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Showing posts with the label Civil

Crystal McKinney v. Sean Combs— Gender-Motivated Protection Law NYC

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L-R Sean Combs and Crystal McKinney Case Summary Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing accusations from a former model, who claims in a lawsuit that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by the rap mogul. In the complaint, filed Tuesday in a U.S. District Court, Crystal McKinney claims that she was "drugged and sexually assaulted" in 2003 by Combs, 54, after a Men's Fashion Week event in New York City. The amount McKinney is seeking in damages is unspecified. McKinney, who was 22 at the time of the alleged assault, said that an unnamed fashion designer invited her to attend the event at Cipriani Downtown, a Manhattan restaurant, where she met Combs. She accuses Diddy, of forcing her to perform oral sex on him at his New York City recording studio in 2003.  McKinney said she was given alcohol and marijuana and then was led into a bathroom, where she said Combs attempted to force her into a sexual act. Combs has not yet responded. Because the allegations reference events

Asta Jonasson v. Vin Diesel, One Race Films, Inc. et al.—Wrongful Termination, Sexual battery lawsuit brought by former assistant

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Case Summary In a civil suit filed on December 21st in Los Angeles Superior Court stemming from a 2010 incident in which Vin Diesel’s former assistant, Asta Jonasson alleges that Diesel forcibly groped, restrained and kissed her in a hotel suite in Atlanta and masturbated in front of her. The complaint states Diesel ignored Jonasson’s “clear statements of non-consent,” and after she “screamed and ran towards the nearby bathroom,” he “pinned her against the wall with his body." Jonasson claims that Samantha Vincent, the president of Diesel’s company One Race at the time, called her “mere hours” after the alleged assault and “terminated Ms. Jonasson’s employment.” “No one is too famous or powerful to evade justice,” Claire-Lise Kutlay of Greenberg Gross LLP, attorney for Jonasson, wrote in a statement. “We hope her courageous decision to come forward helps create lasting change and empowers other survivors.” “Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety,” Bryan Freedma

Moral Clauses: Why 'Exonerated' Celebrities are still 'Fired'

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(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

Gina Conte v. Paula Patton—Negligence and Strict Liability — Dog Bite

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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

Grace Jabbari v. Jonathan Majors - Intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and malicious prosecution

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Case Summary Actor Jonathan Majors' ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari is suing him in federal court Tuesday. Three months after a New York City jury convicted him of assaulting and harassing her. Jabbari, a British dancer who is alleging defamation, malicious prosecution, assault and battery in the Southern District of New York. The suit claims that Majors physically abused her several other times during their nearly two-year relationship, the first time in July 2022. And she alleges in the lawsuit that since Majors was convicted in December, he has continued to attack her reputation. “When publicly confronted with Grace’s numerous allegations of abuse, Majors has called her a liar at every turn and very specifically claimed that he has never put his hands on a woman, with the goal of convincing the world that Grace is not a victim of domestic abuse but instead a crazy liar who should be treated as such,” the lawsuit says. In the court papers, Jabbari also alleges that Majors “has consis

Protecting Kids on Social Media—Bills and New Laws

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Feb. 6, 2024 -- For many legitimate reasons, social media is often high on a parent's list of digital concerns. From online predators to privacy, there's genuinely a lot of questionable; stuff for children and teens to navigate. Enjoying social media wisely can also give kids a sense of connection, fun, and creativity. If a caregiver is involved in a kid's digital life, it prepares them for how to handle negative online situations. Talks about protecting privacy and being kind can go a long way toward a more positive social media experience. And if kids can avoid endless scrolling and comparing themselves to others, and instead focus on friendship and creativity, it may actually give them a boost instead of being a downer. Recently, U.S. lawmakers have accused Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and four other big tech bosses of having "blood on (their) hands"; allegations have surfaced that up to 100,000 children a day using Facebook and Instagram in 2022 were exposed to

Hyundai and Kia Motors Class Actions—Products Liability—Negligence, Absolute Nuisance, and Qualified Nuisance

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Hyundai Motors and Kia Motors America will compensate owners' theft-related vehicle losses. Case Summary Kia and Hyundai thefts skyrocketed because a viral TikTok video in the summer of 2022 showed people how to steal the cars with just a USB cable and screwdriver. And while the manufacturers made a software update available to owners, there was not a mandatory recall of any make and model related to this issue. Also, the update was only effective when the vehicle alarm is armed. The law firm Hagens Berman brought a national class-action lawsuit on behalf of the owners of affected vehicles in August 2022, and reached a proposed settlement in May of 2023 that covered roughly 8 million vehicles and is valued at more than $200 million.  Since May 2023, the companies worked with law enforcement agencies to provide more than 26,000 steering wheel locks to 77 law enforcement agencies in 12 states. The class action was enjoined by Governmental Entities and Insurers and sought relief for t