Rules

South Carolina Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Former High School Coach in Defamation Case

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Moncks Corner, South Carolina – The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a former Berkeley High School head football coach and athletic director, Jeffrey L. Cruce, in a defamation lawsuit against the Berkeley County School District. The court’s decision reverses a previous ruling by a state appeals court. Cruce filed the lawsuit in 2017, alleging that a district employee had defamed his character. The initial jury awarded him $200,000 in damages, a decision that was reinstated by the Supreme Court. The district contended that Cruce, as a public official, was not entitled … Read more

Denver Judge Violated State Law by Dismissing Deaf Juror, Court Rules

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Denver, Colorado – A Denver County Court judge has been found to have violated state law by dismissing a hearing-impaired man from serving as a juror due to his disability, according to a ruling by a Denver District Court judge. The decision came in a lawsuit brought by Spencer Kontnik, an attorney specializing in disability law, against the Denver District Court. Despite the violation, the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed on the grounds that the court cannot be held liable for the judge’s decision and that the judge is protected by judicial immunity. Judge Judith Smith … Read more

Kansas City Chiefs Superfan Denied Transfer to Oklahoma for Robbery Trial Due to Prior Escape, Federal Judge Rules

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LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has denied a Tulsa prosecutor’s request to have a Kansas City Chiefs superfan returned to Oklahoma to face charges of robbing a credit union. Xaviar Michael Babudar, also known as the Chiefsaholic, is currently in custody in Oklahoma and awaiting trial on federal indictments of bank robbery and money laundering. The Tulsa District Court had issued a writ of habeas corpus to have Babudar transported to Oklahoma for upcoming court proceedings, but the judge cited Babudar’s previous escape from custody as a reason for denying the request. Babudar, … Read more

Pioneering Patent Case: Lack of Non-Infringing Alternatives in Two-Player Market Proves Essential for Lost Profits Award, Delaware District Court Rules

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Wilmington, Delaware – In a recent ruling, the District of Delaware clarified the evidence required to establish a lack of non-infringing alternatives in a two-player market. The case involved two competitors in the outdoor decking products industry, both selling bamboo decking products. The defendants had been found guilty of patent infringement, and they challenged the damages award of $1.5 million, claiming that the plaintiffs had failed to prove lost profits. The defendants argued that the plaintiffs had not provided customer-specific evidence to establish the absence of non-infringing alternatives. However, the district court rejected this argument, … Read more