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☆ DeSantis board secures small win in feud against Disney after judge denies Florida park's request to throw out suit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A judge ruled Friday that a lawsuit against Disney in Florida would proceed. The case relates to a legal loophole used by Disney to take back control of its operations in Florida. The park argued that the case is "moot" in state court because of a DeSantis law that voided development agreements Disney signed up to three months before the appointed board was created, PBS reported. The ruling marks another legal punch in the year-long fight between DeSantis and Disney. As a result, the newly appointed DeSantis board was stripped of its power.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Walt Disney, DeSantis, Margaret Schreiber, Jeremy Redfern, Bob Chapek Organizations: Disney, Service, PBS, Central, Walt Disney World, Politico, Reedy Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Central Florida

[1/2] E. Jean Carroll reacts as she exits the Manhattan Federal Court following the verdict in the civil rape accusation case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2023. Lawyers for Carroll, 79, also accused Trump of springing his counterclaim too late, to "hold up yet again this otherwise trial-ready, much-delayed case." Trump has appealed the $5 million verdict. A Jan. 15, 2024 trial is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who handled the earlier trial. The case is Carroll v Trump, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Jean Carroll, Donald Trump, Brendan McDermid, Trump's, Roberta Kaplan, Carroll, Trump, Carroll's, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Jonathan Stempel, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Elle, CNN, District, Carroll, Trump, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York

☆ Trump loses immunity in E. Jean Carroll case as Justice Department now says his comments weren't part of presidential role
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Justice Department is no longer defending Donald Trump in a lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll. But the Justice Department intervened. There is also the fact that the jury found Trump sexually assaulted Carroll well before he ever assumed office. "A jury has now found that Mr. Trump sexually assaulted Ms. Carroll long before he became President," Boynton wrote. While the jury found that Trump sexually abused Carroll by inserting his fingers into her vagina, it didn't find him liable for rape.

Persons: Donald Trump, Jean Carroll, Trump, Carroll, Goodman, Westfall, Brian Boynton, —, Boynton, Trump's, Jean Carroll's, Roberta Kaplan, Kaplan, Trump's countersuit, Andy Borowitz Organizations: DOJ, Service, Justice Department, Elle, Trump's, Justice, Trump, Department, United, Carroll Locations: Wall, Silicon, Manhattan, United States, Carroll, York

☆ Life at Sea's three-year cruise will get a bigger ship
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Life at Sea Cruises is now owned and operated entirely by Miray Cruises, a company with a 30-year history of operating in the Aegean. Bigger ship, fewer guestsStaterooms on the new ship will have 20 square feet more per cabin, say Miray Cruises. Life at Sea CruisesMeanwhile, Miray says it is launching its first Life at Sea cruise in its new ship as planned in November. MV Lara will be larger than the Gemini, Kendra Holmes, CEO of Miray Cruises, told CNN. And this Miray team is accommodating to everyone – If there are concerns, they fix it, if there are ideas they put them into place.

Persons: Miray, “, Mikael Petterson, Irina Strembitsky, Petterson, Staterooms, Lara, Kendra Holmes, Holmes, ” Holmes, Cruises, Heidi Klum, AIDA Cruises, Sharon Lane, ”, ’ ”, Meredith Shay, Shay, Ingrid Warwick, “ It’ll, “ That’s, Finnbarr Webster Organizations: CNN, Sea Cruises, Cruises, Miray Cruises, Gemini, Carnival, Sea, Petterson, Vie Locations: Europe, German, “, Florida, Germany, Istanbul

☆ Trump countersues E. Jean Carroll for 'rape' defamation, as her lawyers scoff at claim
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"Oh yes he did, oh yes he did," Caroll said during a CNN interview on May 10, reiterating her allegation that Trump raped her. A day earlier, a jury in U.S. District Court Manhattan awarded Carroll $5 million in damages from Trump. Kaplan also said four out of the five statements Trump claimed were defamatory were made outside of New York's one-year statute of limitations. Kaplan called Trump's counterclaim "nothing more than his latest effort to delay accountability for what a jury has already found to be his defamation of E Jean Carroll." Trump's countersuit is the latest twist in a circuitous, multicourt legal battle over Carroll's allegation that Trump, 77, sexually assaulted her.

Persons: Jean Carroll, Donald Trump, Carroll, E, Caroll, Trump, Bergdorf Goodman, Alina Habba, Habba, Robbie Kaplan, Kaplan Organizations: Manhattan Federal Court, CNN, Court, Trump, Republican Locations: Manhattan, Manhattan Federal Court , New York, New York, U.S, New

☆ Safety concerns about missing Titan vessel voiced by former OceanGate employees years ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Celina Tebor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Lochridge worked as an independent contractor for OceanGate in 2015, then as an employee between 2016 and 2018, according to court filings. Court filings from the company indicate there was additional testing after Lochridge’s time at OceanGate, and it’s unclear whether any of his concerns were addressed as the vessel was developed. He said more concerns were raised by contractors and employees during his time at OceanGate, and Rush became defensive and shied away from answering questions during all-staff meetings. In 2022, the legal representative updated the Virginia court on OceanGate’s expeditions in another court filing. “OceanGate decided to cancel the second mission for repairs and operational enhancements” after the vessel “sustained modest damage to its external components,” it reads.

Persons: David Lochridge, Lochridge, Stockton Rush –, “, Rush, OceanGate, of Virginia –, ” Kevin Williams, “ OceanGate, “ Classing Organizations: CNN, US Coast Guard, OceanGate, Stockton Rush, Titan, Coast Guard, U.S, Eastern, of, University of Washington’s, Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd’s Locations: Cape Cod , Massachusetts, OceanGate, of Virginia, Virginia

☆ Titan submersible: Search crews heard banging sounds while scouring the Atlantic for manned craft now running out of oxygen
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Nouran Salahieh Ray Sanchez Priscilla Alvarez | Nouran Salahieh | Ray Sanchez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

The banging on Tuesday first came every 30 minutes and was heard again four hours later, according to an internal government memo update on the search. The search for the missing submersible Titan has broadened to an area about two times the size of Connecticut. It was unclear when exactly the banging was heard Tuesday or how long it lasted, based on the memo. We have to keep working until we find the submersible,” Joyce Murray, minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, told reporters Wednesday. If the submersible is intact, the passengers would be dealing with dwindling oxygen levels and fighting cold, he told CNN.

Persons: Jamie Frederick, ”, Frederick, Stone, ” Joyce Murray, “, Ray Scott “ Chip ” McCord, ” Scott, David Hiscock, we’ve, John Mauger, ” Carl Hartsfield, John Cabot –, Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, Sulaiman Dawood, Paul, Henri Nargeolet, ” David Gallo, John’s, Gallo, ” Gallo, Joe MacInnis, who’s, Frederick didn’t, Mauger, David Lochridge, Lochridge, OceanGate, Oceangate, ” OceanGate, Suleman Dawood, Stockton Rush, J, Van Gurley, Gabe Cohen, ” Cohen, Aaron Newman, ” John “ Danny ” Olivas, ” Olivas, CNN’s Victor Blackwell Organizations: CNN, US Coast Guard, Coast Guard, Fisheries, Canadian Coast Guard, OceanGate Expeditions, Canadian Armed Forces, New York Air National Guard, U.S . Air Force, “ CBS, Naval, Oceanographic Systems Laboratory, USCG, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Stockton Rush, Strategic Initiatives, Daylight, Horizon Services, US Navy, Facebook, OceanGate, Titan, Manned, Vehicles, Marine Technology Society, New York Times, Times, Stockton, Polar Prince, Navy, KOMO, CBS Locations: Connecticut, Canadian, Everest, NewfoundlandSaturday, Cape Cod , Massachusetts, OceanGate, Rush, Titan

☆ Rudy Giuliani was helping Noelle Dunphy in a brutal legal fight with her 'abusive' ex when he abused her himself: court docs
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Laura Italiano | Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Noelle Dunphy says she agreed to work for Giuliani when he promised a $1 million salary and free legal help. At the time, Dunphy was embroiled in a messy court battle with a wealthy, "abusive" ex, court papers state. "Rather, Ms. Dunphy would come to understand that Giuliani was aroused by discussing her sexual history and violent relationships. But Giuliani was slinging insults at her on Twitter and had revealed her true name in connection with the case, Dunphy alleged. Giuliani took advantage of Dunphy's legal troubles, her lawsuit allegesFar from helping Dunphy with her legal morass, Giuliani "abused his position as Ms. Dunphy's lawyer to pressure her into sex," her lawsuit claims.

☆ Bob Iger to Ron DeSantis: Does Florida want our jobs and taxes or not?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Disney CEO Bob Iger said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ attacks on the company threaten its plans for $17 billion of investment and 13,000 new jobs at Disney World over the next 10 years. In comments Wednesday during a call with investors, Iger defended Disney as Florida attempts to wrest control of powers granted to a special taxing district overseeing Disney World’s zoning decisions. Iger did not mention DeSantis by name or explicitly say Disney is reconsidering its planned investment. Disney has for decades controlled a special taxing district that had the right to make zoning decisions in and around Disney World. A general view of Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World.

☆ Florida board picked by DeSantis to countersue Disney
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) -An oversight board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday said it would file a countersuit against Walt Disney Co in state court, according to prepared remarks seen by Reuters. Slideshow ( 2 images )The decision, which further escalates tensions between Disney and the state of Florida, comes in response to a lawsuit Disney filed last week in federal district court against DeSantis and members of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight district board. The skirmish began last year after Disney criticized a Florida measure banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children. Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney’s virtual autonomy in central Florida where the Disney World theme parks attract millions of visitors each year. “The district will seek justice in state court here in central Florida where both it and Disney reside and do business,” Martin said.

Law Firms Boies Schiller Flexner LLP FollowMay 1 (Reuters) - A lawyer in the Florida attorney general's office has left to join U.S. law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, the firm said Monday. Deputy Solicitor General Evan Ezray has rejoined the firm's Fort Lauderdale, Florida office as a partner, the firm said. Ezray previously worked at the law firm co-founded by prominent lawyer David Boies from 2017 to 2020, according to his LinkedIn profile. The solicitor general is the chief appellate attorney for the state of Florida and part of the Florida attorney general's office. Read more:Florida board to countersue DisneyU.S. appeals court upholds Florida voting law that judge found discriminatoryDisney sues Florida's DeSantis for 'weaponizing' governmentFlorida judge blocks Republican-backed voting law as discriminatoryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Appeals court largely sides with Apple on ‘Fortnite’ antitrust case
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —A federal appeals court largely sided with Apple on Monday in a closely watched case about its app store policies, a decision that could complicate future efforts to regulate app store operators and frustrate claims that Apple behaves monopolistically. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the iOS App Store, a move Epic anticipated and that prompted Epic to sue. On Monday, in addition to siding with Apple on the antitrust claims, the appeals court held that Apple is entitled to have Epic cover its legal fees stemming from the countersuit, reversing a lower-court decision. That finding could give some ammunition to critics of app store operators. Both sides now have several weeks to determine whether to seek a rehearing from the appeals court or to appeal to the Supreme Court.

March 30 (Reuters) - A jury in Utah ruled on Thursday that Oscar-winning actor Gwyneth Paltrow was not responsible for injuries sustained by a man during a ski slope collision at an upscale Park City resort in 2016. He said the injuries led to a traumatic brain injury and had sought more than $300,000 in damages from Paltrow at a civil trial. Gwyneth Paltrow looks on as her attorney objects during the closing arguments of her trial, in Park City, Utah, U.S., March 30, 2023. Rick Bowmer/Pool via REUTERSThe eight-person jury sided with Paltrow, ruling that Sanderson was 100% at fault, and awarded Paltrow the $1 in symbolic damages that she had asked for in a countersuit. Both fell to the ground with Paltrow on top of Sanderson, in a heap of skis and limbs, she said.

☆ Former JPMorgan executive, ex-Barclays CEO Staley to be deposed next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lawyers for the bank said during a hearing on Thursday they would depose Staley, who also served as Barclays Plc's (BARC.L) chief executive, on March 23 and 24. JPMorgan has accused Staley, its former head of private banking, of "intentional and outrageous conduct" in concealing information about Epstein, with whom he had been friends. The lawsuit seeks to force Staley to return eight years of compensation and reimburse JPMorgan for damages the company might incur in the other lawsuits. Last week, Rakoff had ordered the bank to hand over more documents concerning its CEO Jamie Dimon. A separate trial involving an Epstein victim suing Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE) may also be rescheduled.

☆ Hunter Biden sues laptop repair shop owner for exposing his personal life in an 'egregious violation' of his privacy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hunter Biden sued a Delaware laptop repair shop owner over distributing his data to the public. Biden claims that the owner violated his privacy rights by exposing his personal life. The New York Post first reported on Biden's laptop weeks before the 2020 election. "The object of invading Mr. Biden's privacy and disseminating his data was not for any legitimate purpose but to cause harm and embarrassment to Mr. Biden," the claim continues. Biden's lawyers are also seeking depositions from Giuliani, Bannon, and others alleged to possess copies of his laptop data.

☆ Nike slammed as 'dictatorial' and called a 'trademark troll' as legal battle with streetwear brand heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Most of the cases have settled, but Kool Kiy's combative response suggests its lawsuit won't end soon. In its lawsuit, Nike claimed Kool Kiy and business partners violated Nike's "trade dress" protections for the Air Jordan 1 and Dunk. NikeNike has filed at least eight lawsuits in which it argued for trade dress protection since 2019. In order to get trade dress protection, the appearance of a product must be distinctive and nonfunctional. Kool Kiy's attorneys argued Nike is seeking trade dress protection for functional parts of basketball sneakers.

☆ Frank, the college loan start-up JPMorgan is suing for fraud, was warned by the FTC for misleading students about Covid relief money
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

JP Morgan Chase has accused the student loan platform Frank and its founder Charlie Javice of inventing millions of fake customers to juice its value. In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission warned Frank that it "may be unlawfully misleading consumers" about student COVID relief. The company promised students help accessing the grant money, but all Frank was doing was generating a form letter students could send to university administrators. "We are concerned that Frank is creating false hope and confusion for students while contributing to unnecessary extra work for financial aid administrators," the representatives wrote. The advance wouldn't need to be paid back until "your aid comes in," the company wrote on its website.

The defamation case brought by actor Johnny Depp against his ex-wife Amber Heard came to an end on Wednesday after a seven-person jury unanimously ruled in favor of Depp. The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages in his defamation suit. Depp also claims she is not the victim of domestic violence but instead the perpetrator. 2022On April 11, the weekslong defamation trial kicks off, with Heard and Depp appearing in court in Fairfax County, Virginia. The jury unanimously finds that Heard defamed Depp, awarding him $5 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages.

Some of Signore’s newer content takes aim at the people he said contributed to the allegations against him and their aftermath. Signore recorded the interview and released segments of it in July in a YouTube video criticizing NBC News’ coverage of the trial.) In between clips from the trial, Signore comments that he believes the testimony is true and reflects strongly on Depp’s case. Business Insider reported that the top three Super Chat earners on YouTube during the trial were creators who exclusively streamed it. “There’s no due process,” Signore said in the May video comparing himself to Depp and one of his accusers to Heard.

Actor Johnny Depp topped Google’s list of trending people in 2022. Heard was the third top trending person on Google Search this year. The Depp-Heard trial also took a prominent spot in users’ search history this year. Andrew Tate, the self-described “success coach” who has been criticized online for what many see as misogynistic advice, topped Google’s 2022 category for trending “who is …” questions. In the gaming sphere, the popular online puzzle Wordle was the top trending game worldwide and in the U.S., according to Google Search.

☆ Tiger Woods calls for LIV Golf boss Greg Norman to stand down
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Tiger Woods has called for Greg Norman, the CEO of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, to stand down amid a rift with the PGA Tour. Earlier this year, LIV Golf joined an antitrust lawsuit alongside some of its players, alleging that the PGA Tour threatened to place lifetime bans on players who participate in the LIV Golf series. David Cannon/Getty ImagesThe LIV Golf series is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Woods – who returned to golf earlier this year following serious injuries sustained in a car accident – has previously voiced opposition to the LIV Golf series, and on Wednesday, he reaffirmed his stance. LIV Golf declined to comment on Woods’ latest remarks when contacted by CNN.

☆ Elon Musk's biographer, who was shadowing him, 'wouldn't be surprised' to see future lawsuits following 'contentious' conversations on the night the Twitter deal closed
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Walter Isaacson said he "would not be surprised" if Elon Musk faced more lawsuits over Twitter. The biographer said the day the deal closed it was "quite contentious" in Twitter's headquarters. The biographer shadowed Musk over the past week as the billionaire followed through with his plans to buy Twitter. Within moments of taking over Twitter, Musk fired four top executives at the company, including former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and CFO Ned Segal. "It's not as if the Twitter executives are bringing down bottles of champagne, and it became through the evening quite contentious."

☆ Phil Mickelson says Saudi-backed LIV Golf series is ‘not going away’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Veteran golfer Phil Mickelson says the controversial LIV Golf series is a “force” in the sport and it’s “not going away.”Speaking ahead of the season finale at the Trump National Doral Golf Club, near Miami, Mickelson praised the Saudi-backed series for how much it has grown during a tumultuous debut year. “It’s pretty remarkable how far LIV Golf has come in the last six, seven months. I don’t think anybody can disagree with that.”Earlier this month, American Dustin Johnson secured the inaugural season-long LIV Golf individual championship, earning himself $18 million. This weekend LIV Golf will hold a team competition with a $50 million prize purse. In August, the LIV series joined an antitrust lawsuit from some of its stars that alleges the PGA Tour threatened to place lifetime bans on players who participate on the LIV golf series, adding that “unprecedented suspensions” were placed upon them.

Now, social media creators and audiences are comparing Jolie to Heard, as evidenced by hundreds of comments NBC News found on Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube that questioned her allegations of abuse. This year, that battle went mainstream, catching the attention of millions of viewers online during the civil trial involving Depp and Heard. “The things we saw, the memes, the clips of the trial, they were overwhelmingly going against Amber Heard. Some of the videos characterized Jolie as a liar in titles and thumbnails, while others asked whether she is using “Amber Heard tactics” or is “the next” Heard. Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson was labeled “Amber Heard 2.0,” and the phrase trended on Twitter after she testified about former President Donald Trump’s alleged actions during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

☆ Elon Musk claims whistleblower burned 10 notebooks as part of a Twitter order to destroy sensitive information about the company
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A whistleblower said he destroyed notebooks and computer files at Twitter's request, per a court filing. Elon Musk requested sanctions against Twitter on October 3, alleging it destroyed evidence. The filing was made public on Monday, but filed the day before Musk made a U-turn on the purchase. Zatko's notes included details from meetings with executives, as well as communications with Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal regarding his concerns over Twitter's security practices, per the court filing. After Zatko's whistleblower complaint became widely reported in August, Musk amended his countersuit against Twitter to include the former security chief's allegations.

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