Trials & Litigation

LGBT Case: Woman in Women’s Room

In a cutting-edge transgendered rights case, a woman is suing over allegedly being forced out of a women’s room at a New York City restaurant. Yes, you read that right—a biological, from-birth female is suing because she was ejected from a women’s room, and this is something of a cause…

Oct 9, 2007 10:22 PM CDT

Counsel: PI Lawyer’s Aide Was FBI Mole

A former legal assistant to one of three jailed personal injury lawyers accused of bilking $65 million from clients in diet drug litigation allegedly spied on her boss for the FBI and wore a wire to confidential attorney-client meetings. In a federal-court filing in Kentucky last week, counsel representing Melbourne…

Oct 9, 2007 8:01 PM CDT

1,300 Arrested in Gang Crackdown

Federal and local law enforcement agencies have reportedly arrested more than 1,300 suspected gang members in 23 cities throughout the country over the past three months, as part of a “summer surge” crackdown on illegal immigrants. Those taken into custody are either prosecuted in federal court or deported, CNN said.…

Oct 9, 2007 5:24 PM CDT

Brain Secrets Study Could Change Courts

A $10 million multidisciplinary brain secrets study launched today could eventually bring big changes to the nation’s courtrooms. With the help of 25 participating universities, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is bringing “lawyers, judges, philosophers, legal scholars and scientists together to address how to use in the…

Oct 9, 2007 4:18 PM CDT

Feds Pursue Obscene in Sea of Porn

Created in response to pressure from conservative groups, a little-known federal task force is trying to hold the line on obscenity. It is targeting for prosecution a small number of fringe film producers in the nation’s booming pornography industry, focusing on movies that, although otherwise legal, may fall within the…

Oct 9, 2007 3:21 PM CDT

Oral Roberts Prez Denies Lavish Spending

Three former professors at Oral Roberts University contend its president, Richard Roberts, improperly fired them for objecting to the school’s involvement in a political race. But their lawsuit goes further, claiming Roberts and his wife, Lindsey, are using university money to finance a lavish lifestyle. Roberts, for his part, claims…

Oct 9, 2007 1:54 PM CDT

14 Years, No Trial: Retarded Man Freed

Relatives expressed relief today after a judge ruled that a retarded North Carolina man who was never tried, yet had been held 14 years in a state mental institution concerning a crime it is doubtful he committed, would be freed. However it still isn’t clear exactly when Floyd Lee Brown,…

Oct 8, 2007 11:34 PM CDT

Pro Bono Team Attacks Exec’s Prosecution

A team of pro bono attorneys from four different firms has taken up the cause of a convicted Dynegy Inc. executive and filed a habeas corpus petition seeking his release from prison. By pressuring Dynegy, under threat of prosecution, to renege on its promise of paying defense costs, the federal…

Oct 8, 2007 9:16 PM CDT

Criticized in Sermon, Parishioner Sues

Criticized by a parishioner in private telephone messages, a Catholic priest in suburban Chicago might have been best-advised to turn the other cheek. Instead, he fired back from the pulpit, allegedly saying he’d checked beforehand with a lawyer who’d approved his comments. After parishioners arrived at mass at St. Thomas…

Oct 8, 2007 6:50 PM CDT

Man on Trial for Feeding Homeless

In what may be a first-in-the-nation case, a Florida man reportedly is to go on trial today for violating an unusual Orlando ordinance that bans feeding a group of homeless persons in a public place. The prosecution says it has videotape of Eric Montanez, 22, at an organized feeding of…

Oct 8, 2007 6:11 PM CDT

PA Sues AFSC Over How It Spent $8 M

Updated: A highly regarded Philadelphia-based national charity is being sued by the Pennsylvania attorney general because it allegedly didn’t comply with the wishes of a deceased donor when spending his money. Leo Eloesser, a physician, directed that his bequest of $8 million (including investment growth and interest over more than…

Oct 8, 2007 5:23 PM CDT

Sidley ‘Partner’ Payout: Up to $1.8 M

The 32 former partners of Sidley Austin who were demoted in 1999 will receive a payment of between $122,000 and $1.8 million under an age discrimination settlement approved yesterday by a federal judge. “The amount to be paid to each of the 32 former Sidley [partners] was placed under seal,”…

Oct 6, 2007 12:39 AM CDT

MA Sues Lender, Seeks Foreclosure Role

In a legal action that takes an aggressive and perhaps unprecedented approach to the nationwide mortgage foreclosure crisis, the Massachusetts attorney general is blaming a California-based subprime lender as a “significant” cause of the debacle and seeking damages and an oversight role over all of its foreclosures. Martha Coakley filed…

Oct 5, 2007 10:06 PM CDT

$6.1 M Award in McDonald’s Strip Search

A Kentucky jury has awarded $6.1 million to a young McDonald’s employee who was pressured by a supervisor into cooperating with a strip search and bizarre requests made over the telephone by a male caller pretending to be a police officer investigating a theft. Louise Ogborn, who was 18 at…

Oct 5, 2007 7:55 PM CDT

Duke Lacrosse Players Sue for ‘Premeditated’ Misconduct

Three Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of rape have sued former District Attorney Mike Nifong and the city of Durham for civil rights violations. The suit also names police officials and a DNA lab as defendants, the Herald Sun (reg. req.) reports. It seeks unspecified damages and the appointment of…

Oct 5, 2007 5:51 PM CDT