National Roundup

Nevada U.S. court free speech suit over Reno billboard cap RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Lawyers for the city of Reno are headed to federal court to defend the city's billboard ordinance. Jeffrey Herson says the limits on billboards that voters approved in 2000 violate his First Amendment right to free speech. City planning officials denied him a permit to erect a new one in April. U.S. District Court Judge Larry Hicks is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case on Wednesday. The city's lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss the suit. They say the cap on billboards regulates the signs as structures, not by content. Herson earlier was involved with challenging billboard laws in San Carlos, Calif. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that city's restrictions in May. New York NY court battle: High heels for the well-heeled NEW YORK (AP) -- A French luxury shoe maker has lost a round in its New York court battle against rival Yves Saint Laurent (eev sahn-loh-RAHN'.) Christian Louboutin (loo-boo-TAN') S.A. claims YSL unfairly copied its line of women's shoes with red soles. The federal judge in Manhattan has denied Louboutin's request for a preliminary injunction. The parties have been ordered back to court next week. The lawsuit says designer Christian Louboutin originated the Red Sole logo trademark nearly 20 years ago. It says he created the idea when he painted red nail polish on the black soles of a pair of women's shoes. YSL did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment on the suit. Kentucky Motion accuses Farmer of stalling in divorce case FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- An attorney for the wife of Republican lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Richie Farmer says their divorce case has stalled due to his "lack of cooperation." Brian Logan filed the motion in Franklin Circuit Court on Tuesday on behalf of Rebecca Farmer, according to The Courier-Journal. The motion says Farmer, who is currently the state's agriculture commissioner, is more than a month late in producing documents and providing answers to questions in writing. In addition, it says the court ordered mediation more than a month ago and Farmer's attorney, Richard Guarnieri, hasn't yet agreed to a date. The newspaper said Guarnieri did not return phone messages left at his office and there was no answer at his home. Logan asked the court to expedite mediation and order Richie Farmer to turn over documents. He also renewed a request for a trial date. "The blatant delay in this case justifies the court scheduling a trial date in order to keep this case moving forward," Logan said in the motion. He declined to elaborate when the newspaper reached him by phone. Rebecca Farmer filed for divorce in April, saying the marriage is irretrievably broken. The have been married for 13 years. Logan said in the motion that he filed written questions and a request for documents on June 7 and a court rule allows 30 days for a response. In addition, he said dates he has suggested for mediation were unacceptable to Farmer, but Guarnieri hasn't provided any alternate dates. Arkansas Little Rock man acquitted, killed brother-in-law LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A Little Rock man has been found not guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his brother-in-law from Nebraska. Charles Bailey was acquitted Tuesday following his trial for the February 2010 death of 42-year-old Charles Richardson of Lincoln, Neb., at Bailey's home. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Bailey testified that he shot Richardson as the two fought after Richardson threatened him. Bailey said the threats came after he told Richardson and others at the home to move their party because he wanted to go to bed. Richardson and other family members were at Bailey's home following the funeral of Richardson's uncle. Illinois Man to get $6.33 million in priest-abuse case BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) -- A man sexually abused by a priest in the 1970s may now be getting more than $6.3 million as part of a lawsuit he won against a southern Illinois diocese that had resisted the payout. A court hearing is scheduled Wednesday morning in St. Clair County. That's where an attorney for James Wisniewski (wihz-NOO'-skee) is expected to get checks related to a $5 million jury award the Champaign man won in 2008 against the Diocese of Belleville. The additional $1.33 million includes interest since that verdict. Wisniewski sued in 2002, alleging that a former priest sexually abused him dozens of times for five years at St. Theresa's Parish in Salem. The lawsuit also claimed the diocese hid the one-time priest's suspected behavior and quietly shuffled him among parishes. Arkansas Court denies appeal in Ark. bullying lawsuit FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- A federal appeals court panel has denied the appeal of a former Fayetteville Public Schools student whose lawsuit accused the district of doing nothing about students that he said bullied and sexually harassed him. A three judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the appeal of Billy Wolfe in a ruling filed Tuesday. A Washington County District Court jury rejected Wolfe's claim against the district in May 2010. Wolfe's appeal said the judge gave an improper jury instruction and was wrong to empanel a 12-person jury rather than a 6-person jury. The appeals court judges rejected both arguments. Wolfe's attorney -- Westbrook Doss -- told the Northwest Arkansas Times that he's not sure if he will continue pursuing the case. Maine U.S. court says ex-Maine prosecutor can be bailed BANGOR, Maine (AP) -- A federal appeals court says a former Maine drug prosecutor serving a 16-year-sentence for a child pornography conviction can be freed on bail while his appeal is pending. The decision by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a decision by a federal judge in Maine who ruled James Cameron had to remain in prison while his case is pending. Cameron was convicted in March of 13 counts of sending, receiving and possessing child pornography in 2006 and 2007. Cameron's attorney argued Cameron was free on bail for two years before his conviction. The Bangor Daily News says the 49-year-old Cameron, of Hallowell, is being held at a federal prison in Littleton, Colo. Published: Thu, Aug 11, 2011