Fired SpaceX employees file charges
Eight former SpaceX employees file unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging they were let go for being part of a group that had drafted and circulated a letter to SpaceX executives in June. The letter asked SpaceX executives for three things: to curb “Elon’s harmful Twitter behavior,” to define and enforce the company’s sexual harassment policies, and ensure that all leadership is held accountable for violating such policies.
SpaceX’s current systems and culture do not live up to its stated values, as many employees continue to experience unequal enforcement of our oft-repeated ‘No Asshole’ and ‘Zero Tolerance’ policies.
US labor law prohibits employers from firing workers who band together to advocate for better working conditions. At the time, Musk called the letter a “distraction and embarrassment” to the company.
McGregor sued by Chiesa over New York bus attack
Chiesa sues McGregor for causing him physical and psychological harm when McGregor hurled a metal dolly at the window of a bus at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn. Chiesa, who said he was pulled from UFC 223 after the incident, claims he has suffered financial damage as a result of the incident and it has affected his future earnings. The size of damages being sought has not been disclosed, although his lawyers say it “exceeds the jurisdictional limits of all lower courts”. The document lists claims for damages for negligence, assault, battery and “intentional infliction of emotional distress”. Chiesa’s lawyers say:
[he was] rendered sick, sore, lame and disabled; that he has experienced pain, suffering and a loss of enjoyment of life and will experience same in future.
Diaz sued for $1 million by former agent over McGregor rematch profits
The Ballenge Group, Diaz’s former managers, files a $1 million suit in District Court in Dallas, claiming they had worked with the fighter since 2014 on several big fights including Rafael Dos Anjos, Michael Johnson and the first McGregor fight at UFC 196. Ballengee claims that in July 2016 — after sealing the deal for Nate to fight Conor at UFC 202 in August — that Nate “unexpectedly” fired them and did not pay them their cut for the UFC 202 fight, which was reportedly the biggest UFC pay-per-view ever at the time. Ballenge lawyer:
My clients performed their job, what Nate Diaz asked them to do. They are due for that. The lawsuit alleges that Diaz and [his attorney] Sam Awad conspired to get Leslie Smith to also fire Ballengee and to not pay Ballengee. Awad, as the mastermind of the conspiracy, he and Nate left, then talked Smith into doing the same thing.
Diaz has made no comment on the suit.
Beyonce sued for $20 million by Messy Mya estate
The estate of late Messy Mya sues Beyonce for copyright infringement and other counts, seeking $20 million for damages over claims that she improperly used Mya’s voice in her song Formation. According to the suit, Formation misappropriated the lyrics “What happened at the New Orleans” and “Bitch, I’m back by popular demand” from Barre’s 2010 work Booking the Hoes From New Wildings. The suit also claims that the line “Oh yeah baby. I like that” from his A 27-Piece Huh? was wrongfully lifted. The lawsuit reads:
Defendants used Mr. Barre’s voice, performance and words from his copyrighted works to create the tone, mood, setting and location of the New Orleans-themed Formation.
TMG blames Depp’s $2m-a-month lifestyle for money problems
In a countersuit, TMG says Depp’s financial troubles are caused by a lavish $2m-a-month lifestyle. While Depp says the business managers have mismanaging his earnings, failed to file taxes on time, and owe him more than $25m, TMG claims the star spent more than $75m on 14 homes and needed 12 storage facilities to house his collection of Hollywood memorabilia, as well as spending $18m on a luxury yacht and $30,000 a month on wine. TMG:
Depp is fully responsible for any financial turmoil. He has refused to live within his means, despite… repeated warnings about his financial condition.
Files for trademark on ‘The Notorious’ nickname
McGregor has reportedly filed trademarks on his own name as well as his nickname “The Notorious,” according to the website for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. According to the filing, McGregor plans on trying to use the trademarks for aftershave, video games, books, clothing, restaurants, barbershops and health club
Hunt sues Lesnar, White, UFC
Hunt files a civil suit naming the UFC, Lesnar and White as defendants with the Nevada District Court. The suit says:
[The parties] affirmatively circumvented and obstructed fair competition for their own benefit…Without HUNT’s knowledge or consent, the UFC conspired and caused LESNAR, a doping fighter, to fight HUNT, a clean fighter, despite the fact that LESNAR used substances banned by the UFC, USADA and WADA.
Hunt:
I want the UFC to understand it’s not OK to keep doing what they’re doing. They’re allowing guys to do this. They had a chance to take all the money from this guy, because he’s a cheater, and they didn’t. What message is that sending to the boys and girls who want to be a fighter someday? The message is, ‘You just have to cheat like this and it’s OK.’ In society, if you commit a crime, you pay. Why is it different in MMA? It’s hurt the business, so it’s even worse. They need to be held accountable for this.
France sued over Titanic artefacts
Premier Exhibitions sues the French government, in a Florida federal bankruptcy court, to be allowed to sell some of thousands of artifacts salvaged from the Titanic. The company filed the suit to press the French government to clarify it has no interest in the artifacts that would prevent their sale.
A declaration of rights is both necessary and appropriate to establish that France does not have any interest in the French artifacts.
Nungesser files second suit against Columbia
Nungesser files a second complaint against Columbia The 100-page complaint again alleges Columbia participated in gender-based harassment, sexual harassment and gender-based misconduct against Nungesser that “was severe, pervasive and objectively offensive” and that deprived him of educational opportunities. Nungesser questions whether male and female students have the same rights, and whether “a false accusation [is] all it takes to lose any right to a normal life and a normal college experience. Complaint:
Columbia’s institutional practice is largely based on the stereotype of the active, voracious, aggressive male and the passive, restrained, non-aggressive woman, which is sex-based stereotyping and overgeneralization that is discriminatory and a clear violation of Title IX.
Nungesser is seeking damages and declaratory relief. Nungesser:
I sincerely hope that Judge Woods allows my case to move on to trial. While I personally would like to put this case behind me, I also think this complaint raises some fundamental questions that our society deserves answers to.
Unfair labor practices suit
Workers sue McDonald’s over unfair labor practices, which include threatening, spying on, and in some cases terminating workers for organizing. The National Labor Relations Board is representing the workers and includes McDonald’s Corp. itself as joint employers along with their franchisees, holding the parent corporation jointly responsible for inappropriate labor practices.
Without joint employer accountability for the franchisors or the contracting company at the top, these types of corporate outsourcing can result in a lack of accountability for workplace conditions.
Sues seven accusers for defamation
In response to a defamation suit brought by his accusers, Cosby sues Green, Serignese, Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Bowman, Tarshis and Leslie for defamation, saying:
[The defendants] have made malicious, opportunistic and false and defamatory accusations of sexual misconduct against him. [They have] knowingly published false statements and accusations.
My statement re today's lawsuit filed by @BillCosby against all 7 accusers in Massachusetts lawsuit. pic.twitter.com/XRYoV4gXpC
— Monique Pressley (@MoniquePressley) December 14, 2015
To face court martial
The Army says Bergdahl will face court-martial with a potential life sentence. In ordering the court martial Army General Robert Abrams did not follow the recommendation of a preliminary hearing which, according to Bergdahl’s lawyer, called for Bergdahl to face a proceeding that could impose a potential maximum penalty of a year in confinement.
Bergdahl’s lawyer says they had “had hoped the case would not go in this direction.” He also asks Donald Trump to “cease his prejudicial months-long campaign of defamation against our client.”
Diners sues for Hepatitis A risk
A customer files suit against Jascor Inc, a McDonald’s operator in Waterloo, NY, after diners are exposed to food and drinks prepared by a worker with hepatitis A. The case seeks class-action status for as many as 1000 potentially affected customers, who plaintiffs said could number more than 1,000. Public health officials says diners had a low risk of contracting the illness, but urged those who had consumed food and/or drinks from the restaurant on Nov. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 to consider treatments if they were not previously vaccinated against hepatitis A.
Sued for assault and battery
Duggar is sued by Dillon for $500,000 in damages, saying she has suffered emotionally and physically since Duggar allegedly assaulted her during consensual sex in Philadelphia. She says she is being treated by a psychiatrist for severe anxiety. Dillon’s attorney:
While sex may be consensual, an assault and battery is clearly beyond the scope of any consent. [My client] is seeking justice for herself.
The Duggar family does not comment on the suit. Duggar remains in faith-based rehab.
NSA loses phone metadata ruling
Federal judge Leon orders the NSA to stop collecting the phone metadata of California attorney J.J. Little and his small legal practice. While the injunction takes effect immediately, the scope is limited. Leon says that the case may be the last court evaluation of the NSA’s bulk metadata collection program.
It will not, however, be the last chapter in the ongoing struggle to balance privacy rights and national security interests under our Constitution in an age of evolving technological wizardry. [I did not stay the decision] because it has been almost two years since I first found that the NSA’s bulk telephony metadata program likely violates the Constitution.
Sues Christie
Hickox files suit against Governor Christie and members of his administration, saying they violated her constitutional rights by holding her against her will without due process. She is seeking $250,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, $2,000 for each hour of her 80-hour detention, after arriving back from Sierra Leone, plus extra for punitive damages.
I felt completely alone and vulnerable…It was really hard. I had a lot of tough moments.We are filing this claim to hold those who made this decision accountable and also to highlight and fight against the lack of due process in the quarantine policy in New Jersey. It was clear to me that politicians and in particular Governor Christie were really reacting out of fear. When you choose to detain someone out of fear that’s discrimination.
Christie does not comment.
Sues false reviewers
Amazon files suit against 1,114 people it claims used Fiverr offered to write glowing reviews of titles, for as little as $5, to help boost sales on behalf of unscrupulous authors or sellers. The company posed as would-be customers on Fiverr and purchased fake customer reviews from those promising five-star ratings and offered to let the purchaser write the review themselves. The users then use fake identities and IP addresses to post the reviews. Amazon is not targetting Fiverr itself, and says both companies are working to resolve the issue.
Amazon is bringing this action to protect its customers from this misconduct, by stopping defendants and uprooting the ecosystem in which they participate.
Wrongful death suit
Meadow Walker files a wrongful death suit against Porsche allege that the Porsche Carrera GT lacked safety features that could have prevented the accident or, would have allowed her father to survive the crash. She also alleges that Porsche knew that the specific car in Paul’s case had a history of instability and control issues.
[The company] failed to install its electronic stability control system, which is specifically designed to protect against the swerving actions inherent in hyper-sensitive vehicles of this type.
Lawyer:
The bottom line is that the Porsche Carrera GT is a dangerous car. It doesn’t belong on the street. And we shouldn’t be without Paul Walker or his friend, Roger Rodas.
Drivers sue
Drivers begin to sue VW for misleading them about their car’s emissions. Customer:
I felt ill. It’s really made us feel very bad about what we ourselves are now doing to the environment.
Lawyers representing around three dozen VW customers:
Volkswagen has committed a bait and switch. Everyone we’ve spoken with feels that they’ve been lied to by Volkswagen. They were sold clean diesel cars when in fact they got dirty diesel cars.
Sues Daniels for defamation
Penn sues Daniels for $10 million for defamation, based on comments Daniels made in a Hollywood Reporter interview:
[Terrence] ain’t done nothing different than Marlon Brando or Sean Penn, and all of a sudden he’s some f*ckin’ demon.That’s a sign of the time, of race, of where we are right now in America.
Suit:
This action arises from reckless, false, and defamatory statements made by Defendant Lee Daniels (“Daniels”) about one of this generation’s most highly-acclaimed and greatest artists and humanitarians, Sean Penn. As a result of Penn’s status as a public figure, he has for years been the subject of scandalous, scurrilous, and baseless attacks. But Penn, like any citizen, has a right to defend himself and will no longer tolerate the reckless and malicious behavior of others, who seek to aggrandize themselves or their projects at his expense. Accordingly, and because of Daniels’ defamatory statements, Penn brings this action for monetary relief, and to deter Daniels and others from their defamatory actions…Daniels falsely equates Penn with Howard, even though, while he has certainly had several brushes with the law, Penn (unlike Howard) has never been arrested, much less convicted, for domestic violence, as his ex-wives (including Madonna) would confirm and attest.
