All articles tagged with #legal news
Taylor Swift’s longtime attorney appeared in a Los Angeles federal court to argue that The Life of a Showgirl is protected by the First Amendment as an expressive work, seeking to defeat a preliminary injunction in a trademark dispute with Las Vegas performer Maren Wade over branding and merch; a written decision on the injunction is expected soon, with separate motions to dismiss still pending.
A California federal class action accuses Sony Interactive Entertainment of retaining a windfall from IEEPA tariffs and seeks refunds from CBP passed to PS5 buyers after a Supreme Court ruling that the tariffs were unlawful. Plaintiffs contend Sony raised PS5 prices by up to $200 between Aug 2025 and Apr 2026 to offset the tariffs, and that the refunds would amount to a double-dip if kept by Sony; the nationwide class covers PS5 buyers from Aug 1, 2025 to present. The suit was filed May 6, 2026 and mirrors a recent Nintendo-related case.
A $2.25 million class-action settlement resolves claims that Bank of America charged multiple out-of-network balance-inquiry fees during a single visit to FCTI-operated ATMs in 7-Eleven stores between May 1, 2018 and Nov 16, 2021. Eligible accountholders can file claims by June 29, 2026 (proof of purchase required); current accountholders need not file to receive benefits, while former accountholders must file. The final approval hearing is August 21, 2026, and individual payouts are TBD. Details and deadlines, including exclusion/objection options, are on the settlement site; Bank of America has not admitted wrongdoing.
Samsung responded to Dua Lipa’s lawsuit by saying the image on its TV boxes came from a content partner who provided explicit permission for both TV content and retail packaging, and rejected allegations of intentional misuse. Lipa’s lawyers allege her likeness appeared on U.S. Samsung TV packaging throughout 2025 and 2026, seeking $15 million in damages. Samsung says it’s open to a constructive resolution and blames the issue on the partner who supplied the image.
Sony Interactive Entertainment has agreed to a $7.85 million class-action settlement to resolve claims of antitrust violations by monopolizing the PlayStation digital game market. Eligible consumers who purchased digital games via the PlayStation Store between April 1, 2019 and December 31, 2023 (meeting specific voucher and price-change criteria) may receive settlement benefits. The claim deadline is July 2, 2026 (proof of purchase required), with deactivated PSN accounts needing purchase info by August 27, 2026. No claim form is required for some distributions, and a final approval hearing is set for October 15, 2026. Sony has not admitted wrongdoing.
A Northern District of California court granted preliminary approval to a $7.8 million PSN Digital Games class action settlement against Sony, with credits to eligible U.S. PSN purchasers of specific digital titles from 2019–2023. The credits will be awarded automatically via email, and a fairness hearing is set for October 15, 2026 to finalize the deal. The settlement covers game-specific vouchers from retailers and is separate from the ongoing PlayStation You Owe Us suit; eligibility and title list are on the settlement site.
Wells Fargo has agreed to a $56.85 million class action settlement to resolve FCRA claims that it inaccurately reported CARES Act forbearances; California mortgagors with current loans who received CARES Act forbearances may share in the net settlement, with a March 25, 2026 claim/exclusion deadline and a final approval hearing on April 17, 2026.
Unsealed text messages reveal Blake Lively and Taylor Swift trading sharp words about director Justin Baldoni—calling him a “doofus director,” “clown,” and “bitch”—as part of the It Ends With Us lawsuit; Swift compares the situation to a looming horror film, and Lively apologizes for taking up Swift’s time. The disclosures come amid ongoing court battles over Swift’s texts, with Baldoni’s subpoenas and Lively’s own request for Scooter Braun’s PR records shaping the case.
Richard Pitt, a partner at Eversheds Sutherland, faced backlash for blocking a pregnant associate's car in a parking dispute at the Cardiff office. Enraged by the associate taking his reserved spot, Pitt parked his car to trap hers, demanding a written and later an in-person apology. The situation was resolved after Pitt issued an apology for his "regrettable error of judgement."
Attorneys for "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed have filed for a new trial or dismissal of her case, citing prosecutorial misconduct and discovery violations, following the dismissal of Alec Baldwin's related case. They argue that withheld evidence and false statements by the special prosecutor compromised the integrity of the judicial process. Gutierrez Reed, convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 on-set shooting, is currently serving an 18-month sentence.
Lawyers for "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez have filed for a new trial or dismissal of her case, citing severe discovery violations by the State, following the recent dismissal of Alec Baldwin's case. Gutierrez was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March and sentenced to 18 months in prison for the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The judge dismissed Baldwin's case due to discovery violations, which Gutierrez's legal team argues also affected her trial.
"Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed is seeking to overturn her manslaughter conviction, alleging prosecutorial misconduct and suppressed evidence similar to what led to the dismissal of Alec Baldwin's case. Her attorney argues that crucial evidence was withheld, compromising the trial's integrity, and calls for her release and the removal of special prosecutor Kari Morrissey.
The Supreme Court has granted an indefinite stay of execution for Texas death row inmate Ruben Gutierrez, who was scheduled for lethal injection for the 1998 stabbing death of an 85-year-old woman. Gutierrez has long sought DNA testing to prove his innocence, arguing that key evidence from the crime scene has never been tested. The stay will remain in effect until the justices decide whether to review his appeal. Prosecutors argue that the request for DNA testing is a delay tactic and maintain that Gutierrez's conviction is justified.
Lawyers for "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are seeking her release from prison following the dismissal of Alec Baldwin's case due to discovery violations by the state. The motion cites severe misconduct by the special prosecutor, who allegedly suppressed evidence related to live ammunition. Reed was previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Following the dismissal of Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial, the lawyer for Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has filed a motion to dismiss her charges or grant a new trial, citing prosecutorial misconduct and failure to disclose evidence. The motion also calls for the removal of Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey. Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months for her role in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.