Tag Archives: lawsuits

IDAHO: Marriage Lawsuit Filed

And today we add Idaho to the ever-growing list. Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights: Today, four same-sex couples filed a federal lawsuit in Boise challenging Idaho’s laws that prohibit same-sex couples from marrying and refuse to respect the legal marriages of same-sex couples who married in other states. The couples, all from Boise, include university …

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MINNESOTA: Archdiocese Sued Again Over Claims It Shielded Pedophile Priest

Yet another lawsuit has been filed against the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis. Via MPR News: The lawsuit filed Thursday morning by St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson on behalf of a man in his 50s alleges Kern abused him starting when he was 12 years old while Kern was working at Our Lady of Grace in Edina during the …

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HAWAII: Court Rejects Bid To Stop Governor From Signing Marriage Bill

The lawsuit to stop Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie from signing the marriage equality bill has been slapped down. The lawsuit, filed by Rep. Bob McDermott, a Republican, centered on a 1998 ballot issue on same-sex marriage. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and many legislators maintain the meaning of the issue presented on the 1998 ballot gave the State Legislature the power to …

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ILLINOIS: Thomas More Society Concedes Marriage Lawsuits Are Now Moot

Via press release: This morning attorneys with the Thomas More Society secured an agreed Order, entered by Judge Sophia Hall, staying all further proceedings in the lawsuit filed by the Illinois ACLU and Lambda Legal, who filed suit over a year ago, challenging Illinois’ marriage laws as unconstitutional in violation of various provisions of the Illinois Constitution of 1970. Given …

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Lively Hearing Has Concluded

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CANADA: Judge Tosses $33M Suit Of Man Who Blamed Government For Getting HIV

A Canadian judge has tossed out the lawsuit of a man who demanded $33M from the federal and provincial governments for allowing an HIV-positive former prostitute from Thailand into the country. He married the woman after meeting her at the Toronto strip club which was also named in his lawsuit. Justice Carole Brown tossed out Whiteman’s $33-million lawsuit that alleged …

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COLORADO: Marriage Lawsuit Filed

Add Colorado to the list: A Colorado couple is suing to overturn the state ban on same-sex marriage. Dr. Rebecca Brinkman and Margaret Burd filed the suit in Adams County District Court Wednesday, according to attorney Ralph Ogden. The lawsuit alleges that Article II, Section 31 of the Colorado Constitution, which states that “only a union between one man and …

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TUESDAY: Virginia Marriage Hearing

The first hearing on Virginia’s marriage lawsuit will be held on Tuesday in a federal court in Harrisonburg. Lawyers for the two Shenandoah Valley couples who filed the lawsuit are asking a federal judge to certify the case as a class action representing all same-sex couples in the state. Judge Michael Urbanski will hear arguments Tuesday morning. The judge also …

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TEXAS: Marriage Lawsuit Filed

Add Texas to the ever-lengthening list of states facing a marriage lawsuit. Yesterday two gay couples filed there in federal court. Via the San Antonio Express-News: The suit names as plaintiffs two same-sex couples, Mark Pharris and Vic Holmes and Cleopatra De Leon and Nicole Dimetman, but makes it clear the litigation is pursuing rights for a larger group of …

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PENNSYLVANIA: Lesbian Widow Sues State For Equal Tax Treatment

In yet another marriage lawsuit in the Keystone State, a lesbian widow is following the lead of Edith Windsor. A Bethlehem woman who legally married her same-sex partner in 2011 in Connecticut is suing to seek equal tax treatment in the wake of her partner’s death last year. Barbara Baus and Cathy Burgi-Rios, who lived together for more than 15 …

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Sociology Group Files Amicus Brief Against Marriage Bans In Nevada & Hawaii

From their website: The American Sociological Association (ASA) filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit today supporting efforts to overturn gay marriage bans in Nevada and Hawaii and highlighting the overwhelming body of social science research that confirms “children fare just as well” when same-sex or heterosexual parents raise them. The Ninth Circuit …

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UC Pepper Spray Cop Awarded $38K

John Pike, the former University of California Davis cop who earned worldwide infamy for casually pepper-spraying peaceful seated protesters, has been awarded $38,000 for the mental anguish he “suffered” after the incident. The claim “resolves all claims of psychiatric injury specific or due to continuous trauma from applicant’s employment at UC Davis.” The incident that resulted in the $38,055 settlement …

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PENNSYLVANIA: Sims & McCarter Call On Gov. Corbett To Give Up Like Christie

Just in via press release: State Reps. Brian Sims, D-Phila., and Steve McCarter, D-Montgomery/Phila., sponsors of a Pennsylvania marriage-equality bill, called on Gov. Tom Corbett to follow the lead of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in dropping his appeal to legalized same-sex marriages in New Jersey. “Once again, we’re seeing that even conservative Republicans are realizing that all Americans deserve …

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TENNESSEE: Marriage Lawsuit Filed

And now we’re back up to twenty states where marriage lawsuits have been filed. Via press release from the National Center for Lesbian Rights: Today, four legally married same-sex couples who live in Tennessee filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Nashville, challenging Tennessee laws that prevent the state from recognizing their marriages and treating them the same as …

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BRITAIN: “Ex-Gay” Group Sues Again Over “Some People Are Gay” Ad Campaign

A British “ex-gay” group has filed a lawsuit which demands that London’s transit agency remove the recently relaunched advertising campaign by the LGBT rights group Stonewall. Earlier this year the “ex-gay” group lost a different lawsuit after London Mayor Boris Johnson refused to allow them to post a response campaign which proclaimed, “Not Gay! Ex-Gay, Post-Gay and Proud. Get Over …

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MICHIGAN: No Ruling Today, Tentative Trial Date Set For February 25th

Today’s was a summary judgment hearing as both sides had demanded an immediate ruling. Our side for marriage, the state for dismissal. The judge made neither side happy, instead ruling for a trial.

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OREGON: Federal Marriage Suit Filed

Freedom To Marry can add a 20th state to its map of marriage lawsuits. Yesterday a federal suit was filed in Oregon. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene by Portland attorneys Lake Perriguey and Lea Ann Easton on behalf of two gay couples, seeks to have 2004’s Measure 36 ruled unconstitutional. It names Gov. John Kitzhaber and …

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WEDNESDAY: Michigan Marriage Hearing

On Wednesday, US District Judge Bernard Friedman is expected to issue a ruling on whether Michigan’s 2004 ban on same-sex marriages violates the Constitution.  Activists, officials, and same-sex couples are ready to move quickly in the event of a positive ruling. Should he lift the ban on same-sex marriage and decline to issue a stay while it’s being appealed, same-sex …

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UTAH: State Defends Marriage Ban Lawsuit With “Gays Can’t Procreate” Tactic

Three same-sex couples are suing to overturn Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage. In a motion filed on Friday, the state made the old tired argument that keeping the ban is in the best interest of making new babies. Because if gays can marry, straights won’t keep cranking out kids. Or something. Utah has made that decision: marriage is between a …

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CALFORNIA: Protect Marriage Sues To Have Donor Names Stricken From Record

Protect Marriage has filed a lawsuit which demands that the names of their donors during the 2008 Prop 8 campaign be stricken from state records. Because the gays have been mean to them. At a hearing Friday before the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, backers of the hotly contested and now-overturned ballot measure, Proposition 8, sought …

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