Tag Archives: lawsuits

Four weeks ago in New Orleans, federal Judge Martin Feldman surprised both sides when he declared that he would not merely consider the out-of-state marriage recognition case before him, but intended to rule on Louisiana’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage as well. Yesterday Feldman issued an order declining any further briefs or arguments on either issue. He did not say …

Via the Orlando Sentinel: Three judges in separate cases across Florida could rule any day on whether to overturn Florida’s ban on gay marriage. Each case deals with different set of couples who want to get married in different counties, but the basic question is the same: Does Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage violate an individual’s right under the U.S. …

The Miami Herald has posted the below report on yesterday’s hearing of the marriage lawsuit filed by two Key West bartenders against the Monroe County Clerk. The plaintiffs and hate group leader Mat Staver appear in the clip.

Last week the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the overturn of Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage. In Colorado, the Boulder County Clerk immediately began issuing same-sex marriage licenses, declaring that in her opinion, the Tenth Circuit’s ruling was binding in her state. And yesterday, six gay couples filed another marriage suit in Denver. In response to the new suit …

GOP North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem today filed a motion seeking the dismissal of the marriage equality lawsuit filed in late May. The state attorney general’s office filed the motion late Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Fargo. North Dakota Solicitor General Doug Bahr argues in court documents that states have the right to define and regulate marriage. “Nothing …

Via Equality Florida: Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist has filed an amicus brief today in support of the marriage equality lawsuit Pareto v. Ruvin, which is set for a hearing on July 2 before Judge Sarah Zabel in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Miami. Judge Zabel will hear from attorneys who filed a lawsuit in January on behalf of …

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has filed motions to intervene on behalf of the state in marriage equality lawsuits filed against Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Via Steve Rothaus at the Miami Herald: Allen Winsor, the state’s solicitor general, states in the motions filed in local courts that Florida has a legitimate interest in intervening in the cases since they represent …

Today a federal judge will hear arguments in a lawsuit which demands that Louisiana recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. Attorneys for six same-sex couples in Louisiana and the advocacy group Forum for Equality Louisiana Inc. sued the state last year. They argue that Louisiana must recognize their unions under the Windsor decision. Attorneys for Louisiana disagree, saying that in its Windsor …

NOM chairman John Eastman says the IRS has agreed to pay $50K for “leaking” their donor list to an activist who turned it over to the Human Rights Campaign. “It has been a long and arduous process to hold the IRS accountable for their illegal release of our confidential tax return and donor list, which was ultimately given to our …

The Brooklyn gay man who was brutally beaten by a gang of Hasidic thugs has filed a civil lawsuit against his attackers. Taj Patterson, 22, suffered a fractured eye socket, torn retina and multiple contusions from the Dec. 1 beatdown in Williamsburg by as many as a dozen ultra-Orthodox vigilantes who were looking for a suspect who had vandalized cars …

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackely has filed a motion to dismiss the marriage equality suit filed by three local couples including Nancy Robrahn, 68, and Jennie Rosenkranz, 72, (above) who were married after 27 years together in an April ceremony officiated by the mayor of Minneapolis. According to the state, the plaintiffs have not presented “any plausible claim” of …

The two lawsuits to overturn Colorado’s ban on same-sex marriage got their first hearing yesterday in a state court. The suits were filed separately but were merged earlier this year. The judge hearing the case mocked the state’s argument that Colorado’s ban on same-sex marriage protects the “nature of marriage” and the ability to produce children. Adams County District Court …

Michael Musto reports at Out Magazine: Promoter Brandon Voss tells me he’s being sued by Heritage of Pride for promoting “NYC Pride” clubs events (the bashes are for Matinee and Supreme Festival) since HOP has trademarked that name. An emergency injunction was issued, and they’re suing for damages. (One of the side issues is apparently that Azealia Banks is performing …

St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson has testified that he’s not sure that he has always known that child molestation is a crime. Carlson was deposed regarding abuses that took place while he was a bishop in Minnesota. During the deposition taken last month, attorney Jeff Anderson asked Carlson whether he knew it was a crime for an adult to engage …

The ACLU today filed what (I think) is Alabama’s fourth marriage-related lawsuit. Via press release: The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit today challenging Alabama’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of April and Ginger Aaron-Brush of Birmingham. The couple was wed in Massachusetts but their marriage …

As expected, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen today filed a same-sex marriage notice of appeal with the Seventh Circuit Court. Several county clerks in Wisconsin have been issuing marriage licenses since the ban was struck down on Friday by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb, but other county clerks say they are waiting for clarification from the state. Van Hollen …

Famed/notorious attorney Gloria Allred rode in yesterday’s Los Angeles Pride parade bearing a purposely misspelled sign which references a lawsuit she filed on Friday. A lawsuit filed Friday against the Los Angeles Unified School District by a former student alleges administrators failed to intervene when he was bullied and taunted for months last year about his sexuality. The lawsuit, filed …

Via the Associated Press: Seven couples have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the ban on same-sex marriage in North Dakota, the last remaining state without a court challenge. The clerk of the court confirmed that the lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Fargo. It challenges both North Dakota’s constitutional ban on gay marriage and its refusal to …

“If you’re looking for political leadership, skip the White House and head straight for Florida. There, Attorney General Pam Bondi is more than making up for the vacuum of courage in D.C. and governor’s mansions across the country with a powerful defense of democracy. Florida’s chief law enforcer seems to have a better grasp on her job than the man …