Defamation of Character | Major Injury Law Blog

Two California Women Bring Lawsuits Against Bill Cosby

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Dec 102014

On December 2, 2014, Judy Huth of Riverside County, California brought forth a lawsuit against Bill Cosby for childhood sexual abuse. On Wednesday, December 10, 2014, Tamara Green of Fallbrook, California brought forward a lawsuit against Mr. Cosby for defamation of character. This lawsuit was filed in Massachusetts near the home of the comedian.

According to the National Law Review, “Tamara Green, who accused Cosby of sexually assaulting her in the early 1970s, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, claiming the comedian, through his lawyer and publicist, has defamed her by denying the assault ever happened …

“… On Dec. 2, another woman, Judy Huth, sued Cosby over alleged childhood sexual abuse. Huth, who lives in Riverside County, Calif., claims she met him in 1974 at a film shoot when she was 15 years old. He invited her and a friend to his tennis club, she alleges, where he offered them alcohol, led them to the Playboy Mansion and then sexually molested her in one of the mansion’s suites.”

Kansas Woman Gets $1 Million for DJ Remarks

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Sep 292014

A Kansas women was awarded $1 million for the remarks of two DJs at 96.5 The Buzz radio station. The DJs asserted that Ashley Patton, of Olathe, Kansas was a local porn star.

According to ABC News Denver, “Patton received $250,000 for actual damages and $750,000 in punitive damages. During jury deliberations, attorneys for both sides agreed to a high-low settlement, which means Entercom will not appeal the verdict and pay the award in 45 days.

“Patton said she was surprised and encouraged by the verdict.”

Business Cries Yelp with Defamation Lawsuit

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Dec 202012

A Washington D. C. home contractor didn’t like the review his company was given on Yelp by a former client so he has sued her for defamation of character. The $750,000 lawsuit is claiming the negative reviews have resulted in $300,000 in damages.

According to the Washington Post, “A D.C. home contractor filed the $750,000 lawsuit in November, claiming Fairfax resident Jane Perez’s posts on Yelp and Angie’s List were false and cost him $300,000 in business. Perez has stood by the posts.

“Christopher Dietz, the contractor, also sought a preliminary injunction to keep Perez from repeating the claims in new reviews. Perez accused Dietz of billing her for work he didn’t perform, trespassing on her property and implied he took jewelry from her home among other things.”

The ACLU and Public Citizen are taking the side of the accused citing free speech.

Syracuse University Faces Lawsuit over Sexual Abuse Case

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Dec 132011

Several weeks ago allegations were made against the former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky in regard to child sexual abuse. Since this time 10 other alleged victims have come forward and Sandusky is out on $250,000 bail under house arrest.

Now, more recently at Syracuse University, associate coach Bernie Fine has also been accused of molestation by a pair of stepbrothers. Bobby Davis and Mike Lang, 39-years-old and 45-years-old respectively, because of their age and when the offenses are said to have occurred are past the statute of limitations in which to file a case.

But, instead the two are filing a defamation of character lawsuit again Syracuse University and their men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim for public remarks he had made when he learned of the accusations. Bernie Fine had been fired within 10 days of ESPN reporting the accusations.

Libel Lawsuit Settled In Katie Holmes Case

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Apr 282011

Actress Katie Holmes (and wife of Tom Cruise) has settled a $50 million lawsuit against Star magazine. This defamation of character lawsuit claimed Star had committed libel against Holmes by stating that she was addicted to drugs.

Star published this public apology to Holmes, “Star apologizes to Ms. Holmes for any misperception and will be making a substantial donation to charity on Ms. Holmes’ behalf for any harm that we may have caused.”

Besides the apology the settlement also included a large undisclosed donation by Star to a charity of Holmes’ choice. The article by Star magazine was more about Scientology of which Holmes and Cruise participate than a direct attack on Holmes.

But, nevertheless, having Holmes on the cover in order to sell Star magazines landed the company with a rather large lawsuit for the defamation.

Pavarotti’s Widow Files Defamation Lawsuit

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Nov 272007

The widow fame tenor Luciano Pavarotti has filed a $44 million lawsuit against two former friends. In September 2007, Pavarotti died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 71. The lawsuit for defamation of character are against Franca Corfini Strata and Lidia La Marca who have been making statements to the media about marital strife between Pavarotti and wife, Nicoletta Mantovani before his death.

The lawsuit seeks $22 million from each woman and Mantovani says the proceeds of the litigation will be donated to charity. At stake in the lawsuit is the future earning power of the estate and any damages it may incur by false statements and rumors.

Freelance Writer Sues Newspaper for Defamation of Character

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Mar 092007

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that a defamation of character lawsuit against the Ames Tribune newspaper go forward. The lawsuit, according to the Associated Press is being brought by a former freelance writer for the paper, Todd Stevens.

The lawsuit involves a negative article in 2002 about the Iowa State University athletics department, written by Stevens, which editors at the Ames Tribune then declined to print. At issue are alleged comments by the editors that Stevens rarely attended the events about which he wrote.