This civil rights case arose from the investigation and prosecution of innocent teenagers for a crime they did not commit. Michael Crowe, Aaron Houser, and Joshua Treadway were wrongfully accused of the murder of Michael’s 12-year-old sister Stephanie Crowe. After hours of grueling, psychologically abusive interrogation—during which the boys were isolated from their families and had no access ... More...   $0 (01-21-2010 - CA)

Eric Canonico appeals an order dismissing, with prejudice, his defamation lawsuit against various media defendants. The trial court dismissed the lawsuit because Mr. Canonico filed his claim prematurely, before satisfying a presuit notice requirement. See § 770.02, Fla. Stat. (2005). His lawsuit was thereafter barred by the applicable statute of limitations. See § 95.11(4)(g), Fla. Stat. (2003).... More...   $0 (01-06-2010 - FL)

Edward Patrick, M.D., Ph.D., appeals the order of the district court granting summary judgment to defendants Cleveland Scene and Thomas Francis, and denying summary judgment to Patrick, in Patrick’s action brought under the court’s diversity jurisdiction claiming that Cleveland Scene’s publication of Francis’s article Playing Doctor on October 27, 2004, was defamatory. Because we find that... More...   $0 (12-21-2009 - OH)

PrediWave Corporation (PrediWave) sued Simpson Thatcher & Barlett LLP ("defendant law firm"), attorney George M. Newcombe, and attorney Alexis S. Coll-Very, who had previously represented both PrediWave and its former president and CEO, Jianping "Tony" Qu ("Qu"). Defendants successfully brought a special motion to strike under the anti-SLAPP statute (Code Civ. Proc., § 425.16).1 PrediWave appeals... More...   $0 (12-02-2009 - CA)

Plaintiff Terry Hobbs moves for partial summary judgment as to the fair report privilege and opinion (Doc. No. 26) and moves for partial summary judgment as to his status as a public figure (Doc. No. 31). Defendant Natalie Pasdar moves for summary judgment on all claims against her (Doc. No. 38). Defendants Martha Seidel (now Martha Maguire), Emily Robison, and the Dixie Chicks move for summa... More...   $0 (12-01-2009 - AR)

Dr. DePree, a tenured professor, sued the University of Southern Mississippi’s president and various administrators and faculty members (“Appellees”) after he was removed from teaching duties in August 2007 and evicted from his office in the College of Business. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the Appellees and denied DePree’s motion for temporary and permanent inju... More...   $0 (11-12-2009 - MS)

Today we examine a Texas court’s personal jurisdiction over Colorado residents Connie Grenemyer and Lynn and William Gerber. We agree with the district court that there is no jurisdiction over Connie Grenemyer and disagree with the district court’s finding of lack of jurisdiction over the Gerbers.

I Laurie and Stacie McFadin filed suit in the Western District of Texas against Connie Gre... More...   $0 (11-09-2009 - TX)

The plaintiff, a bariatric surgeon who lives and practices in New Jersey, brought this diversity suit in the federal district court in Chicago. He claims to have been defamed by the defendant, another bariatric surgeon, who practices in New York. The district judge dismissed the suit without prejudice, on the ground that venue in Chicago was improper, and the plaintiff appeals. The defendant cross... More...   $0 (10-23-2009 - )

Where plaintiffs appeal an interlocutory order that does not contain a Rule 54(b) certification and fail to show a substantial right will be adversely affected if the order is not immediately reviewed, the appeal is dismissed.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

On 28 October 2005, Jayceon Taylor a/k/a the rap artist “The Game” (Taylor) was scheduled to perform a concert in Wins... More...   $0 (10-20-2009 - NC)

Following a jury trial, defendants Jovon Broadcasting and Joseph Stroud, the owner and operational manager of Jovon Broadcasting, were found liable for retaliation against plaintiff Jerri Blount, a former employee of Jovon Broadcasting. The jury awarded Blount a total of $3,082,350 in damages, which was comprised of $257,350 for back pay, $25,000 for physical and/or emotional pain and suffering, a... More...   $0 (10-16-2009 - IL)

In this defamation suit, appellants, Patricia Vice and Kathie Slotter, bring an interlocutory appeal challenging the trial court's order that denied their summary judgment motion in favor of the appellees, Daniel J. Kasprzak, Patricia C. Kasprzak, and Katherine D. Kasprzak. In nine issues, Vice and Slotter argue that the trial court erred in denying summary judgment on three publications because (... More...   $0 (10-01-2009 - TX)

Appellant, David S. Davidson, initiated this litigation by filing suit against appellees, Seneca Crossing Section II Housing Association, Inc. (“the Association”), Azadeh Kaider (“Azadeh”), Brian Kaider (“Brian”), Lourdes Sandoval (“Lourdes”), and Santiago Sandoval (“Santiago”).1 The individual appellees are past and present members of the Association’s Board of Directors. Th... More...   $0 (08-31-2009 - MD)

[¶1] Philip and Letitia Abromats request relief from summary judgment granted to Don and Brenda Wood, claiming that the district court erred when it found that one allegedly defamatory statement contained in a victim impact statement was not libel per se and that the other allegedly defamatory statement was protected by qualified immunity as a statement concerning a common interest. The Woods, in... More...   $0 (08-26-2009 - WY)

In two issues, appellant, Tony Cantu, seeks reversal of an order dismissing his suit against appellees, John Maher, Thomas Tollette, and Tommy=s Seafood Steakhouse, following the trial court=s finding of discovery abuse, and further finding that this case is groundless and brought in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment. Because all dispositive issues of law are settled, we issue this memor... More...   $0 (08-25-2009 - TX)

In 1986, professional model Russell Christoff was paid $250 to pose for a photograph to be used in Canada on a label for bricks of coffee. Sixteen years later, Christoff saw his face on a jar of Taster‟s Choice instant coffee in the United States and discovered that his image had been used without his consent on millions of labels sold internationally for the preceding five years. Christoff file... More...   $0 (08-17-2009 - CA)

In this defamation action, plaintiff David N. Missner appeals from an order in which the circuit court converted defendant Robert A. Clifford’s motion to dismiss under section 2- 619(a)(9) of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(9) (West 2006)) into a motion for summary judgment under section 2-1005 of the Code (735 ILCS 5/2-1005 (West 2006)), and subsequently granted summary ... More...   $0 (08-12-2009 - IL)

In three issues, Appellant Lainie Whitmire appeals the summary judgment entered against her and in favor of Appellee National Cutting Horse Association (the NCHA). We will affirm in part and reverse and remand in part.

II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. The NCHA

The NCHA is a non-profit association wh... More...   $0 (07-23-2009 - TX)

The single issue presented in the instant case is whether the civil courts of this Commonwealth have subject-matter jurisdiction over a tort suit alleging defamation and negligent infliction of emotional distress arising out of a parochial school’s expulsion of a student for allegedly bringing a weapon to school, and the school’s communication of the expulsion to the school community. Citing t... More...   $0 (07-20-2009 - PA)

This is a summary judgment appeal. Seventh- and eighth-grade students in a middle-school journalism class made verbal and written statements to their journalism teacher, to other school officials, and to on-campus police following a classroom incident involving a fellow classmate, C.H. In the statements, the students accused C.H. of making threats to them.[2] As a result of the statements, Appe... More...   $0 (07-16-2009 - TX)

This insurance indemnity action is drawn by the packaging of boxes of crayons and colored by the expense of settling a lawsuit directed at the packaging.

Plaintiff Federal Insurance Co. (Federal) filed a declaratory judgment action against defendant Binney & Smith, Inc. (Binney), seeking a declaration that it did not owe a duty to defend or indemnify defendant in connection with a class act... More...   $0 (07-15-2009 - IL)

We must decide whether a distributor of Internet security software is entitled to immunity under the safe harbor provision of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. § 230, from a suit claiming that its software interfered with the use of downloadable programs by customers of an online media company.

Zango, Inc. (Zango) is an Internet company that provides access to a catalog of ... More...   $0 (06-25-2009 - WA)

Robert D. Ballard sued Augustina Garcia Nuncio on libel and slander theories.

The claims made and defenses asserted are not available.... More...   $10000 (06-09-2009 - OK)

In this defamation action, plaintiff David N. Missner appeals from an order in which the circuit court converted defendant Robert A. Clifford’s motion to dismiss under section 2- 619(a)(9) of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-619(a)(9) (West 2006)) into a motion for summary judgment under section 2-1005 of the Code (735 ILCS 5/2-1005 (West 2006)), and subsequently granted summary ... More...   $0 (05-20-2009 - IL)

¶1 Elizabeth Quintero (“Quintero”), widow to and personal representative of the estate of Luis Anaya Soto (“Soto”), appeals summary judgment in favor of Matthew and Jane Doe Rodgers. For the following reasons, we affirm in part and reverse in part.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2 This appeal arose from an automobile accident that occurred when Matthew Rodgers’ (“Rod... More...   $0 (05-12-2009 - AZ)

We must decide whether the Communications Decency Act of 1996 protects an internet service provider from suit where it undertook to remove from its website material harmful to the plaintiff but failed to do so.

I

This case stems from a dangerous, cruel, and highly indecent use of the internet for the apparent purpose of revenge.1 In late 2004, Cecilia Barnes broke off a lengthy relat... More...   $0 (05-07-2009 - OR)