Complex Lit Blog

Judicial Notice of Internet Evidence — Judicial Notice of Non-Governmental Internet Publications Limited to Their Existence — Statements Not Considered for Their Truth

Platt v. Bd. of Comm’rs on Grievances and Discipline, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 131423 (S.D. Ohio Sept. 26, 2016): This matter is before the Court upon Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. 50) and Defendants' Cross Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Doc. 56). These motions have been fully briefed. (Docs. 55, 6 ...

YouTube Admissibility — Video of Defendant with a Gun That, Based on Other Evidence, the Jury Could Reasonably Infer Was the Murder Weapon Was Relevant and Not Overly Prejudicial Even If Jury Concluded It Wasn’t the Murder Weapon

People v. Acosta, 2016 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 7011 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 26, 2016): Defendant Anthony Paul Acosta shot David Slape once in the head and killed him for Slape's gold chain. Convicted of murder and robbery and sentenced to life without possibility of parole, defendant appeals. He contends: (1) the trial court e ...

People v. Acosta, 2016 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 7011 (Cal. Ct. App. Sept. 26, 2016): Defendant Anthony Paul Acosta shot David Slape once in the head and killed him for Slape's gold chain. Convicted of murder and robbery and sentenced …

Rule 37 Sanctions — Repeated Efforts to Interfere with and Delay Discovery, Including Disregard of Court Order Directing Testimony at Deposition = Evidence of Bad Faith Sufficient to Support Default Judgment

Steffen v. Menhise (In re Steffen), 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 16329 (11th Cir. Sept. 6, 2016): Terri Steffen, proceeding pro se in these three consolidated appeals, appeals the district court's order affirming the bankruptcy court's entry of default judgment in an adversary action by the Government and the district court&# ...

Must Federal Courts Give Preclusive Effect to Unreviewed Determinations of Law Made by State Administrative Agencies? — Circuit Split — (Factual Findings Are Preclusive)

Buttaro v. City of New York, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125965 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 15, 2016): 1.Analysis 1.1. Collateral Estoppel Defendants argue that the ALJ's "factual determinations with respect to plaintiff's misconduct are afforded preclusive effect," and that as a result, ...

Buttaro v. City of New York, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125965 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 15, 2016): 1.Analysis 1.1. Collateral Estoppel Defendants argue that the ALJ's "factual determinations with respect to plaintiff's misconduct are afforded preclusive effect," and that as a result,…

RICO: Corp. + 2 Officers + 3 Software Consultants + PR Firm ≠ Enterprise — Outsiders Lack Common Purpose & Corp. Indistinct from Officers — Even If No Reliance Needed in Omissions Case, Prox. Cause Still Essential

Ray v. Spirit Airlines, Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 16269 (11th Cir. Sept. 2, 2016): In this civil RICO case, plaintiffs seek to represent a class of customers claiming that Spirit Airlines, Inc. ("Spirit") engaged in an elaborate criminal enterprise involving the use of mail and wire fraud. The complaint specifically ...

Ray v. Spirit Airlines, Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 16269 (11th Cir. Sept. 2, 2016): In this civil RICO case, plaintiffs seek to represent a class of customers claiming that Spirit Airlines, Inc. ("Spirit") engaged in an elaborate criminal enterprise …

Internet Evidence: Whois.com Printout ID’ing Website Owner Is Hearsay But OK on Summary Judgment — Right to SJ Must Be Proved Even if No Opp — Default Alone Insufficient for Default Judgment

Black Point Marine, LLC v. Black Fin Yacht Corp., 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 127699 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 20, 2016): Introduction The original Black Fin Yacht Corporation ("Original-BFYC") was a boat manufacturing company that dissolved and was reestablished ("Old-BFYC"). Old-BFYC had an established t ...

Black Point Marine, LLC v. Black Fin Yacht Corp., 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 127699 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 20, 2016): Introduction The original Black Fin Yacht Corporation ("Original-BFYC") was a boat manufacturing company that dissolved and was reestablished ("Old-BFYC"). Old-BFYC had…

Is Harassing Conduct That Occurs Outside the Workplace Admissible to Prove a Hostile Work Environment under Title VII? — Circuit Split

Griggs v. SEPTA, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 98498 (E.D. Pa. July 28, 2016): 21 Among other issues, the Court would appreciate briefing on the issue of whether allegedly harassing conduct that occurs outside the workplace (such as Diggs's alleged harassment of Plaintiff in her home) is admissible to prove [*28] hostile wor ...

Griggs v. SEPTA, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 98498 (E.D. Pa. July 28, 2016): 21 Among other issues, the Court would appreciate briefing on the issue of whether allegedly harassing conduct that occurs outside the workplace (such as Diggs's alleged harassment …

Spoliation — Bad Faith Still Required for Spoliation of Tangible Evidence (3d Cir.) — Destruction of Evidence during Pendency of Case without Reference to Case and for Purpose of Avoiding Storage Costs Doesn’t Evidence Bad Faith or ≠ Spoliation

Orologio of Short Hills Inc. v. Swatch Grp. (U.S.) Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 11611 (3d Cir. June 24, 2016): Appellants Orologio of Short Hills and Orologio International Ltd. (collectively, "Orologio") seek reversal of the District Court's order (1) granting summary judgment to Appellee Swatch Group on Orologio's cl ...

RICO: Agreeing to Bribe Blagojevich Has Natural Ending Point, No Continuity — Mere Association with Him ≠ Bigger Conspiracy — Good Quotes (“Jury Was Entitled to Put 2 & 2 Together”) — Adverse Inference for Asserting 5th Even If Later Testify

Empress Casino Joliet Corp. v. Balmoral Racing Club, Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 14057 (7th Cir. Aug. 2, 2016): This appeal pits casinos against racetracks in our circuit's latest encounter with the Blagojevich corruption scandal in Illinois. In 2008, John Johnston, a horse racetrack executive, promised a $100,000 campaign ...

Empress Casino Joliet Corp. v. Balmoral Racing Club, Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 14057 (7th Cir. Aug. 2, 2016): This appeal pits casinos against racetracks in our circuit's latest encounter with the Blagojevich corruption scandal in Illinois. In 2008, John …

Error to Take Judicial Notice of Wikipedia Page — RICO: Can’t Infer Fraudulent Intent from Plaintiff’s Sending Defendants Expert Report Saying Defendants Were Committing Fraud & They Continued — Efficacy of Attaching Expert Report to Complaint

Bitton v. Gencor Nutrientes, Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 11822 (9th Cir. June 28, 016): Michael Bitton, Brian O'Toole, and Robert Sokolove (collectively, "Plaintiffs") appeal the dismissal with prejudice of their putative class action complaint against Gencor Nutrients, Inc., and GE Nutrients, Inc. ("Gencor"); D ...

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Judicial Notice of Internet Evidence — Judicial Notice of Non-Governmental Internet Publications Limited to Their Existence — Statements Not Considered for Their Truth

YouTube Admissibility — Video of Defendant with a Gun That, Based on Other Evidence, the Jury Could Reasonably Infer Was the Murder Weapon Was Relevant and Not Overly Prejudicial Even If Jury Concluded It Wasn’t the Murder Weapon

Rule 37 Sanctions — Repeated Efforts to Interfere with and Delay Discovery, Including Disregard of Court Order Directing Testimony at Deposition = Evidence of Bad Faith Sufficient to Support Default Judgment

Must Federal Courts Give Preclusive Effect to Unreviewed Determinations of Law Made by State Administrative Agencies? — Circuit Split — (Factual Findings Are Preclusive)

RICO: Corp. + 2 Officers + 3 Software Consultants + PR Firm ≠ Enterprise — Outsiders Lack Common Purpose & Corp. Indistinct from Officers — Even If No Reliance Needed in Omissions Case, Prox. Cause Still Essential

Internet Evidence: Whois.com Printout ID’ing Website Owner Is Hearsay But OK on Summary Judgment — Right to SJ Must Be Proved Even if No Opp — Default Alone Insufficient for Default Judgment

Is Harassing Conduct That Occurs Outside the Workplace Admissible to Prove a Hostile Work Environment under Title VII? — Circuit Split

Spoliation — Bad Faith Still Required for Spoliation of Tangible Evidence (3d Cir.) — Destruction of Evidence during Pendency of Case without Reference to Case and for Purpose of Avoiding Storage Costs Doesn’t Evidence Bad Faith or ≠ Spoliation

RICO: Agreeing to Bribe Blagojevich Has Natural Ending Point, No Continuity — Mere Association with Him ≠ Bigger Conspiracy — Good Quotes (“Jury Was Entitled to Put 2 & 2 Together”) — Adverse Inference for Asserting 5th Even If Later Testify

Error to Take Judicial Notice of Wikipedia Page — RICO: Can’t Infer Fraudulent Intent from Plaintiff’s Sending Defendants Expert Report Saying Defendants Were Committing Fraud & They Continued — Efficacy of Attaching Expert Report to Complaint

Recent Posts

FRAP 38 Sanctions Imposed Due to the “Striking Legal Emptiness” of Brief/Appeal, “A Legal Nothingburger” — Bad Faith Not Required: An Appeal “May Also Be Frivolous If It Is Filed Out Of Sheer Obstinacy” (Good Quotes)

RICO: Hobbs Act does not apply when the alleged extortion is meant to benefit the state

RICO: Indirect Injury Unrecoverable — Indirect Purchaser Rule Imported from Antitrust

RICO: No Causation Where Harm Flowed Several Steps After the Fraudulent Acts — RICO Causation Same As Antitrust Causation

Sanctions vs. Automatic Stay: Imposition of Sanctions (Here, Inherent Power Sanctions) Is Subject to the Police Power Exception to the Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy

The Word “Include” May Be A Word of Limitation As Opposed to a Word of Enlargement, Depending on the Context

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