Lawyer for Mel Gibson’s Ex Reverses Plan re Custody Case; Judge and Actor’s Lawyer ‘Visibly Shocked’

Both the judge and a lawyer for Mel Gibson were “visibly shocked” today when an attorney for the actor’s former girlfriend announced during a court hearing that she would no longer seek to have his alleged domestic violence considered concerning the custody of the celebrity couple’s child, TMZ reports. Sources…

May 4, 2011 10:01 PM CDT

1800Car-Wreck Law Firm Seeks Facebook Fans with iPad Giveaway

A personal injury law firm in Dallas really wants to be liked. Eberstein & Witherite is so eager to win Facebook fans that it is giving away an iPad, Texas Lawyer reports. To qualify, visitors to the firm’s 1800Car-Wreck Facebook page have to click on “like” and submit a photo…

Apr 20, 2011 11:43 AM CDT

LeBron James’ Mother Sued by Valet Who Says She Slapped Him

LeBron James’ mother is facing legal trouble for allegedly slapping a valet in an altercation that led to her arrest last week. In a suit (PDF posted by the Miami Herald) filed against Gloria James, Rock Feller Sorel accuses James of verbal abuse and assault, saying he suffered “emotional distress,…

Apr 14, 2011 5:55 PM CDT

Texas Bill Requiring Loser-Pays Rule in Lawsuits Is Drafted with Push from Governor

In his State of the State address in February, Texas Gov. Rick Perry endorsed a loser-pays system that would require “those who sue” to pay attorney fees. Now he’s pushing a loser-pays bill that is in the draft stages, the New York Times reports. Still unclear is whether the bill…

Mar 11, 2011 12:48 PM CST

Mississippi Lawsuit Takes on Corporal Punishment of Students, Seeks State Ban on Paddling

A federal lawsuit seeking to have paddling banned in Mississippi claims race and gender unfairly affect how the punishment is applied. While the court contemplates prohibiting the practice permanently, the suit is asking for a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order to stop paddlings, the Calhoun County Journal reports. “Mississippi…

Mar 9, 2011 9:48 PM CST

Judge Order May Remove Acclaimed Film on Mexico’s Flawed Justice System from Mexican Theaters

A critically lauded documentary on Mexico’s corrupt justice system may be pulled from theaters after a federal judge received a complaint from a disgruntled witness who appears in the film. Presumed Guilty, which tells the story of an innocent man who is found guilty of murder twice, is facing legal…

Mar 8, 2011 7:21 PM CST

A Change in Direction Results in Tossed Slip-and-Fall Lawsuit for Michigan Man

A Michigan man who injured himself after falling on an uneven sidewalk can’t pursue a lawsuit because he got his directions mixed up. Plaintiff Robert Graczyk claims he injured himself while retrieving his trash can, and gave the city of Bay City a notice of a potential claim in 2007.…

Feb 18, 2011 12:00 PM CST

Jaywalking Teen Ticketed While in a Coma Leaves the Hospital and Sues the Driver

A 13-year-old Las Vegas teen who while in a medically induced coma was ticketed for jaywalking is out of the hospital, and she’s taking her own legal action against the driver accused of striking and injuring her. The suit (PDF) filed on behalf of Takara Davis claims she was thrown…

Feb 3, 2011 12:00 PM CST

Oregon Attorney’s Documentary ‘Hot Coffee’ Makes the Sundance Cut

Feb 1, 2011 8:59 AM CST

When Food Attacks! Disgruntled Diners Demand Dinero for Culinary Contretemps

Feb 1, 2011 6:10 AM CST

Tort Defense Lawyer Contends MySpace Smiley Faces Are Damning Evidence

Tort defense lawyers are increasingly seeking access to plaintiffs’ private social media pages in hopes the contents will provide evidence of fakery. Two state courts recently granted broad access to private portions of social media sites, and a federal court did the same in 2009, Reuters reports. In one of…

Jan 28, 2011 12:55 PM CST

US Rep Sues Capitol Cafeteria for $150K Over Vegan Sandwich, Alleges Injuries from Olive Pit

Known to be litigious in other contexts, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives has sued the Capitol cafeteria over a vegan sandwich. Congressman Dennis Kuchinich (D-Ohio) alleges that an olive pit was lurking in the seemingly safe food item, causing dental damage that required surgery, reports the Cleveland…

Jan 26, 2011 8:32 PM CST

Lawyer is Suspended Over Hit-and-Run for Which He Initially Blamed His Wife and ‘Road Raged’ Bikers

A Vermont lawyer who reportedly is a former traffic court judge caused an accident in September 2007 by braking abruptly after passing two bikers. Then he blamed the crash on his wife—falsely claiming that she had been the driver—and the “road raged” bikers for the fact that he didn’t stop…

Jan 3, 2011 8:26 PM CST

Torts for Tots: Swear to Tell the Truth or Go to Your Room

Jan 1, 2011 6:10 AM CST

Judge Nixes Secrecy Pact in High-Profile Fatal Toyota Crash Settlement; Automaker Paid $10M

Although Toyota Motor Corp. and the plaintiffs agreed to keep secret the amount the automaker paid to settle a lawsuit over a fiery high-speed crash that killed a California Highway Patrol officer and three family members, a state-court judge held the settlement couldn’t be confidential. Ruling earlier this week on…

Dec 23, 2010 10:37 PM CST