:13 PM CST

Movie Fan Sues over Theater’s High Snack Prices and Ban on Outside Food

A class-action lawsuit filed by a movie fan in Michigan claims the snack prices at AMC Theaters are so high that they violate price-gouging provisions of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. Lawyer Kerry Morgan of Wyandotte filed the suit last week on behalf of Joshua Thompson, who is a “20-something…

Mar 6, 2012 12:44 PM CST

Singer Chris Brown Retains Mark Geragos to Deal with Fan’s Claim to Police He Snatched Her iPhone

A claim that a celebrity snatched a fan’s iPhone might not seem like that big a deal, especially when no criminal charge has been made. But singer Chris Brown brought in high-powered criminal defense lawyer Mark Geragos to represent him as police in Miami Beach, Fla., investigate the unproven allegation,…

Feb 27, 2012 7:49 PM CST

Justin Bieber’s Lawyers Are Eager to Stop Beaver App

Updated: A 99-cent app created to appeal to Justin Bieber fans has raised the ire of the pop star’s lawyers. The app is a game called Joustin’ Beaver. A press release says the app “is an homage to teen heartthrob Justin Bieber. Fans of the pop star can help guide…

Feb 24, 2012 7:42 PM CST

Naked Cowboy’s Legal Suit Over CBS Soap Opera Character Is Found Lacking

A federal judge in Manhattan has reviewed a legal suit brought by a Times Square entertainer known as the Naked Cowboy and found it lacking. Robert John Burck had contended that CBS Corp. stole his shtick by including a similarly unclad character strumming a guitar in a Nov. 1, 2010…

Feb 24, 2012 6:35 PM CST