Whistling for Change

On the right track

In Massachusetts, the state’s highest court must consider a lawsuit that was filed towards the end of March, targeting designated quiet zones enforced in pedestrian crossings.  According to the Federal Railroad Administration, throughout the state, 29 quiet zones are in place.  Five of those listed zones are located in the city of Beverly, a suburb of Boston.  The number of quiet zones in this city may be classified as excessive, as no other community, township, or neighborhood acknowledges more than one quiet zone.  State law and federal train regulations do not require the existence of these quiet zones.

Keep Up with Reality

Reality TV becomes more real

Less than a year after losing her lawsuit against the Kardashian-Jenner family, socialite Angela White, better known professionally as Blac Chyna, has shifted her focus on fulfilling a life that is centered on positivity and spiritual awakening.  Despite her new outlook and her decision to revert her identity back to her birth name, Angela, it might prove more difficult for the famous entrepreneurial Kardashian-Jenner family to move past Blac Chyna’s filing of a defamation lawsuit, in which she sought $100 million from the family’s matriarch, Kris Jenner, as well as daughters, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Kylie Jenner.

Dispute Comes Full Circle

The right in copyright

Moments before trial was recently scheduled to take place, the parties associated in a songwriting copyright lawsuit reached a settlement.  Austin Post, who is more recognized by his stage name, Post Malone, was sued in 2020 following a disagreement with Tyler Armes.  Due to his apparent guitar chord contribution to the song “Circles,” Armes claimed that he should have been paid specific royalties.  According to his argument, Armes contends that he was presented with the contract to receive five percent of the song’s royalties, however, once he began negotiations to increase that percentage, the offer was rescinded. 

Show Drama Unwinds

Streaming wars

The long-running animated show, South Park, has premiered as a staple on the cable television network, Comedy Central, for many years.  Although known for its hilarious parodies, which often poke fun at celebrities, pop culture, and politics, South Park is now at the center of an extensive lawsuit focusing on streaming service rights.  The two services that are battling against one another are HBO Max and Paramount+.  The lawsuit was filed at the end of February in a New York Supreme Court and places into consideration a $500 million contract between the two services.

Guest List Royally Flawed

A wedded disaster

Following the release of Prince Harry’s memoir at the top of the year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have maintained their relevance for reasons unrelated to spilling secrets about the royal family.  Strangely, they are mentioned in a lawsuit that focuses on the botched planning and organization of the wedding between Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz.  The nuptials, which took place in April 2022, were apparently preceded with a strong dose of chaos.  Peltz’s father has filed a lawsuit, claiming that wedding planners, Nicole Braghin and Arianna Grijalba, refused to honor the return of a $159,000 deposit.