Sues Cosby for sexual assault, defamation
Constand sues Cosby for an unspecified amount of money on allegations of sexual assault and of defamation stemming from statements that Cosby and his agents made about her to news outlets. Constand says she was director of operations for the Temple women’s basketball program when she met Cosby, one of the school’s most famous alumni and a trustee. She alleges she was visiting Cosby’s Main Line mansion in early 2004 when he gave her pills that he said were “herbal medication” to help her cope with stress. After consuming the pills, she said, she felt hazy but remembered Cosby touching her breasts and genitals.
In legal filings, Cosby denies assaulting Constand. He says the two were acquaintances who sometimes dined alone together or with friends.
Sues Howard University
Dolezal sues Howard University, alleging that the university denied her a teaching assistant job, further employment, and a scholarship because she is white. The lawsuit also claims that Professor Smith, chair of the Art Department, specifically kept Dolezal from serving as a teaching assistant one semester and removed some of her artwork from a student exhibition, instead favoring the work of African-American students. Suit:
[Howard University is] permeated with discriminatory intimidation, ridicule, and insult.
Sues Napster
Metallica files a lawsuit against Napster in Central District of California, alleging Napster encourages piracy by allowing its users to download trade copyrighted songs. The suit, which also names the University of Southern California, Indiana University, and Yale University, accuses Napster of violating copyright infringement law and the Racketeering Influenced & Corrput Act (RICO). Drummer Ulrich says:
We take our craft — whether it be the music, the lyrics, or the photos and artwork — very seriously, as do most artists. It is therefore sickening to know that our art is being traded like a commodity rather than the art that it is. From a business standpoint, this is about piracy — a.k.a taking something that doesn’t belong to you; and that is morally and legally wrong. The trading of such information — whether it’s music, videos, photos, or whatever — is, in effect, trafficking in stolen goods.
Sues Lennon aide
Ono files a lawsuit in New York against Seaman, Lennon’s former assistant. Ono claims Seaman stole priceless personal items – including unreleased recordings, love letters, paintings, and hundreds of photographs – belonging to Lennon. The suit alleges Seaman devised an elaborate plan called Project Walrus – after the Beatles song I Am The Walrus – to steal Lennon’s belongings. The lawsuit was prompted by Seaman accusing Capitol Records of copyright infringement by using a picture of Lennon with his son Sean in a compact disc box set. He claims he shot the photograph himself. The company is suing Seaman separately.
Files suit against Ivana
Trump files a $25 million lawsuit against Ivana, for $25 million, saying she broke a gag clause in their divorce agreement by failing to keep quiet about his affairs. The suit accuses his ex-wife of:
Willful, deliberate and surreptitious disclosure [of his personal, professional and financial dealings].
NYC tenant intimidation suit
The city of New York sues Trump over alleged intimidation and harassment of tenants at his 15-story building at 100 Central Park South, which overlooks Central Park. Trump bought the building in 1981 with the intention of tearing it and the adjacent Barbizon Plaza (which he also owns) and replacing them with another of his mega-luxury towers. The suit says Trump and his agents have tried to force out the 60 or more tenants by threats of imminent demolition, spurious litigation, drastic decreases in essential services, persistent delays in repairing defective conditions, and instructing employees to obtain information about the private lives and sex habits of the tenants.
The defendants have harassed daily the occupants of said units…wrongful acts and omissions continue to date.
Trump claims he is the victim of wily, wealthy millionaire-tenants who are trying to extract exorbitant buyout money or other financial concessions from him.
Trump is not going to be harassed.
Racial discrimination lawsuit
The Justice Department sues the Trump Management Corporation for alleged racial discrimination in 39 of its buildings across New York. The Government says Trump Management has refused to rent or negotiate rentals and required different rental terms and conditions, because of race or color, as well as misrepresenting to blacks that apartments were not available. Donald Trump denies the charges:
They are absolutely ridiculous. We have never discriminated, and we never would. There have been a number of local actions against us, and we have won them all…We proved in court that we did not discriminate.
Sues Georgia legislature
On three occasions, the white leaders of the Georgia legislature prevent Bond from taking his seat. The legislature claims it has the right to determine the qualifications of its members. Bond files suit, saying:
If they bar me again, I’ll sue them again.
Recovers son
A New York law emancipates all slaves but Truth’s former master, Dumont, had already sold Peter, Isabella’s five-year old child, into slavery in Alabama. Truth sues in court, with the help of the Wageners, and recovers her son. She becomes the first black woman, after several months of litigation, to win such a case against a white man.