Tag Archives: lawsuits

INDIANA: Marriage Case Begins Tomorrow

One of Indiana’s pending marriage equality cases opens tomorrow. Attorneys will ask the court to compel Indiana to continue to recognize the marriage of a lesbian couple from Munster, as well as to extend the freedom to marry to all Indiana same-sex couples. Friday’s arguments are the latest chapter in a federal lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal in March in …

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OHIO: Gay Couples File First Challenge To State’s Ban On Same-Sex Marriage

Two weeks ago a federal judge ordered Ohio to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. That ruling is being appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court. Today one of the plaintiffs in that case joined in filing Ohio’s first full-on challenge to that state’s constitutional ban. With the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, the state joins 14 others where …

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PENNSYLVANIA: State Asks Court To Dismiss Lesbian Widow’s Inheritance Suit

In a case similar to the one won by Edith Windsor, yesterday the state of Pennsylvania asked a county judge to dismiss an inheritance tax lawsuit brought by a lesbian widow. Barbara Baus last October sued the commonwealth, its Department of Revenue and Secretary of Revenue Daniel Meuser. She wed her longtime partner, Catherine Burgi-Rios, in 2011 in Connecticut, but …

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MICHIGAN: Sixth Circuit Court Denies AG’s Request For En Banc Marriage Review

The Detroit Free Press reports: The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s motion to have a full bench hear his appeal in Michigan’s landmark gay marriage case. Schuette had petitioned for an “en banc” hearing — which means full bench — instead of the standard three-judge panel, but the court determined Monday evening …

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FLORIDA: Liberty Counsel Denied Motion To Intervene In Same-Sex Marriage Suits

The Liberty Counsel has been denied in their motion to intervene in two of Florida’s same-sex marriage lawsuits, one of which was filed by the ACLU. U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle on Thursday denied the request by the Florida Family Policy Council, which is seeking to preserve the constitutional ban, but said the group could file amicus briefs on …

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NORTH CAROLINA: Christian Clergy File Challenge To Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Via press release from the Campaign For Southern Equality: This morning a federal challenge to Amendment One was filed in the Western District of North Carolina on behalf of the United Church of Christ (UCC) as a national denomination, clergy from across faith traditions and same-sex couples. The case challenges the constitutionality of marriage laws in North Carolina – including …

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ALASKA: State Supreme Court Rules That Tax Code Discriminates Against Gays

The Alaska Supreme Court today ruled that it’s unconstitutional to deny property tax exemptions to same-sex couples. Via press release from the ACLU: The rules were challenged by the ACLU of Alaska, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on behalf of three couples who were denied full access to a $150,000 property tax exemption that Alaska …

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Quote Of The Day – Bryan Singer

“The allegations against me are outrageous, vicious and completely false. I do not want these fictitious claims to divert ANY attention from ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past.’ This fantastic film is a labor of love and one of the greatest experiences of my career. So, out of respect to all of the extraordinary contributions from the incredibly talented actors and …

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SOUTH DAKOTA: Marriage Suit Coming

South Dakota’s first marriage equality lawsuit is on the way. Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges will officiate at the weekend marriage of a lesbian couple from South Dakota as the women prepare to take part in a groundbreaking lawsuit to force their home state to recognize their union. The couple, Nancy Robrahn, 68, and Jennie Rosenkranz, 72, say that along with …

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NOM Chairman: Oregon Is Colluding With Gay Activists To Block Out Opponents

“What is occurring in Oregon is the plaintiffs are colluding with the government to get a pre-ordained result that fits with their political agenda notwithstanding the fact that the voters of Oregon voted overwhelmingly to define marriage as one man and one woman. Judge Michael McShane held a hearing in Oregon yesterday where everybody participating–two sets of plaintiffs and two …

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OREGON: Marriage Case Begins Today

At 1:30PM today local time, openly gay federal Judge Michael McShane will hear opening arguments in Oregon’s marriage equality case. But there won’t be any actual arguing, because both the state and the plaintiffs agree that the gay marriage ban should be overturned. Here’s what could happen: McShane says he won’t rule on the case itself until at least after …

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BROOKLYN: Bar Owner Sues Landlord For Lease Clause Banning Gay Bars

A bar owner in Greenpoint, Brooklyn is suing his landlord because his lease specifically bans him from the turning his business into a gay bar. John McGillion says he wants to transform Lulu’s to take advantage of a growing gay and lesbian community in the neighborhood. But there’s just one problem: his lease specifically prohibits McGillion from running a gay …

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WISCONSIN: Second Marriage Suit Filed

A Wisconsin lesbian couple has filed a marriage equality lawsuit directly with the state Supreme Court. According to court documents, plaintiffs Katherine and Linda Halopka-Ivery of Milwaukee County said the case should go directly to the Supreme Court because the issue of the constitutionality of the ban is one of great public interest (or “publici juris”). This means the Supreme …

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OREGON: An Openly Gay Federal Judge Will Hear Next Week’s Marriage Case

Openly gay US District Court Judge Michael J. McShane will hear next week’s marriage equality case in Oregon. Unlike the five federal judges who have struck down laws prohibiting same-sex marriages in other states in recent months, McShane won’t have anyone in the courtroom defending Oregon’s constitutional ban when he holds oral arguments Wednesday. And, unlike the other judges, McShane …

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ARKANSAS: Judge Says He’ll Rule On Marriage Equality Suit In Two Weeks

After hearing a marriage equality case, yesterday an Arkansas state judge said that he’ll issue his ruling in two weeks. Colin Jorgensen, an assistant attorney general arguing for the state, said Amendment 83, the anti-gay marriage measure, does not conflict with the state Constitution. Jorgenson said that at no point in the state’s history has an amendment been knocked down …

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Aretha Franklin To File $10M Lawsuit Over Fake Patti Labelle Fight Story

Aretha Franklin is furious about a story posted on an internet satire site and says she will file a $10M lawsuit. Via the Detroit News: The News Nerd story claimed that LaBelle was “arrested for assault and battery” after she attacked Franklin with “a Mayweather style right and left” at a March 20 concert in Atlanta. The fictional brawl happened …

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“Ex-Gay” Coffee: $15 Per Bitter Bag

The SPLC is suing the “ex-gay” Jewish group JONAH for defrauding its clients by promising to cure them. Good As You tips us that JONAH’s legal group is raising money by selling “Defense Fund Coffee” at  $15 per 12oz bag. Maggie Gallagher is their chairwoman.

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X-Men Director Bryan Singer Accused Of Molesting Teen Boy In The Late 90s

X-Men director Bryan Singer is being sued by a man who alleges that Singer drugged and molested him in the late 90s.  Singer’s accuser was 17 at the time. The lawsuit – filed weeks before the release of Singer’s upcoming X-Men: Days of Future Past – alleges the 48-year-old used his influence as a Hollywood insider, as well as a …

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TODAY: Tenth Circuit Court Of Appeals Hears Oklahoma Marriage Equality Suit

The longest-pending marriage equality lawsuit in the nation gets its hearing today before the Tenth Circuit Court.  Here’s how it got started ten years ago: On November 3, 2004, private lawyers in Tulsa filed a federal lawsuit (formerly, Bishop v. United States) in the 10th Circuit on behalf of two same-sex couples seeking an injunction against the United States for …

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ARKANSAS: Marriage Hearing Today

An Arkansas state judge will hear marriage equality arguments today. More than three dozen people are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging Arkansas’ voter-approved ban on gay marriage. Circuit Judge Chris Piazza is to preside over the hearing at 1 p.m. Thursday in Little Rock. Late last year, Piazza refused to grant a motion by the state that sought …

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