Court Roundup

New Jersey
Turf company under fire hires lawyer who ­investigated Brady

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — An artificial turf company being sued after a report that executives knew fields might not live up to lofty marketing claims has hired the attorney who led the National Football League investigation into Tom Brady to defend itself.

NJ.com reports that Montreal-based FieldTurf is facing at least six lawsuits in federal courts in New Jersey, Minnesota and California.

The company has hired New Jersey attorney Ted Wells. Wells concluded in his investigation of the New England Patriots’ quarterback that he was likely “generally aware” about the deflation of footballs in the 2015 AFC Championship game. Brady served a four game suspension.

FieldTurf says that it has lived up to its warranties and hasn’t hurt taxpayers. It says it will continue to take care of customers while defending itself against the lawsuits.

Indiana
Couple charged with neglect in death of 5-year-old

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — Authorities say a western Indiana couple failed to provide adequate nutrition and follow-up medical care for their disabled 5-year-old daughter who died last year.

The Terre Haute Tribune-Star reports 36-year-old Brian Moseman and 33-year-old Tiffany Daugherty were arrested Tuesday on charges including neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
The child identified in court records only as “A.M.” died Jan. 21, 2016.

They’re getting court-appointed lawyers and an Aug. 28 trial date was set during a Wednesday hearing. They’re jailed on $75,000 bond each.

Documents say a forensic pathologist told investigators shortly after the death there were no signs of physical abuse, but the girl had microcephaly, seizures and other issues. A final report on the death listed pneumonia and malnutrition as indications of medical neglect.

Minnesota
Case of inmate death sent back to federal judge

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An appeals court panel has sent part of lawsuit stemming from the death of a Stearns County inmate back to federal court.

Twenty-two-year-old Jerome Deon Ladette Harrell surrendered in 2012 for having no proof of car insurance. He acted erratically in jail and died after an officer used a Taser on him when he bit another officer.

His family sued, claiming officers ignored Harrell’s need for medical help and used excessive force. The lawsuit was dismissed, but an appeals court panel found authorities responded inadequately to Harrell’s medical needs, the Star Tribune reports.

That portion of the case was revived Tuesday; excessive force claims remain dismissed.

A defense attorney says they’ll likely seek a hearing before the full 8th Circuit. Harrell’s family’s lawyer questions why a black man’s life isn’t valued.

Oregon
Woman files suit against Airbnb over discrimination

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Clackamas County woman has filed a lawsuit against vacation-rental website Airbnb, saying the site facilitates discrimination against black users.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that Patricia Harrington has filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Airbnb of violating Oregon’s public accommodation laws.

The lawsuit claims that Airbnb’s practice of allowing hosts to review a prospective guest’s full name and photograph before accepting a reservation allows hosts to reject clients based on their race.

An Airbnb spokeswoman said the company strongly opposes bias and discrimination.

Harrington, who is African American, has not used Airbnb, but her attorney says she has the right to use the platform without providing her full name and photo.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction that would allow Harrington and other black users to join the site and access listings without providing photos or full names.

Kentucky
Judge orders competency ­evaluation in group home killing

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — A judge has ordered a man charged with killing a caretaker at the Kentucky group home where he lived to undergo a competency evaluation.

Lindale Cunningham, who is 32, was charged in January with fatally stabbing 66-year-old Sally Berry at the ResCare home in Elizabethtown.

His attorney, Jessica Schulte, requested on Tuesday that the evaluation take place at county jail. She called her client, who has been diagnosed with mental health issues including autism, “particularly vulnerable.”

The News-Enterprise reports the judge declined, citing the seriousness of the allegations, and ordered Cunningham taken to the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center in La Grange.

Prosecutor Eric Carr has expressed doubts about Cunningham’s competency and said he doesn’t expect the case to go to trial.

The judge set a competency hearing for May 9.

Florida
Records: Guilty plea for woman in Sandy Hook ­parent threat

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Court documents show a Florida woman is set to plead guilty to threatening the parent of a boy killed in the 2012 mass shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, because she thought it was a hoax.

A federal judge Wednesday set a change of plea and sentencing hearing for 57-year-old Lucy Richards. She previously pleaded not guilty to charges of transmitting threats to Lenny Pozner, father of 6-year-old Noah Pozner who died in the Sandy Hook school shooting.

The plea and sentencing hearing is set for March 29 in Fort Lauderdale federal court. Details of the plea were not announced.

Others linked to the Sandy Hook massacre have reported harassment by conspiracy theorists who argue it was staged to erode support for Second Amendment gun rights.