Landmark

Landmark Decision: Disney Found Liable for $600K in Copyright Trial over Innovative Motion-Capture Technology

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a copyright trial that involved motion-capture technology, a US jury has ruled that Disney owes $600,000. The trial centered on allegations made by a company called SAG-AFTRA, which represents performers, that Disney used its members’ performances in blockbuster films without authorization. The trial lasted for three weeks and ended with the jury issuing a verdict in favor of SAG-AFTRA. Motion-capture technology, which involves recording an actor’s movements and digitally transferring them onto a computer-generated character, has become increasingly popular in the film industry. This trial shed light on the legal … Read more

Mother of Slain 6-Year-Old Downey Boy Awarded $30 Million in Landmark Verdict Against LAUSD Employee

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NORWALK, Calif. – A jury in Norwalk has awarded $30 million to the mother of a 6-year-old boy from Downey who died in 2019 after being beaten by a former Los Angeles Unified School District employee. Dayvon Taylor lost his life the day after Christmas while under the care of Martin Brand, a former coach at Normandie Middle School and the child’s godfather. Kenya Taylor, Dayvon’s mother, expressed her grief, stating, “My son didn’t deserve to die at all. He was a happy child.” The tragic incident occurred after Dayvon was taken to the hospital … Read more

Horsham Mother Accused of Belt Strangulation and Ocean Drive to Face Judge in Landmark Trial

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Horsham Woman Accused of Killing Son with Belt Opts for Judge Trial Horsham, PA – Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead, a 51-year-old woman, has chosen to forego a jury trial and instead have her fate decided by a judge in Montgomery County. DiRienzo-Whitehead is facing charges of first-degree murder for allegedly strangling her 11-year-old son with a belt in April of last year. On the night of April 10, DiRienzo-Whitehead’s husband discovered their son unresponsive and his wife missing. Police later found that DiRienzo-Whitehead had driven her Toyota Highlander into the ocean in Cape May. After the car … Read more

Landmark Supreme Court Ruling Promotes Openness in Courtrooms: 40th Anniversary of Press-Enterprise I Celebrated

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RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The 40th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Press-Enterprise I is approaching. The ruling, which affirmed the public’s right to observe jury selection during trials, set a high bar for closing courtrooms during the process. The decision, hailed as a victory for press freedom and public access to courtrooms, requires judges to limit closures and provide justification in case of appeals. In Press-Enterprise I, attorney Jim Ward represented The Press-Enterprise, a Riverside-based newspaper, before the Supreme Court in 1984. The case centered around the closure of the courtroom during … Read more