Posted inLawsuits

Cast Away Competition

Festival feud

The executive director of “The Nantucket Wine & Food Festival,” Nancy Bean, has filed a lawsuit in US District Court and is asking for a trial by jury.  Bean’s event has run since 1996, every year during the third week of May.  The focus of the lawsuit involves the discovery of an announcement that Gordon Companies Inc. will be hosting a similar event next year under the name “The Nantucket Food and Wine Experience.”  Although the names of the two events are undeniably comparable, the crux of the legal issue extends far beyond this matter. 

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

A Winning Argument

Hit the jackpot

In February, the jackpot of a lifetime landed in the lap of New Jersey native, Rony Beal.  A routine visitor of Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, Beal played hundreds of dollars on a particular Wheel of Fortune machine, which granted a lifechanging payout of $2,555,910.  Now, months later, the winner has hired a lawyer, has contacted a news media outlet, and plans to take legal action against Bally’s and IGT, the company that manufactures and manages the machines played by Bally’s casino patrons.  The monetary damages have not yet been specified.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Wining Amid Divorce

Sour grapes

Eight years after filing for divorce from Oscar-winning actor, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie finds herself in a continued legal battle over her ownership stake in the French winery, Château Miraval.  According to Pitt’s initial February 2022 filing, Jolie unlawfully sold her shares of the winery to an independent group, as the former pair’s controlling ownership of the property was obtained together in 2008.  As per their alleged understanding, Pitt was required to offer consent to any sale that Jolie may procure, and vice versa.  However, Jolie’s allegedly secret sale of her shares failed to meet the standards of this agreement.

2 minutes
Posted inLawsuits

Competing Agencies

Contracts in jeopardy

In response to a ruling that would eliminate all current and future noncompete agreements, two powerhouse associations have taken joint legal action against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  The Business Roundtable and the US Chamber of Commerce filed the lawsuit within a day of the announcement that within the United States, there would be a ban against employers holding current and former employees to these contracts.  The accusations presented in the filing focus on the level of authority maintained by the FTC to implement such a ban and whether the government agency overstepped its role.    

2 minutes
Posted inSettlements

Change Their Tune

Singer’s settlement

Among her various roles as a singer, songwriter, and television personality, Kelly Clarkson has also recently emerged in the headlines due to her rapid weight loss transformation.  With a healthier approach to life, Clarkson has worked toward trimming additional layers of concern, such as an ongoing lawsuit with her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.  The two parties were scheduled to attend a bench trial on August 27, however, following their settlement, they have asked the court to dismiss all pending cases.  The dispute between the former couple originated with Blackstock’s claim that he was owed unpaid commission as Clarkson’s manager.

2 minutes