Shake It Off lawsuit dismissed
A U.S. Disctrict Court judge in California dismisses the ‘Shake It Off” lawsuit , using Taylor Swift’s own lyrics.
Jesse Braham (aka Jesse Graham) had claimed that the phrases “haters gonna hate” and “players gonna play” were plagiarized from his 2013 song “Haters Gonna Hate.” But the judge found that the phrase “haters gonna hate” was already a meme and a popular item in Google searches before Braham’s song debuted, according to evidence cited in the ruling. That’s to say nothing of the seminal 2000 track “Playas Gon’ Play” by 3LW, which the judge also cites.
In the conclusion of her ruling, the judge writes:
At present, the Court is not saying that Braham can never, ever, ever get his case back in court. But, for now, we have got problems, and the Court is not sure Braham can solve them. As currently drafted, the Complaint has a blank space— one that requires Braham to do more than write his name. And, upon consideration of the Court’s explanation in Part II, Braham may discover that mere pleading BandAids will not fix the bullet holes in his case. At least for the moment, Defendants have shaken off this lawsuit.
Agents arrested for cocaine smuggling
Three TSA officers are arrested for smuggling cocaine through San Francisco International Airport. They were bribed to turn their heads while drug traffickers had cocaine in their carry on luggage, but did not know that the “drug trafficking” was actually part of an undercover operation by the DEA. The officers are charged with conspiring to defraud the TSA by obstructing a lawful government function, which warrants up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. They are also charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, which has a minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum life sentence, along with a fine of up to ten million dollars.
Nine companies, 44 people charged
New York City officials charge 44 people and nine companies with cheating thousands of residential and commercial customers out of $34million of heating oil for nearly a decade. The defendants include company owners and executives, truck drivers and dispatchers. They face charges of grand larceny, fraud, falsifying business records and enterprise corruption. Indicted companies are F&S Distribution, G&D Petroleum Transportation, G&D Heating Oil, Casanova Fuel Oil, Express Petroleum, 4th Avenue Transport, All-Boro Transportation, Enterprise Transportation and Century Star Fuel.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance told a press conference that the companies would charge customers for more fuel than was delivered using rigged trucks in a practice known as “shorting.”
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.
Officers arrested
The Louisiana State police arrest Greenhouse and Stafford for their involvement in Mardis’ killing and charge them with second degree murder and attempted second degree murder. Police say 18 rounds had been fired by two different guns. Police:
We took some of the body cam footage. I’m not gonna talk about it, but I’m gonna tell you this. It is the most disturbing thing I’ve seen and I will leave it at that…As a father, much less the head of the State Police, [it was] extremely disturbing, and it is partly why we’re here tonight with these charges…Let’s make tonight about Jeremy Mardis. That little boy was buckled in the front seat of that vehicle, and that is how he died…Justice has been done tonight, but the investigation is far from over.
Six extra charges
After a woman comes forward and an investigation of his crime reports, Holtzclaw is charged with six further counts, bringing the total number of charges against him to 32, including multiple charges of rape, sexual battery and forcible oral sodomy. He is also charged with burglary, stalking and indecent exposure. A 17-year-old female said Holtzclaw initially told her there was a warrant for her arrest, but that he was letting her go. He stopped her later, when she was alone, and forced her to have sex with him, she said. Another woman said he stopped her, then threatened to send her to jail if she didn’t have sex with him. The third said she he pulled her over and told her she was going to detox but that he instead took her to a nearby area and forced her to have sex with him. Lawyer:
Daniel denies that he’s done anything wrong and looks forward to his day in court. He’s ready to get back to work at the police department.
Family statement:
Please be patient and support Daniel during this time. We hope and pray an impartial jury can be located despite the efforts of OCPD and the DA to keep this going as a media frenzy and politically motivated campaign.
Keystone XL pipeline rejected
President Obama announces that he will not allow TransCanada Corp a cross border permit. This prevents the company from building the pipeline. Although the pipeline would be creating new jobs, others cited environmental damages that could occur during construction and general maintenance. Obama:
America’s now a global leader when it comes to taking serious action to fight climate change. And frankly, approving this project would have undercut that global leadership. And that’s the biggest risk we face — not acting.
Kerry:
The reality is that this decision could not be made solely on the numbers — jobs that would be created, dirty fuel that would be transported here, or carbon pollution that would ultimately be unleashed. The United States cannot ask other nations to make tough choices to address climate change if we are unwilling to make them ourselves.
TransCanada CEO Girling:
Today, misplaced symbolism was chosen over merit and science — rhetoric won out over reason. TransCanada is reviewing the decision and its rationale.
Investigates Exxon Mobile for falsifying climate data
New York attorney general Eric T. Schneiderman opens an investigation against Exxon Mobile over whether the company lied to the public about the risks of climate change or to investors about how such risks might hurt the oil business. Schneiderman say that over a period of ten years, Exxon Mobile funded outside groups that sought to undermine climate science, even as its in-house scientists were outlining the potential consequences to company executives. Exxon Mobil says the company had funded mainstream climate science since the 1970s, had published dozens of scientific papers on the topic and had disclosed climate risks to investors.
We unequivocally reject the allegations that Exxon Mobil has suppressed climate change research…We stopped funding [groups that denied serious climate risks] in the middle part of the past decade because a handful of them were making the uncertainty of the science their focal point. Frankly, we made the call that we needed to back away from supporting the groups that were undercutting the actual risk” of climate change. We recognize the risk.
Must start from back of grid
Rossi will start the final MotoGP race of the season in Valencia from the back of the grid after his penalty is confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). FIM confirms the ruling, but says that the denied request was for the stay of execution, and that there is the possibility that the penalty could be revoked later, but only after it has been served. CAS:
[The arbitration board] found that the conditions to grant the stay were not met, which means that the sanction imposed by FIM, the sport’s ruling body, will have to be served at the next grand prix in Valencia.
Rossi:
When you start last, it’s very difficult to prepare strategies. You have to work well in practice and be competitive and have good pace. For sure when you start last, the risks are a lot more. [The title] depends on me and if I’m strong and fast enough to be able to recover. The answer of the CAS has not arrived yet, today it was just that I have to start last in this race because they need time to decide. We have to wait and see, but the important thing is I have to start last.
Appeals to court after penalty
Rossi appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after he was demoted to the back of the grid in the Valencia GP on Nov 8. He asks for an annulment or reduction of the penalty from three points to one. Rossi also files an application to stay the execution of the decision in order not to lose his place on the starting grid at the Valencia. The court will decide by Nov 6.
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$1 million bond
Chambers is held on a $1 million bond on suspicion of second-degree murder and driving under the influence. She hasn’t been formally charged with the four second-degree murder counts. A prosecutor says that she “intentionally drove her car into a crowd” and that she is was a “flight risk” because she faces the possibility of four life terms. According to a probable cause affidavit Chambers told investigators she had a history of suicide attempts and was suicidal at the time of the event. Chamber’s father says there’s “no way” he would be able to post her $1 million bond.
Multiple second-degree murder charges
Chambers is charged with multiple counts of second-degree murder. Chambers is being held in the Payne County jail and is set for an initial court hearing Monday 26 October.
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.
Calls off divorce
Kardashian’s lawyer asks a judge to withdraw her divorce papers, which had already been signed by both parties and were waiting to be processed.
Drops attorney
According to court papers, Cosby drops attorney Martin Singer, who has represented him for years. His new attorney is Christopher Tayback, a former prosecutor, who is with the firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan. Singer does not say when the relationship ended, citing attorney-client privilege. Allred:
Mr. Cosby has decided to hire 700 lawyers to fight one woman.
Released one day early
After 11 months, Pistorius is released from Kgosi Mampuru II jail at 8pm by a member of his legal team and taken to correctional services headquarters where he meets his parole officer. After processing he is taken to his uncle’s villa in Pretoria, where he has a private cottage. He will be kept under house arrest. The conditions of his parole are not released.
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.
Will plead guilty
Hastert’s attorney tells Judge Durkin that Hastert will plead guilty to an indictment alleging he agreed to pay 3.5 million dollars in hush money payments. The plea negotiations mean that many details surrounding Hastert’s prosecution will not be publicly revealed, including the identity of the person Hastert is accused of paying off. Hastert will enter the guilty plea at a hearing on October 28th.
Woman takes clothes off, trashes store
A 35-year-old Anchorage woman is arrested for taking her clothes off and trashing an East Anchorage Subway store. Nikki Abrell went into the store and locked herself in the bathroom for two hours and refused to come out. When she emerges she is naked, and begins to break the furniture, pull down ceiling tiles and throw food, tables and chairs around the restaurant. Customer:
When I pulled up, I saw a bunch of the Subway workers outside and I thought they were taking a smoke break. But when I looked inside there was a naked woman literally tearing the place apart…I thought there was a fire in the restaurant because it looked smoky in there but it turns out she had just set off a fire extinguisher inside. I really didn’t want to get anywhere near her. She was smearing feces all over stuff.
Abrell is being charged with third-degree criminal mischief, harassment and resisting arrest.
Bankruptcy fraud charges
Miller is charged with 20 counts of embezzlement after allegedly hiding $750,000 from creditors during her bankruptcy proceedings in 2010. The charges include concealment of bankruptcy assets and false bankruptcy declarations. She made the money from Dance Moms and other TV appearances. She faces up to five years in prison and up to $5 million in fines, as each count carries a possible $250,000 fine.