Posted inLawsuits

Wrongful Death of TV Star

A serene lake reflects the towering, snow-capped mountains and dense evergreen forests under a vibrant pink and purple sky, creating a tranquil and picturesque landscape.
Beautiful but deadly lake

The cast of Glee has seen its fair share of tragedy.  Since 2013, three actors on the show have passed away.  The most recent death occurred this past summer on July 8.  Naya Rivera and her four-year-old son rented a pontoon boat from Parks and Recreation Management (PMC) to spend the day on Lake Piru. Fans were shocked to hear that the actress did not return to shore, leaving her son as the lone survivor. After an extensive and thorough days-long search, Rivera’s body was recovered.  Four months since that accident, Rivera’s estate and her ex-husband have filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of her son.

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Posted inLawsuits

Learn Your Lesson

A person with neatly manicured nails holds a smartphone. The phone has a marble patterned case and is being held over a blurred background. The image focuses on the hand and phone, with the rest of the scene out of focus.
Texting your teacher?

The mother of a junior high student is taking legal action against her daughter’s vice principal, alleging negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.  According to the lawsuit, Penns Grove Middle School Vice Principal, Abner Mendoza, established a personal connection with the student that was defined as inappropriate. An exchange of text messages indicate communication outside of the scope of education or school-related matters. A police report was filed, as well as a report to the school.  The mother chose to follow up with extended measures of legal action when the school district failed to issue substantial disciplinary action.  At the time of filing, the vice principal still maintained his position within the school and was not facing any criminal charges.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Whistleblower Stands Up to AC

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Falsifying documents?

In the bootlegging era of the 1920’s, Atlantic City was known for its booming success and questionable corruption.  While AC has experienced an unfortunate decline since the pandemic, the tendencies to engage in unethical activities seem to have withstood the test of time. A former Ocean Casino Resort executive has filed a lawsuit, claiming she was terminated from her position in retaliation for acting as a whistleblower.  She had questioned the submission of paperwork to the New Jersey gaming division, defining it as falsified.  In response to her concern, the director of the state agency suggested that the executive be removed from her position.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Toy Stuntman Lands in Court

A toy figure with a cowboy outfit sits at the edge of a wooden platform, facing a serene lake or sea with a blurred mountainous landscape in the background. The scene conveys a sense of calm and solitude.
Not all fun and games

Fans of the Toy Story movies may recall the character Duke Caboom and his striking resemblance to Evel Knievel.  The likeness of Evel Knievel is owned by K&K Productions, the company that is now suing Disney and Pixar, as well as subsidiaries that helped in the production of Toy Story 4.  The character, portrayed by the voice of Keanu Reeves, was adapted into the film without prior authorization from the company that owns the branding rights to Knievel, who passed away in 2007.  The movie itself is not only mentioned in the lawsuit, but also promotional toys sold in 2019 are included.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Caged in Legal Trouble

A majestic tiger with striking orange and black stripes rests atop a tree stump, surrounded by lush green foliage. Its front paws dangle over the edge as it gazes ahead, exuding a calm and regal presence in its natural habitat.
Family alleges defamation

If we take anything positive away from 2020, it will be the premiere of Tiger King.  While we found humor in the wild history of Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin was allegedly cracking jokes about the disappearance and declared death of her husband, Don Lewis. Promoted to a role on Dancing with the Stars, Baskin was quoted in interviews as making light banter concerning her husband’s current and possibly unfortunate state.  

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