Tag Archives: lawsuit

Can A Middle School Censor a Student’s Speech?

A New York Court said absolutely. A student sued her School District after she was told to delete certain language from her “moving up” speech from middle school to high school.  The language at issue was– “As we say our … Continue reading

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Is There Liability For This Basketball Injury?

Plaintiff sued for personal injuries after falling during a basketball game played in his brother-in-law’s driveway. He claimed a loose stone along the perimeter of the court caused his fall. The defendant moved to dismiss the plaintiff’s complaint. Since the … Continue reading

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Can Two Players Disqualify a Team From Receiving a Trophy?

Players and their coaches sued the North Carolina High School Athletic Association after they were stripped of their title in a championship. The Association determined at least two players were ineligible to play on the team since they lived outside … Continue reading

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What’s the Effect of Signing a Waiver at a Paintball Facility?

The plaintiff visited a paintball facility with her youth group in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to playing she signed a waiver releasing the facility from any negligence. During her fourth game her mask slid off and she was hit in the … Continue reading

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Can Lady Gaga Shut Down the LadyGaga.Org website?

No. An Arbitration Panel decided even though Lady Gaga owned the rights to the Lady Gaga trademark, she could not shut down the unofficial fan site @ http://ladygaga.org/. The Panel found, Lady Gaga “[could] not have fame without fans and … Continue reading

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Can a High School Teacher Decorate His Classroom As He Sees Fit?

Not necessarily. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was asked to decide whether a School District infringed on a Math teacher’s First Amendment rights when they ordered him to remove two banners, each around 7 feet wide and 2 feet … Continue reading

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When Did England Establish Its Supreme Court?

In 2009.  Are you surprised?  I was.  Our Supreme Court was established in 1789, 222 years ago.  Prior to 2009, cases in the United Kingdom were brought before judges in the House of Lords (a chamber of Parliament). Now, there … Continue reading

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Will the Real Creator of Modern Family Please Stand Up?

Plaintiff sued alleging Modern Family, the emmy award-winning hit sitcom, was based on his copyrighted work, Looney Ben. He sued the creators, producers, distributors and broadcasters of the situation comedy for copyright infringement, idea misappropriation and defamation.  Defendants denied all the … Continue reading

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Is a School District Liable for Spectator Injuries at a Softball Game?

Not necessarily. A mother was watching her daughter’s school softball game when she was hit in the mouth by a foul ball. She was in an unscreened area when hit. She sued the School District for negligence. The District brought … Continue reading

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Can a Signed Release Relieve a Defendant From Liability?

A 16 year old soccer player fell over a sprinkler head embedded in a grassy field while playing in a tournament. She suffered extensive injuries requiring surgical reconstruction. She sued the tournament organizer and city (the owner of the fields) … Continue reading

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Does a Coach Have a Duty to Supervise Between Games?

An 11 year old volleyball player was injured at a teammate’s grandparents’ home when she was thrown from a golf cart during a break between games.  She sued her coach for negligent supervision.  The Court of Appeals of Indiana found … Continue reading

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Does a Softball Player Assume All Risks of the Game?

A New York court refused to take this issue away from a jury and conclude a junior varsity softball player injured while sliding into second base assumed the risk of her injuries.  The player had some prior experience playing softball and understood … Continue reading

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Was it Unconstitutional for President Obama to Proclaim May 6 as a National Day of Prayer?

The Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit said no. On April 30, the President issued a proclamation declaring May 6, 2010, as a National Day of Prayer. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. and six of its members (“Plaintiffs) sued … Continue reading

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Should a Lab Teacher Make a Deli Run While Students Are Working Away?

A New York Appellate Court said this week, I don’t think so. Two high school students were left in a science lab while their teacher went to buy food. One student caused an explosion injuring another student (the “Plaintiff”). The … Continue reading

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Can a Middle School Ban Its Students from Wearing the “I ❤ Boobies!” Bracelet?

Two students (a 7th and 8th grader) were suspended for part of one day and another full day at Easton Area Middle School in Pennsylvania after wearing their “I ❤ Boobies! (Keep A Breast)” bracelets to school. The bracelets were distributed … Continue reading

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Should Facebook Have to Return to the Settlement Table?

On April 11, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied the Winklevoss twins (plaintiffs) their request to set aside their settlement with Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg (defendants). The plaintiffs sued the defendants claiming they stole their idea … Continue reading

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Can Government Officials Terminate Employees Based on Their Political Affiliation?

Plaintiffs were maintenance and domestic workers at the governor’s mansion in Puerto Rico. After Governor Fortuno (President of the New Progressive Party) was elected, the plaintiffs (members of the Puerto Rican Popular Democratic Party) were fired. Plaintiffs sued claiming political … Continue reading

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How Far Does an Employer Have to go to Accommodate an Employee’s Religious Beliefs?

A postal service employee asked to have every Saturday off because working from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday conflicted with his religious beliefs as a Seventh-Day Adventist. The United States Postal Service (USPS) said that it couldn’t accommodate his request, … Continue reading

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Can a School System Constitutionally Require Children to be Immunized?

Plaintiffs sued various West Virginia state and county officials alleging their constitutional rights were violated. The defendants refused to enroll student, M.W., into their public school since she was not immunized for diphtheria, polio, rubeola, rubella, tetanus, and whooping cough. … Continue reading

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Must You Lose Business to Have a Viable Tortious Interference Claim?

A New Jersey court says yes.  Advanced Oral Technologies sued Nutrex Research, the manufacturer of a bodybuilding supplement known as “Hemo Rage Black” for tortious interference.  Hemo Rage Black incorrectly listed plaintiffs’ patented “Molecule” as one of its ingredients.  Advanced … Continue reading

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