Appeals Court’s Ruling Helps Google in Book-Scanning Lawsuit

In May 2012, Judge Denny Chin of Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled that the authors could sue as a group, saying that class action was “the superior method for resolving this litigation.”

“Requiring this case to be litigated on an individual basis would risk disparate results in nearly identical suits and exponentially increase the cost of litigation,” he wrote.

In a five-page ruling on Monday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected that decision and said that the lower court must first consider the “fair use” issues raised by the case.

“On the particular facts of this case, we conclude that class certification was premature in the absence of a determination by the district court of the merits of Google’s ‘fair use’ defense,” the panel of judges said.

The case began in 2005, when the Authors Guild sued Google over its book-scanning project, saying that the widespread scanning violated copyright. A $125 million legal settlement was reached between the parties, but Judge Chin rejected it in 2011.

Matt Kallman, a spokesman for Google, said in an e-mail: “We are delighted by the court’s decision. The investment we have made in Google Books benefits readers and writers alike, helping unlock the great pool of knowledge contained in millions of books.”

The Authors Guild did not respond to a request for comment.

Ex-Giants star Taylor wins hotel hookup lawsuit

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NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has won a lawsuit that tried to hold him accountable for sex with a 16-year-old girl in a hotel room near New York City.

The jury returned its verdict Friday after hearing testimony from the now 19-year-old woman and Taylor.

Taylor gave a thumbs-up to a friend in the spectator area when the verdict was announced.

The former New York Giants linebacker acknowledged that he had sex in 2010 with a prostitute. He denied accusations that he ignored obvious signs she was a teen runaway in distress.

His accuser had claimed that an abusive pimp forced her to have sex with Taylor for $300.

The encounter occurred in a hotel room in Montebello, just north of New York City.

She was seeking unspecified damages.

via Ex-Giants star Taylor wins hotel hookup lawsuit – NYPOST.com.

Lisa Vanderpump Targeted in Sexual Assault Lawsuit Over Villa Blanca Restaurant

Lisa Vanderpump
Targeted In
Sexual Assault Suit

An actress/restaurant server claims she was the victim of sexual assault and battery at Lisa Vanderpump's Beverly Hills Restaurant, Villa Blanca, and she's suing Lisa and the man she claims did the dirty deeds for more than $5 million.

Karina Bustillos -- who has appeared in "The Mexican Conspiracy" and "86'd" -- claims in April, a Villa Blanca manager, Michael Govia, told her to close her eyes.  She says when she eventually opened them, Govia's mouth was open with his tongue sticking out, right by her mouth, in an attempt to kiss her.

Bustillos says she complained and then Govia began retaliating, calling her a "bitch" and a "c**t" and telling other servers he could "get her" -- implying he could sleep with her if he wanted.

She says in August, Govia allegedly approached her and aggressively twisted her wrists.  She says when she asked him to stop, he responded, "I will do whatever I want.  I'm the manager."

Bustillos says she complained to others but no action was taken.  Bustillos also says Lisa Vanderpump gave her the cold shoulder after she complained.

Bustillos, who claims she was forced to quit, is suing Lisa, her husband, Ken Todd, the restaurant and Govia for more than $5 mil.

Lisa Vanderpump tells TMZ, "The waitress had a falling out with a manager.  Of course I take that seriously.  We've looked at all the cameras and there's no sexual harassment."  Lisa adds, "This is just a disgruntled employee."

Hulk Hogan — Threatening LAWSUIT Over Leaked Sex Tape Footage

Hulk Hogan
Threatening LAWSUIT Over
Leaked Sex Tape Footage

Hulk Hogan's leaked sex tape did NOT catch the wrestler with his pants down -- at least figuratively -- because TMZ has learned, he's already got his lawyers on the counter-attack, threatening to SUE if the tape isn't taken off the Internet.

Gawker posted a minute-long clip of the sex tape on its website yesterday -- but sources close to Hogan tell TMZ, it won't be up for long ... because Hogan's currently drafting a nasty cease-and-desist letter to the website, demanding the footage be taken down.

Hogan's claiming the site has no right to post the footage -- and if it doesn't remove it, he'll sue.

Hulk's lawyer David R. Houston tells TMZ, "This tape was made secretly without Hulk's knowledge or permission. We are going to do everything in our power to figure out who did it. Anyone displaying the tape will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law." 

As we first reported ... the Hogan tape was being shopped around to the highest bidder beginning earlier this year. Screen grabs hit the Internet in April, but video only surfaced yesterday.

Gawker says it obtained the tape from an anonymous source -- who gave the footage to the site for free.

As soon as news broke about the tape, Hogan immediately vowed to sue ANYONE who published it.  Hulk's word is his bond.