Civil

Jury’s $150,000 ‘Nominal’ Damages Verdict Overturned in Civil Rights Lawsuit

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Boston, MA — A notable civil rights case recently culminated in a U.S. District Court decision that a jury’s sizable award of $150,000 in “nominal” damages was inappropriate, leading the judge to reduce the amount to just one dollar. This verdict has sparked a detailed examination of what constitutes nominal damages within the legal framework. The controversy began with Diane Lawless’s lawsuit against the town of Freetown. Lawless, previously appointed as the town’s treasurer in June 2013, alleged wrongful termination and violations of her procedural due process rights under §1983 after her dismissal in June … Read more

Teen Sues Detroit Judge for Civil Rights Violations After Being Handcuffed for Falling Asleep in Court

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DETROIT – A federal lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by a 15-year-old girl and her mother against 36th District Judge Kenneth King following an incident wherein the judge ordered the teenager to be detained for falling asleep during a court field trip. The lawsuit accuses Judge King of violating the civil rights of the teenager, Eva Goodman, by acting beyond his judicial authority during the incident. The controversy began when Goodman, who is currently without a permanent home, attended a court session organized as a … Read more

Jury Deliberates on Parental Responsibility in Texas School Shooting Civil Case

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Galveston, Texas — A Texas civil court has commenced deliberations examining whether the parents of a high school shooter can be held legally accountable for their son’s violent acts, which resulted in the deaths of 10 people at Santa Fe High School in 2018. The trial, which has captured public attention due to its emotional testimony and complex legal arguments, wrapped up its final arguments on Friday. The lawsuit targets Antonios Pagourtzis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, highlighting allegations that they neglected clear signs of their son Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ deteriorating mental health and failed to secure … Read more

Milwaukee Community and Environmental Groups File Lawsuit to Halt I-94 Expansion, Citing Civil Rights Concerns

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Milwaukee, WI – A group of Milwaukee-based organizations is gearing up to file a civil rights lawsuit to halt the proposed expansion of Interstate 94, highlighting ongoing concerns over racial equity and environmental impacts. The planned legal action, set to be filed Monday in U.S. District Court, mirrors a previous 2017 lawsuit led by local civil rights and environmental groups against multiple federal and state transportation authorities. The opposition, spearheaded by groups like Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), argues that the expansion disproportionately benefits suburban commuters while sidelining the predominantly Black and brown … Read more