Florida Jury Condemns CNN for Defamation, Awards Navy Vet $5 Million in Damages Over Mischaracterized Afghanistan Rescue Efforts

Panama City, Florida – A Florida jury awarded $5 million in damages to a U.S. Navy veteran on Friday, concluding that CNN had defamed him in a 2021 report focused on individuals involved in efforts to evacuate endangered Afghans after the Taliban’s ascension to power in Afghanistan. The case, which centered on the depiction of the veteran, Zachary Young, involved allegations that CNN’s coverage unfairly branded him as part of a “black market” operation charging high fees to extract Afghans from the country. Young asserted that his business was oriented toward finding sponsors to help … Read more

NAACP Condemns Jury Acquittal in Subway Chokehold Death, Citing Danger to Civil Rights and Mental Health Crisis Management

WASHINGTON – A jury acquitted white New Yorker Daniel Penny who was charged with the death of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old Black man suffering a mental health episode on a subway. The decision concluded after five days of deliberation on Dec. 9th, 2024, sparking significant controversy. Neely, reportedly in crisis, died from a chokehold administered by Penny, which has reignited intense discussions around vigilantism, racial justice, and responses to mental health crises in the United States. In a strongly worded statement, NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson expressed profound disappointment in the verdict. Johnson criticized … Read more

Jay-Z Condemns Sexual Assault Allegations as Extortion, Files Counter Lawsuit

New York — Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has vehemently denied allegations linking him to a sexual assault case and has launched legal actions to defend his reputation. The resurfaced lawsuit, refiled earlier this month, implicates both Carter and Sean “Diddy” Combs in an alleged assault of a 13-year-old girl during an awards show afterparty over twenty years ago. Carter’s response has been to decry the accusations as a malicious blackmail attempt. Carter’s attorney, Alex Spiro, has dismissed the allegations as baseless and has filed a motion to reveal the identity of the accuser, referred to only … Read more

European Human Rights Court Condemns Azerbaijan for Violating Lawyer’s Free Speech in Corruption Whistleblowing Case

STRASBOURG, France — In a landmark ruling on Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Azerbaijan guilty of infringing on the freedom of expression of a lawyer who had been disbarred after lodging a corruption complaint against a legal consultancy’s director. This case has drawn widespread attention as it underscores the tension between national law practices and international human rights norms. The legal proceedings centered around Afgan Mammadov, a lawyer who faced disbarment as a repercussion for accusing the director of manipulating lawyer warrants and altering official records, actions that he deemed corrupt. … Read more