Kung Fu Panda Lawsuit

Boston illustrator sues DreamWorks for stealing his idea.

Arenas Gets Served

From Yahoo Sports:

Orlando guard Gilbert Arenas was served with child support and custody papers as he left the court during halftime of the Magic’s loss to Miami on Thursday night. The court documents, obtained by The Associated Press, were a California petition filed by Laura Mendoza Govan. She identified herself as his ex-girlfriend in the documents.

The petition seeks custody and child support for three children that Govan says Arenas fathered and has since “financially cut off.” She is also seeking support for another unborn child, as well as monthly support for the other children. In the petition, she is seeking $109,000 in monthly support payments from Arenas and $1.3 million annually.

At least he still posted good numbers that night.

More Claims for Mayweather to Parry

Not a fun 2011 for Floyd Mayweather. What's the legal analogue to a clinch?

Merriman v. Laettner

Christian Laettner's real estate endeavors have turned out more like his NBA career; not this.

Courtney Love Twitter Lawsuit

"She'll say anything."

Country Roads

I love my home state of West Virginia. I love the beautiful hills, the wonderful people and, of course, the Sweet 16-bound Moutaineers. But I cannot ignore a troubling aspect that continues to plague the state's reputation: its economy and general business environment. A recent study ranked the Mountain State dead last in lawsuit environment:

A study conducted by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform rates West Virginia as having the nation’s worst lawsuit climate in the United States. . . . The Lawsuit Climate 2010: Ranking the States survey measures how a state’s legal climate affects businesses. Survey respondents were made up of general counsels and senior attorneys or executives in companies with annual revenues of at least $100 million. According to the report, West Virginia was rated last in each of ten elements used to determine a state’s overall position.

So apart from being a lawyer's paradise, businesses tend to eschew locating within the state. And the large companies that have set up shop seem to experience stagnate growth relative to their peers. Various reasons have been advanced to explain why this is the case, including a lack of competitive pay for executives, a relatively antiquated corporate governance structure and now, as noted, the need for tort reform. In any case, it is tough to know how to enact sweeping and meaningful change.

Lady Gaga and Boys

I vaguely recall Lady GaGa once intimating that any new boyfriends who come into her life would be in for a bumpy ride. Well, apparently one fell off and is suing GaGa for $35 Million:

Lady GaGa's former songwriter, music producer and also ex-boyfriend . . . Rob Fusari says GaGa squeezed him out of her career after he co-wrote some of her songs, came up with her stage name and helped her get a record deal. Fusari acknowledges getting checks for more than $600,000 from . . . GaGa, but says that isn't his full share.

In any case, I take it that this amount of money is a drop in the bucket for her. Check this out for more.