Tag Archives: court cases

Mel Gibson’s Lawyers Claim The Tirade Tape Was Edited

Kate Torgovnick/Kate-Book.comJuly 15, 2010 //

Mel Gibson and Oksana Grigorieva‘s lawyers will be heading to court this morning, as Oksana tries to get full custody of their daughter, Lucia. Oksana’s main piece of evidence, of course, is the 30-minute tape of Mel going bonkers on the phone—several clips from the tape have now been leaked online. So how does Mel’s camp plan to counter this? They say that they have proof that the tape has been tampered with and edited. See, tapes can only be used as evidence if it can be proven that they have not been altered in any way. Keep reading »

South Dakota Sustains Guilt-Tripping Abortion Law

SimchaJuly 11, 2008 //

In a recent court decision, South Dakota will enforce a law that forces doctors into guilt-tripping their patients before performing an abortion. As if making the decision isn’t hard enough, now the government requires doctors to read an statement to women that says an abortion will “terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being” and may lead you to commit suicide. Um. Yeah. While the court claimed the “burden of proof” rested squarely on Planned Parenthood, perhaps there should be some actual proof to the ludicrous suicide link within the law. Although the safe sex organization argued that making doctors read the statement aloud to their patients was an infringement on the First Amendment, since the medical professionals don’t agree with the ideology, the court still wouldn’t budge. Now that’s scarier than unwanted children! [The International Herald Tribune] Keep reading »

Danger! Beware Of Thong!

SimchaJune 18, 2008 //

A woman in Los Angeles is suing Victoria’s Secret over a defective thong. Um, one could argue, they’re all defective, after all, we’re talking about paying for a permanent wedgie here. But seriously, 52-year old Macrida Patterson is taking the lingerie line to court because she claims a “design problem” caused a metallic decoration on her “V-string” to come loose. When she went to put the panties on, the ornament hit her in the eye causing damage to her cornea. Eye-yi-yi, there is just an ever growing number of reasons why we love coverage! [Smoking Gun and CNN] Keep reading »

R. Kelly Gets Off 14 Times

SimchaJune 16, 2008 //

You don’t have to throw out your Space Jam soundtrack! After six years, two stalled trials due to medical emergencies, and an impossible hunt for jurors who have never watched MTV, R. Kelly was amazingly acquitted of 14 counts of child pornography. The Chicago courtroom hummed with the rhythm of Robert Kelly’s Church-like chants of “Thank you, Jesus!” as he was declared innocent of raping his goddaughter. The singer/songwriter, who has beat more than just a bad rap, hugged his four lawyers. The defense dream team found a big hole in the prosecution’s case: no mole. R. Kelly has one that’s about a square inch on his back. In the sex tape, no mole appeared to be visible. R&B’s R. Kelly is free — his only crime? Creating Trapped in A Closet. But alas Hip Hoperas aren’t punishable by law, or Beyoncé would have already been in the clink for Carmen. [CNN] Keep reading »

Faux-Virgin Rejected By French Court

SimchaJune 6, 2008 //

Lately virginity has seemed trendier than skinny pants. But just like the slim slacks, chastity also doesn’t fit everyone’s style. When our cool Catherine posted about Australian FHM’s poll where 28% of men said they hoped to marry virgins, we all shrugged — a guy can dream can’t he? We here at The Frisky have been enjoying the sexual revolution, and we thought the dudes of the world were too. Alas, no. This week, a French Court annulled a Muslim couple’s marriage because the bride wasn’t a virgin on her wedding night. When the man, in his 30’s (?!), didn’t have blood-stained sheets from his wedding bed to show his family, they decided to take her to court. While plenty of girls lose their hymen nowadays from activities like gymnastics, the bride confessed she had lied because she didn’t think he would marry her if she told the truth. So, under an antiquated French law that protects the “essential quality” insisted upon by the groom, the marriage was null and void. Boo! This verdict has enraged feminists around and the world as well as the Prime Minister of France and the rector at a Mosque in Paris who all see the ruling as reverting women to being commodities for men. Although, something good has come out of all this — this poor woman was saved from a lifetime sentence with a seriously unrealistic and demanding husband. [Yahoo News] Keep reading »

Damn You, Bill Murray

Amelia McDonell-ParryMay 29, 2008 //

I’ve had a crush on Bill Murray since I saw Groundhog Day and his studliness was further proved by the depressing lothario he played in Lost In Translation. So it’s with a sad heart that I report that Murray may not be the sensitive moper the world thought him to be. According to divorce papers filed by Murray’s soon-to-be-ex-wife, Jennifer Murray, the actor’s “adultery, addiction to marijuana and alcohol, abusive behavior, physical abuse, sexual addictions and frequent abandonment” led to their split. Apparently he also told her “she was lucky he didn’t kill her.” [The Smoking Gun] Keep reading »

Thoughts From Guys On Our IM: Taking Her Last Name

Amelia McDonell-ParryMay 8, 2008 //

By now you’ve probably heard about Michael Buday, the guy who wanted to take the last name of his wife, Diana Bijon, when they married in California. It took two years, a sexual discrimination suit, and a change in California law before he was able to do so. While women have an easy time taking their husband’s last name, there is no place on the marriage license application, and driver’s license, for the groom to choose the bride’s surname. Clearly, this is ridiculous and there’s not much more to say about that, except good for Mr. and Mrs. Bijon for taking their fight all the way. But it got me thinking about the notion of changing your last name in marriage anyway — is this something guys would actually consider? I posed the question to the guys on my IM and, needless to say, they probably won’t be taking your last name anytime soon. Check their responses, after the jump. Keep reading »

Today In Terribleness: Sexual Assault, Crying Rape, And That Austrian Psycho

Amelia McDonell-ParryMay 7, 2008 //
  • A University of Connecticut student recounts being sexually assaulted on campus, fighting back against her attacker, and then being assaulted AGAIN by onlookers. [DailyCampus.com]
  • A woman who was having an affair, cried “rape” when she was caught by her husband because she says she feared for her life — her husband shot her lover and killed him. This past week, the wife was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, while her husband, who shot the guy in the first place, walks free. Was she convicted because of her lie (that she was raped) or because of her infidelity? [Broadsheet]
  • Remember that disgusting cretin from Austria who kept his daughter locked up for 24 years, raped her, and fathered six of her children? He says, “I could have killed all of them, and nothing would have come out of that. No-one would have ever known about it….I have not been treated fairly, it has all been one-sided.” [Daily Mail U.K.]

    • Keep reading »

    Wal-Mart: Always Low Prices, Finally An Inkling Of Human Decency

    Amelia McDonell-ParryApril 2, 2008 //

    Last week we wrote about Wal-Mart employee Debbie Shank, who was struck by a truck and suffered severe brain damage and whose medical expenses were covered by her Wal-Mart insurance. The chain sued for reimbursement of $400,000+ after Shank won a settlement against the truck company which was responsible for her accident. Today the mega-chain finally dropped their suit. Wal-Mart, you (finally) did the right thing. But we’re still going to shop at Target! [St. Louis Today] Keep reading »

    Yet Another Reason Why We Shop At Target

    Amelia McDonell-ParryMarch 28, 2008 //

    Target is awesome, and not just because they have cheap, cute clothes designed by normally-out-of-our-price-range big names like Jovovich-Hawk and Luella Bartley. They also rule because they don’t screw over their employees in the most evil way possible. Wal-Mart, which, frankly, has some of the worst clothing you could possible buy at a megastore, won a suit against a former employee for $470,000. For what, you may ask? The awful truth, after the jump. Keep reading »

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