Tag Archives: lawsuits

Via the Charlotte Observer: The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) and the Alliance of Baptists have made it official that they are joining as plaintiffs in a Federal District Court lawsuit opposing North Carolina’s same-sex marriage ban. The United Church of Christ filed the lawsuit in April, challenging North Carolina’s state ban on same sex marriage. The suit is …

Via Raw Story: Lawyers claim the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, should not be held liable for sexual abuse allegedly committed by a priest because he wasn’t officially “on duty” when he molested a teenage boy. Chris Naples claimed Rev. Terence McAlinden, who once headed the diocese’s youth group, sexually abused him during church-sponsored trips to Delaware in the 1980s. …

Via the Associated Press: The attorney general of Florida says in court documents that recognizing same sex marriages performed in other states would “impose significant public harm.” Attorney General Pam Bondi has filed a response that asks a federal judge to throw out the lawsuit. Bondi’s office says the state has a legitimate interest in defining a marriage as between …

North Dakota is about to lose its status as the only state without a marriage ban challenge. “There will be a case filed challenging North Dakota’s same-sex marriage ban,” says Joshua Newville, a Minneapolis-based civil rights attorney who filed a suit Thursday against South Dakota’s ban on behalf of same-sex couples there. Newville is in talks with advocates and attorneys …

Via the Associated Press: Six couples filed a federal lawsuit Thursday seeking to block South Dakota’s gay marriage ban, leaving North Dakota as the only state in the country with an unchallenged law prohibiting same-sex weddings. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has said he’s obligated by law to defend both the state constitution and state statutes. He’s among the …

Via press release: In an effort to change Alaska’s definition of marriage, five same-sex couples have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Gov. Sean Parnell and other state officials. The lawsuit claims that an amendment added to the Alaska Constitution in 1998, defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, violates their due process and equal …

Tomorrow the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear Virginia’s marriage equality case. A three-judge panel randomly selected from the 16-member appeals court will hear arguments from lawyers for both sides. The Richmond-based 4th Circuit, once widely considered the most conservative appeals court in the country, has become more moderate with the addition of five appointees by President Barack Obama. …

Peter LaBarbera has posted a letter from his lawyer in which he threatens to sue Salon and writer Kate Geiselman because she quoted him as saying, “Are you effing kidding?” And since LaBarbera doesn’t curse, that quote constitutes defamation meant to expose him to “public hatred, contempt, ridicule, shame or disgrace.” Seriously. “By your false and defamatory statements you have …

“We respect the Court’s decision, but, in keeping with the Attorney General’s obligation to defend the state constitution, we will appeal. We will request that Judge Piazza issue a stay of his ruling so as not to create confusion or uncertainty about the law while the Supreme Court considers the matter.” – Spokesman for Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, who …

Via the Arkansas Times: Circuit Judge Chris Piazza today invalidated the Arkansas ban on same-sex marriage and recognition of marriages legally entered by same-sex couples in other states. An appeal is expected. The judge did not stay his ruling, though the state probably can be expected to request a stay. The order came after county clerks ofices closed for the …

Attorneys for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear have filed a brief which claims that same-sex marriage must remain illegal otherwise straight people will have fewer babies. And that will cost Kentucky lots of money. Appealing a federal judge’s decision that the state’s ban violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law, Beshear’s hired counsel say Kentucky has a legitimate …

Via the New York Daily News: Kenny Kramer – the inspiration for Kramer on “Seinfeld” – has filed a $1 million defamation suit against a former writer on the sitcom for defaming him and his tour business in a new book. The suit says Fred Stoller, 55, smeared Kramer by claiming his tour guides would yell the famous Seinfeld line …

Yesterday Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a brief with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in defense of that state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Notably missing from Shuette’s brief is any mention of debunked social researcher Mark Regnerus, who was brutally slapped down by the judge who ultimately overturned the ban. While Shuette makes the usual tired procreation arguments, …

In February, the Southern Poverty Law Center filed Alabama’s first marriage equality lawsuit with a demand that the state recognize out-of-state marriages. Today a Mobile law firm filed a suit which demands that a local lesbian couple be allowed to jointly register as the legal parents of their son. Cari Searcy and Kimberly McKeand have been in a committed relationship …

Oral arguments in Idaho’s same-sex marriage lawsuit took place yesterday and the judge promised to issue a ruling soon. U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale told attorneys for four couples Monday that the emotional case raised lots of questions, and that she would get a ruling out in the “relatively near future.” She declined to give a specific date, and …

Remember the guy who sued Apple last year because his computer didn’t block him from accessing the porn which ruined his marriage? He’s back. Via the Broward New Times: Enter Chris Sevier, “a former Judge Advocate and combat veteran” who filed a motion to intervene on the Florida gay marriage case on behalf of “other minority sexual orientation groups.” In …

The federal government has filed a motion seeking the summary dismissal of NOM’s lawsuit against the IRS. NOM claims that their donor list was illegally leaked to the Human Rights Campaign.  (Via Equality Case Files)

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has filed an objection to NOM’s demand to intervene in that state’s marriage equality case, calling it an “unreasonable” delaying tactic. Rosenblum, who has joined plaintiffs in urging the judge to overturn Oregon’s ban on same-sex marriage, charged that the anti-gay marriage group had no reasonable basis for waiting so long before attempting to intervene …

Idaho’s marriage equality case begins on Monday in federal court. Four Boise-based same-sex couples are challenging Idaho’s constitutional ban after Ada County refused to issue marriage certificates or recognize marriages from other states. Similar bans in other states, including Utah’s, have recently been struck down in district-level federal courts and are under appeal. The Idaho suit was filed in November …

An Arkansas judge said yesterday that he will issue his marriage equality ruling by next Friday at the latest. Via the Washington Blade: In a notice dated May 1 to attorneys in the case, Summer McCoy, a law clerk for the Pulaski County Circuit Court, says Judge Chris Piazza will take an addition week to consider the issue, then make …