Pavarotti Widow Sues 2 Friends

Julie Anne Smith labeled church a 'cult'

(NEWSER) - An Oregon church is suing a woman who called the place a "cult" in a Google review. The defamation suit is seeking $500,000 after Julie Anne Smith allegedly accused the "creepy" church of "indoctrination," reports the Raw Story . "Don’t waste your precious lives and relationships being held emotionally/spiritually captive by this so-called church," Smith wrote, alleging that the pastor knew of a sex offender in the church but had done nothing to protect kids. More»

Texan arrested after car broke down

(NEWSER) - First she got a ticket, then she was arrested, and as a sheriff's deputy drove her to prison, she claims she was subjected to Rush Limbaugh's "derogatory comments about black people" on the radio. All this and more prompted a Texas woman to sue the deputy and the county for a laundry list of items, including false imprisonment, assault and battery, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, the Houston Chronicle reports. More»

Slate column enrages former insurance execs

(NEWSER) - Two former execs at an insurance firm that paid out $850 million to settle allegations of shady dealing brought by Eliot Spitzer in his days as a crusading attorney general are now suing the former governor for libel. The former Marsh & McLennan execs, who claim Spitzer libeled them in a recent column for Slate entitled "They Still Don't Get It," are seeking $90 million in damages, Reuters reports. More»

He's just getting cartoon more publicity, argues newspaper lawyer

(NEWSER) - South African President Jacob Zuma is suing a political cartoonist, the former editor-in-chief of the Johannesburg Sunday Times, and Avusa Media for showing him about to rape a blindfolded woman representing justice. The husband of multiple wives is seeking $730,000 for humiliation, degradation, and damage to his reputation. The cartoon appeared 2 years ago when Zuma was facing corruption charges, which were dropped. It was intended to damage his reputation and dignity, said a statement by Zuma filed in court. It indicated he was abusing the justice system "in as vile, degrading and violent a way as the raping of a woman," the statement added. More»

(NEWSER) - A Manhattan judge has forced Google to reveal the identity of an anonymous blogger who called model Liskula Cohen a "40-something" "skank," reports Canada.com. In the precedent-setting ruling, Cohen, 37, convinced the court to unmask the writer so she could sue for defamation; when Google handed over the blogger's email address, Cohen recognized a personal acquaintance. More»