Afternoon Briefs: Giuliani, Powell sued by another voting machine company; Cooley ups its bonuses
Voting machine company sues Fox News, lawyers
Voting machine company Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit Thursday against Fox News, three of its TV personalities, and lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell. The suit claims that the defendants made Smartmatic the villain in a disinformation campaign claiming that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Another voting machine company, Dominion Voting Systems, has also sued Giuliani and Powell for claiming that its machines switched votes. Powell called the latest suit “just another political maneuver motivated by the radical left that has no basis in fact or law.” (CNN, the New York Times)
Afternoon Briefs: DOJ drops suit over Yale admissions process; 7th Circuit allows courthouse Nativity scene
DOJ drops suit accusing Yale of bias against Asian, white applicants
The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday dropped a lawsuit accusing Yale University of racially discriminating against many Asian and white applicants by considering race at multiple stages of its admissions process. The suit had been filed by the Trump administration in October. The DOJ cited legal developments as a factor in deciding to drop the suit, including a federal appeals decision upholding Harvard University’s use of race in admissions. Students for Fair Admissions, a nonprofit group and the plaintiff in the Harvard case, plans to file its own suit against Yale. (The New York Times, the Washington Post)
Afternoon Briefs: Governor seeks Sidney Powell s disbarment; ex-Davis Polk associate avoids sanctions abajournal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from abajournal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Afternoon Briefs: Lawyer regrets pepper-spray incident; ex-FBI lawyer avoids prison
Lawyer expresses regret after he is pepper-sprayed by mayor
A lawyer who was pepper-sprayed by the mayor of Portland, Oregon, has expressed regret for the incident that provoked the response. Mayor Ted Wheeler had pepper-sprayed Cary Cadonau after the lawyer confronted the mayor in a restaurant parking lot and accused him of failing to practice social distancing while dining outdoors with a companion. The mayor told police that Cadonau wasn’t wearing a mask when he got within a foot or two of him, and he feared for his safety. Cadonau said he is “remorseful for my decision to confront Mayor Wheeler,” and he is sorry that the mayor felt the need to use pepper spray. Cadonau also apologized to his law partners at Brownstein Rask. Wheeler said he appreciated the apology, and he considers the matter closed. (Law360, the Oregonian)
Afternoon Briefs: BigLaw partner faces architect s suit; Weinstein accusers will receive compensation abajournal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from abajournal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.