Indiana: Gary to pay $170K to settle federal beating lawsuit
HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) — The city of Gary has agreed to pay $170,000 to settle a federal lawsuit that accused former Police Chief Thomas Houston and two aides of beating four people in 2007.
An attorney for the city tells The Times of Munster that the decision to settle was made to avoid the expense and time involved in disputing the allegations. Shana Levinson says the settlement should not be taken as a negative reflection on the officers involved.
The lawsuit filed two years ago claimed Houston and two others stormed into a Gary home and accused four people of burglarizing the chief’s residence.
Houston was convicted of a civil rights violation and died of cancer in November while serving a 3 1/2-year sentence. The other officers were acquitted on all charges.
Texas: Miss San Antonio sues pageant to keep her crown
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Miss San Antonio has gone to court to try to keep her crown after being ousted over alleged insubordination.
A judge in San Antonio has set a Feb. 16 hearing on the breach of lawsuit filed on behalf of 17-year-old Domonique Ramirez.
The lawsuit names the Miss Bexar (bayr) County Organization Inc. A judge Monday issued a temporary restraining order.
The suit, filed with the help of the League of United Latin American Citizens, says the teen’s mother received a Jan. 25 e-mail indicating Ramirez was no longer Miss San Antonio.
Board president Linda Woods says Ramirez has not complied with rules, has been late to appearances or did not show up, and gained weight.
The lawsuit alleges Ramirez was not provided with a chaperone and transportation to events.
Louisiana: Sierra Club seeks to join lawsuit filed against BP
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Sierra Club is seeking to join a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department against BP PLC. over the company’s massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
On Monday, the Sierra Club asked a federal judge to allow it to become involved in the suit against BP. The environmental group says it hopes to get “a seat at the table” and make sure coastal communities are “fairly represented and compensated.”
The Sierra Club also says it wants to make sure money from BP fines goes to restoring the Gulf Coast.
The Obama administration sued BP in December in federal court in New Orleans for damages under the Oil Pollution Act and the Clean Water Act.
California: Golden Globes sues ex-publicist, claiming fraud
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The organization that hosts the Golden Globe Awards has sued its former publicist for fraud, claiming he and his partner cannot prove allegations the group engages in payola in exchange for awards.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association sued Michael Russell, his partner Stephen LoCascio and Russell’s public relations firm on Monday, claiming they breached a confidentiality agreement. The lawsuit also claims the pair attempted to profit off their connection with the glitzy awards show.
The lawsuit comes roughly three weeks after Russell sued the HFPA, claiming its members accepted graft in exchange for nominations and awards. Russell’s suit was filed three days before this year’s Globes ceremony, which attracted Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry and honored actor Robert DeNiro with a lifetime achievement award.
“Without a shred of evidence, (Russell’s firm) manufactured a fanciful tale of Hollywood intrigue that harkens back to the early days of rock ‘n roll radio, with its colorful reference to ‘payola,’” the lawsuit states.
The HFPA’s lawsuit claims Russell and LoCascio attempted to divert money and gifts from sponsors to benefit some of their other clients.
A phone message for Russell’s attorney, Timothy McGonigle, was not immediately returned.
Russell’s lawsuit did not seem to impact this year’s awards ceremony, with 17 million people tuning in. It claims his firm was fired after repeatedly raising ethical issues regarding HFPA members to the association.
Both cases have been filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and are seeking unspecified damages.
Montana: Former attorney sued by former co-defendant
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Former Carbon County Attorney Robert Eddleman, who was sentenced to federal prison for hosting cocaine parties, is being sued by his former co-defendant and ex-fiancée.
Terri Jabs Kurth, a Billings interior designer, is seeking $52,700 she says she loaned to Eddleman, as well as other expenses, including storage unit fees. She also is seeking half of a $50,000 forfeiture she paid as part of a federal sentence on cocaine charges. The Billings Gazette reports the lawsuit was filed in District Court on Jan. 18.
Eddleman and Kurth were convicted in 2009 of conspiring to maintain premises for cocaine distribution. They acknowledged using cocaine and making it available to friends at their homes in Billings and Red Lodge.
Eddleman, who resigned as county attorney as part of a plea deal, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison and is currently serving time at a Billings prerelease center. He declined to comment about the lawsuit.
Kurth, who served an eight-month sentence, says in the lawsuit she paid a $50,000 forfeiture as part of her sentence in lieu of losing a vehicle and homes in Red Lodge and Billings. She argues both she and Eddleman used the homes and Eddleman “bears one-half of the responsibility for the forfeiture.”
Kurth also said Eddleman is in default on a promissory note he signed in 2002 for $45,594 she loaned him. The lawsuit says Kurth loaned Eddleman $9,000 in 2007 and that amount also is in default.
She is seeking a judgment against the former county attorney.
