New York
Paul McCartney files lawsuit against Sony/ATV over copyright
NEW YORK (AP) - Paul McCartney says he wants his music to get back to where it once belonged.
McCartney filed a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday against Sony/ATV over copyright ownership of the many hit songs he wrote with John Lennon as part of The Beatles.
The copyrights were famously bought by Michael Jackson in 1985 and then fully sold over to Sony/ATV following his death. McCartney has long wanted the copyrights, and the filing says he has sent notice to Sony/ATV saying that he will claim them back under a provision of U.S. copyright law that makes that possible after a certain time.
The first song eligible to be claimed back is "Love Me Do," in October 2018. The rest of the catalog would follow in years after, ending in 2026.
McCartney wants a ruling to say his claiming them doesn't represent a legal breach of any contract or publishing agreement that Sony/ATV could use against him.
"Defendants have attempted to reserve their rights to challenge Paul McCartney's exercise of his termination rights on contractual ground," the filing says.
It adds, "A judicial declaration is necessary and appropriate at this time so that Paul McCartney can rely on quiet, unclouded title to his rights."
Sony/ATV said it had "the highest respect" for McCartney.
"We have collaborated closely with both Sir Paul and the late John Lennon's Estate for decades to protect, preserve and promote the catalog's long-term value," the company said, adding that it was "disappointed" over the filing of the lawsuit, which it said is "unnecessary and premature."
Missouri
Ferguson appeals $3M verdict in police stun gun death
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The city of Ferguson, Missouri, is appealing a federal jury's $3 million award to the family of an unarmed, naked man who died in 2011 after being repeatedly shot with an officer's stun gun.
Attorneys for the St. Louis suburb and ex-officer Brian Kaminski called November's verdict "a miscarriage of justice" and argue in recent federal court filings that the case warrants a new trial.
The defense attorneys cited alleged errors by the trial judge and the lack of proof that Kaminski acted excessively against Jason Moore.
Attorneys for Moore's family say the verdict should stand and accuse Kaminski of inventing a version of the confrontation to justify lethal use of force.
The lawsuit was filed after the 2014 fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a different Ferguson officer.
Maryland
Lawmaker fires aide behind fake online news site
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A Maryland lawmaker has fired a legislative aide who was behind a fake news site that accused Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton of election-rigging.
Media outlets report that Del. David Vogt III said Wednesday he terminated Cameron Harris "on the spot" after learning that Harris was behind ChristianTimesNewspaper.com and a fabricated article that reported the discovery of tens of thousands of "fraudulent Clinton votes" in Ohio. Vogt is a Frederick County Republican.
Vogt says he was shocked when he read a New York Times story outlining Harris' creation of the story.
Harris recently graduated from Davidson College and had worked for the delegate since June. Harris apologized on Twitter to "those disappointed by my actions" and called for a "larger dialogue about how Americans approach the media" and other issues.
West Virginia
Aourt affirms conviction of coal CEO in fatal blast
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A federal appeals court has affirmed the conviction of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship in connection with the deadliest U.S. mine disaster in four decades.
The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals handed down the opinion Thursday, saying it found no reversible errors in trial rulings.
Blankenship's attorneys had argued that jury instructions made it too easy to conclude that he willfully violated safety rules at West Virginia's Upper Big Branch mine before the 2010 explosion that killed 29 men.
He was convicted in 2015 of a misdemeanor charge of conspiring to willfully violate safety standards and sentenced to one year in prison.
Blankenship reported to a California federal prison May 12 to begin serving the sentence.
Pennsylvania
Police: Man assaulted wife after dream that she was cheating
EYNON, Pa. (AP) - Police say a Pennsylvania man tried to strangle his wife after he woke up from a dream in which she was cheating on him.
Archibald police say 49-year-old Conrad Rudalavage had been drinking before he fell asleep, then woke up Saturday convinced that his wife was unfaithful.
Police say he attacked, choked and threatened to kill her until his teenage daughter intervened and tried to call 911. Police say he then attacked the daughter.
Police say the girl was able to escape and run to neighbors for help. The neighbor helped pull Rudalavage off his wife, who was treated for bruises and other injuries to her face, head and neck.
Rudalavage remained jailed on attempted homicide and other charges Thursday. His attorney didn't immediately return a call.
Florida
Suspect arrested in 1990 killing of woman in South Beach apartment
MIAMI (AP) - A suspect in the slaying of a Miami Beach woman more than two decades ago has been arrested.
Media outlets report 53-year-old Dale Ewers faces charges of murder, sexual battery, armed robbery and kidnapping in Mercedes Perez's death. He was arrested in Jamaica in October and extradited Wednesday to Florida.
Police say Ewers shot 34-year-old Perez to death inside her South Beach apartment in 1990 and raped her friend.
The case went unsolved for years until police say DNA evidence from the crime scene was tested in 2012, linking Ewers to Perez's death. At that time, Ewers was living in Jamaica after having been deported there following a 2008 arrest on unrelated charges in Massachusetts.
The lengthy extradition process held up his arrest.
It's unclear if Ewers has an attorney.
Published: Fri, Jan 20, 2017
