Florida: Home Depot to pay $3 million in punitive damages
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A South Florida judge has ordered Atlanta-based home improvement retailer Home Depot Inc. to pay $3 million in punitive damages for stealing an invention.
Calling the company callous and arrogant, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hurley ruled Monday that Home Depot pushed Michael Powell away “for their own economic benefit.”
A Home Depot spokesman said the company disagreed with the ruling and is considering an appeal.
Powell had allowed the company to test his invention — a saw guard to keep employees from slicing off their fingers while cutting wood. He later asked for $2,000 for each of the devices.
Instead, he said, the company dispatched workers to duplicate his idea.
A jury in March said the company should pay Powell $15 million for his “Safe Hands” gadget found in stores nationwide.
Colorado: Ex-manager of The Fray wins round in court
DENVER (AP) — A federal judge agreed Monday that a lawyer for Denver-based band The Fray might face liability in the band’s ongoing court battle with a former manager.
The band alleges its former manager, Gregg Latterman, failed to disclose that his company obtained ownership to a portion of the band’s music when a publishing agreement was signed in 2005.
In a hearing Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Boyd Boland agreed to consider Latterman’s claim that the band’s lawyer, J. Reid Hunter of New York, was aware of the publishing agreement and failed to inform the band. Hunter didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
The band’s hits include 2006’s “How to Save a Life” and 2009’s “You Found Me.”
Latterman filed counterclaims alleging breach of contract. He says The Fray owes his company more than $750,000 in commission and expenses.
Latterman claims The Fray tried to end his management contract early and pressured him to accept concessions, including smaller commissions, as the band’s popularity grew.
A settlement conference is scheduled for May 19.
Ohio: Judge—Review U.S. government’s terror probe
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A judge says the U.S. government must show it had probable cause in 2006 to freeze the assets of an Ohio-based charity it suspects of having ties to the militant Islamic group Hamas (hah-MAHS’).
U.S. District Judge James Carr on Monday ordered a post hoc review of the government’s action. He previously called the government’s action unconstitutional and halted aspects of its investigation. He says an after-the-fact review of probable cause is atypical but necessary in an unusual case.
He declined to speculate what would happen if the government failed to show probable cause.
Officials with KindHearts for Charitable Humanitarian Development in Toledo have denied any terror group connection.
The judge ruled in August the Department of the Treasury should get permission before freezing an organization’s funds under terror financing laws.
Kansas: Hutchinson church sued by parent church
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A church in Hutchinson is being sued by its parent church over issues including money, property and independence.
A hearing is scheduled Thursday in Reno County District Court in a lawsuit filed by African Methodist Episcopal Church. The parent church is seeking a temporary restraining order against the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Hutchinson Inc. and some church leaders.
The parent church wants to prevent the Hutchinson church from access to church-related bank accounts, and from doing anything with its Hutchinson property.
The Hutchinson News reports that the conflict centers on actions by the local congregation that indicates the church does not believe it is under the control of national AME.
Minnesota: 3 couples sue to challenge state gay marriage ban
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three gay couples are challenging a Minnesota law that bans same-sex marriages and prohibits the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.
The couples say the state is violating what they say is their constitutional right to marry. They’re filing their lawsuit Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court.
They say the 1997 Defense of Marriage Act was passed in violation of the “single subject” rule of the Minnesota Constitution and should be thrown out. They’re also seeking a court order to compel the state to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The Minnesota Supreme Court held in 1971 that state law prohibits marriages between same-sex partners. The couples are seeking to overturn that.
Massachusetts: Music teacher indicted on charge of rape
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — A former Leicester Middle School music teacher has been indicted on sexual assault charges involving a student.
David Gilman pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Superior Court to three counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 and one count of aggravated rape of a child.
The Telegram & Gazette reports that he was ordered to stay away from the alleged victim and have no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16, surrender his teacher certificate and stay in the state.
The 44-year-old Brookfield man was charged in December with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old student. He allegedly chatted online with the girl, and at one point told her he would get a divorce.
His lawyer has said the facts will come out in court.
