Cases of Note

(L-R) Pitcher - Trevor Bauer, Martha Stewart, Golfer, Tiger Woods and Actor, Mel Gibson This article covers: Why Have a Moral Turpitude Clause? Why are Celebrities Involved in a Scandal not Reinstated? Sportscaster Marv Albert pleads guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery and is subsequently terminated by NBC. Mel Gibson makes anti-Semitic remarks during an arrest for drunk driving and ABC cancels his contract for a miniseries on the Holocaust. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are eliminated from “Got Milk?” advertisements because of Mary-Kate's eating disorder. Tiger Woods loses endorsement deals with brands such as Gatorade, AT&T and Accenture following his professed infidelity in late 2009 - losing him an estimated $20 million.  Why do companies such as AT&T, H&M, NBC, ABC, and the Milk Processor Education Program have the right to do this? Usually, these companies are permitted to terminate an agreement with talent based on actions like those of Marv Albert, Mel Gibson

  Update On April 19th, the complaint and petition was dismissed without leave to amend. The judge decided, that the county was not in violation of the Sherman Act stating "in creating the state-action immunity doctrine, the Supreme Court made clear the Sherman Act was not intended to reach the activities of state governments," citing Llewellyn v. Crothers, 765 F.2d 769, 774 (9th Cir. 1985). The judge in regards to dismissal without leave to amend wrote, "A claim is futile, and the court may dismiss without leave to amend,“if it determines that ‘allegation of other facts consistent with the challenged pleading could not possibly cure the deficiency,’ or if the [party] had several opportunities to amend its [pleading] and repeatedly failed to cure deficiencies.” Telesaurus VPC, LLC v. Power , 623 F.3d 998, 1003 (9th Cir. 2010). Case Summary American Medical Response is suing the board in federal court. This is three months after the San Bernardino County Board of Supervi

Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act passes House Update Passed Senate, under the order of April 19, 2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 - 34. Record Vote Number: 150 .On April 20, 2024 RISSA Became Public Law No: 118-49  after being signed by President. 'Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act ' RISAA April 12, 2024—The House voted to reauthorize a key U.S. spy program considered essential to national security. In a 273 to 147 vote, lawmakers renewed Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire on April 19, through 2026. H.R. 7888 added amendments such as modifying the definition of electronic communication service provider and prohibits warrantless searches of U.S. person communications in the FISA 702 database, with exceptions for imminent threats to life or bodily harm, consent searches, or known cybersecurity threat signatures. Section 702 allows the U.S. government

Assembly Bill  2390  Social Media Harm Reduction Pilot Program Summary This bill establishes the Social Media Harm Reduction Pilot Program and would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to designate a nonprofit organization to undertake the responsibilities of the program. The responsibilities include recommending statewide standards for the use of online social networks by kindergarten and grades 1 to 12 pupils, inclusive, and would require the program to coordinate with existing laws regulating social media platforms to ensure consistency and avoid duplication of effort until December 31, 2029. The  Social Media Harm Reduction Pilot Program  enacts the following: 1) Establishes the Social Media Harm Reduction Pilot Program (program). Requires the California  Health and Human Services Agency to designate a nonprofit organization to undertake the responsibilities of the program. 2) Requires the program to: a) Develop model educational materials and methods to leverag

Actress Paula Patton at the 2022 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater L.A. Live on June 26, 2022 — Photo by Image Press Agency Case Summary Plaintiff Gina Conte stated that she visited Paula Patton’s home in Calabasas on August 2, 2020. She said while at the home Patton’s German shepherd mix dog named “Bear” attacked and bit her. In court documents filed on July 27, 2022, Conte accused Patton of negligence in the dog bite incident. Conte's suit prays actual damages, special damages (costs associated with medical expenses, lost wages etc.), punitive damages, legal fees with interest and other relief deemed by the court. Court documents state that Conte “was hurt and injured in her health, strength, and activity, sustaining serious and significant injury to her body and shock to her nervous system and person, all of which injuries have caused, and will continue to cause mental, physical, and nervous pain and suffering.” Patton's answer filed on September 15, 2022 claims many, many leg

The Maryland Legislature this weekend passed two sweeping privacy bills that aim to restrict how powerful tech platforms can harvest and use the personal data of consumers and young people — despite strong objections from industry trade groups representing giants like Amazon, Google and Meta. The  Maryland Online Data Privacy Act , would impose wide-ranging restrictions on how companies may collect and use the personal data of consumers in the state. The other, the  Maryland Kids Code , would prohibit certain social media, video game and other online platforms from tracking people under 18 and from using manipulative techniques — like auto-playing videos or bombarding children with notifications — to keep young people glued online. “We are making a statement to the tech industry, and to Marylanders, that we need to rein in some of this data gathering,” said Delegate  Sara Love,  a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Ms. Love, who sponsored the consumer bill and cospon

Update April 8 - Jonathan Majors, whose promising acting career stalled after a domestic violence conviction in New York, was sentenced to domestic violence programming after the judge decided "jail is not necessary." Majors must complete a 52-week in-person batterers intervention program in Los Angeles, continue mental health counseling and stay away from the victim, his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, said Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Michael Gaffey. April 3 - Jonathan Majors faced a legal setback when the judge in his domestic violence case declined his lawyer’s motion to set aside his December guilty verdict. “Jonathan feels disappointed by the outcome of the motion, yet he upholds respect for the process,” his lawyer Priya Chaudhry said in a statement. Due to the judge’s decision, the 34-year-old former Marvel star — will still be sentenced as scheduled on April 8. Case Summary On March 25, around 12:40am, Jonathan Majors and Grace Jabbari were taking a private car servi