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Jimmy Lai Seeks Jury Trial in Defamation Lawsuit Against Pro-Beijing Paper, Citing Public Interest

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Hong Kong – Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, a prominent former media tycoon currently imprisoned, has initiated legal actions requesting a jury trial for his defamation lawsuit against the pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao. Lai’s legal team contends that the significant public interest surrounding this case merits a jury’s involvement to impartially assess the facts. As the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, Lai’s legal representatives argued in court Thursday that the extensive reach of Ta Kung Pao and Lai’s high-profile status in society necessitate public representation in the judicial process. They believe that a jury comprised … Read more

Utah Judge Tosses Lawsuit Against Local Paper, Cites New Anti-SLAPP Law in Defamation Case Dismissal

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FILLMORE, Utah — A local judge recently dismissed a defamation lawsuit against the Millard County Chronicle Progress, concluding that the plaintiff, Wayne Aston, failed to adequately substantiate his allegations. Aston had claimed that the newspaper’s coverage of his business proposal in Fillmore was inaccurate and slanderous. However, during a hearing on September 4, the defense successfully argued that a newly enacted Utah law aimed at protecting freedom of expression justified the suit’s dismissal before trial. The legislation, passed in 2023, serves to eliminate unsubstantiated defamation claims early in the legal process, sparing the defendants costly … Read more

New EU Timber Traceability Law Threatens $3.5 Billion US Paper Trade, Could Spike Prices of Everyday Hygiene Products

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Brussels, Belgium — The American paper industry is expressing concern over a new European Union regulation that mandates strict traceability of timber, a move that could potentially disrupt $3.5 billion in trade and increase costs for everyday hygiene products such as diapers and sanitary pads. The European Union’s Deforestation Regulation, which seeks to prevent global forest depletion, threatens significant implications for both U.S. producers and European consumers. The regulation intends to curb the role European consumption plays in global deforestation, which accounts for approximately 10% of the world’s total. This includes commodities like timber, beef, … Read more

Hampton Woman Awarded $22,000 in Lawsuit Against Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail Over Lack of Toilet Paper and Fecal Matter Towels

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Hampton, Virginia – A federal jury has awarded a Hampton woman $22,000 in a lawsuit against the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail. The woman, Antoinette Weathers, claimed that jail guards denied her toilet paper for several days in 2022. Additionally, she alleged that the towels provided to her were “caked in fecal matter.” In addition to the compensation, the jail is also responsible for paying approximately $60,000 in attorney fees. Weathers, 63, was taken into custody in June 2022 to serve a three-week sentence on assault and DUI charges from York County. During her time in … Read more