Latest news with #LosAngelesSuperiorCourt
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Former Doctor Odyssey crew allege rampant harassment, sue Disney for retaliation and toxic work culture
A disturbing lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court has cast a shadow over Doctor Odyssey, the medical drama from 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Television, with three former crewmembers accusing Disney of allowing a workplace rife with sexual misconduct and retaliation. Allegations of harassment and a toxic environment Caroline Mack, Alicia Haverland, and Ava Steinbrenner allege that they endured a 'persistent and unchecked campaign' of sexual harassment while working in the props department. The complaint describes repeated verbal abuse, inappropriate touching, and retaliation after reporting the incidents to management. Tyler Patton's conduct at the centre of the lawsuit The plaintiffs worked under assistant prop master Tyler Patton, whose behaviour is at the centre of the complaint — though he is not listed as a defendant. According to the lawsuit, Patton created an environment where sexual comments and discomfort were routine. The suit alleges he made crude remarks, including asking aloud why one crewmember 'had not been broken yet,' and referring to another with vulgar suggestions about oral sex. Patton is also accused of sending explicit content to colleagues under false pretences. In one incident, he allegedly sent a link appearing to reference political news. Upon clicking, recipients were redirected to a pornographic image. The plaintiffs claim Patton later joked that only his relationship with the prop master, his wife, Tammie Patton, prevented his firing. HR complaints and claims of retaliation The plaintiffs reported this to human resources and their union. They allege that 20th Television and Disney were aware of ongoing misconduct, including issues related to mishandling replica firearms. Patton was eventually terminated. However, the lawsuit claims that Tammie Patton retaliated by giving the women degrading tasks and threatening their job security. According to the complaint, the entire props department, except Patton's replacement, was later dismissed under the guise of a layoff. The plaintiffs argue that this was a strategic move to silence complaints and remove any remaining ties to the controversy. They allege the department was quickly replaced with new hires for the same production. Ongoing industry fallout Since the incident, Mack, Haverland, and Steinbrenner state they have been unable to secure further work on Disney or 20th Television sets, effectively blacklisting them from the industry. The lawsuit accuses Disney and its affiliates of sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and negligent hiring. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages. As of now, Disney and 20th Television have not commented. Meanwhile, Doctor Odyssey , starring Joshua Jackson as a physician aboard a cruise ship — remains the only ABC scripted series still without a decision on its future.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
NBA All-star Zion Williamson faces civil lawsuit alleging rape and years of abuse
NBA star Zion Williamson is at the center of a civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, where a woman identified as his ex-girlfriend(Jane Doe) accuses him of rape , physical assault, and a prolonged pattern of abuse spanning from 2018 to 2023. The plaintiff claims their relationship began during Williamson's freshman year at Duke University and continued into his professional career with the New Orleans Pelicans . Allegations in the lawsuit The lawsuit outlines two specific instances of alleged rape occurring in September and October 2020 at a Beverly Hills residence rented by Williamson during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first incident, the plaintiff alleges that after expressing a desire to sleep, Williamson insisted on sex , subsequently pinning her down and assaulting her. She further claims he threw her phone across the room and choked her. Live Events The second incident reportedly involved Williamson becoming angry when she mentioned visiting a friend, leading to another alleged assault and the confiscation of her phone and laptop. Beyond these events, the plaintiff accuses Williamson of ongoing abuse, including strangulation to the point of unconsciousness, physical beatings, threats involving a firearm, and coercive control tactics such as taking her personal belongings without consent. She asserts that these actions occurred across multiple states, including California, Louisiana, and Texas, until their relationship ended in 2023. Williamson's response Williamson's legal team has categorically denied all allegations, describing them as "false and reckless." His attorneys assert that the relationship was consensual and casual, ending years ago, and claim that the plaintiff only raised concerns after the relationship concluded. They allege that she began demanding millions of dollars and that Williamson reported these alleged extortion attempts to law enforcement, resulting in an arrest warrant. Williamson intends to file counterclaims seeking significant damages for defamation. Legal proceedings and public reaction The plaintiff is seeking a jury trial, along with exemplary and punitive damages for the alleged abuse and emotional distress. Her attorney emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, "We and our client do not want to litigate this case in the press. These are very serious allegations." The New Orleans Pelicans organization has acknowledged the lawsuit but declined to comment, deferring to Williamson's legal team. Williamson, the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and a two-time All-Star, has faced previous controversies in his personal life. Despite injury struggles, he has maintained a notable NBA career with the Pelicans.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
$197m NBA superstar Zion Williamson accused of rape and ‘abusive, controlling, and threatening behavior'
FORMER overall No. 1 draft pick and New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson has been accused of rape, according to a lawsuit filed on Friday. The lawsuit details multiple years of alleged abusive behavior towards Williamson's ex-girlfriend, including physical threats against her and her family. 2 Zion Williamson has been accused of rape Credit: Getty 2 The lawsuit includes stunning allegations of Williamson threatening to kill the plaintiff Credit: Getty The suit was submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday. The plaintiff accused Williamson of "abusive, controlling, and threatening behavior," according to Her legal team released a statement regarding the lawsuit against Williamson. "We and our client do not want to litigate this case in the press," Lanier Law Firm's Sam Taylor said, "However, I will say this is a very serious case as reflected in the Complaint filed in Los Angeles County. "Our client looks forward to her day in court before a jury of her peers to obtain justice in this matter." The plaintiff makes stunning accusations in the lawsuit, with mentions of Williamson threatening to kill her. "Threatening to have his paid security guard shoot Plaintiff in the head while the security guard was present and carrying a loaded firearm multiple times in Louisiana between 2020 and 2023," one claim reads. Most read in Basketball "Threatening to have his paid security guard kill Plaintiff's parents, after informing Plaintiff that he knows their home address multiple times in Louisiana between 2020 and 2023," another claim says. "Monitoring Plaintiff's location at all hours, monitoring who Plaintiff was with, calling her repeatedly," another portion of the lawsuit claims. Zion Williamson storms out of NBA media day after bizarre question as New Orleans Pelicans star prepares for season----- "Following her home from work or sending his friends to follow her, continuously taking and going through her phone and laptop... "Entering her apartment without permission and rifling through her belongings... "Lying in wait at her apartment for her to return in California and Louisiana between 2020 and 2023." More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos . Like us on Facebook at
RTHK
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTHK
Smokey Robinson counter-sues against rape allegations
Smokey Robinson counter-sues against rape allegations Smokey Robinson and his wife Frances at a pre-Grammy gala in Beverly Hills, California, in 2023. File photo: AFP American singer Smokey Robinson has filed a defamation lawsuit against four former housekeepers who accused him of rape and prompted a police investigation. Robinson and his wife, Frances Robinson, filed the counterclaim on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court against the women and their lawyers, whose allegations, they say, were 'fabricated in an extortionate scheme'. The filing is a fast and forceful legal and public pushback from the 85-year-old Motown music luminary in response to the women's May 6 lawsuit and a May 15 announcement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that its special victims bureau is 'actively investigating criminal allegations' against Robinson. The Robinsons also filed a motion to strike the women's lawsuit. The women are seeking at least US$50 million, alleging Smokey Robinson repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted them in his home when they worked for him between 2007 and 2024. They said Frances Robinson, a co-defendant, enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The counterclaim opens with friendly text messages from the women to contradict their claims against Robinson, whose songs, including 'Tears of a Clown' and 'The Tracks of My Tears," established him among the biggest hitmakers of the 1960s. The filing says the women 'stayed with the Robinsons year after year,' vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them, including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member and 'even a car'. The filing - which includes photos from the vacations and gatherings as exhibits – says that despite the couple's generosity, the women 'secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth'. John Harris and Herbert Hayden, attorneys for the former housekeepers, said the defamation lawsuit 'is nothing more than an attempt to silence and intimidate the survivors of Mr Robinson's sexual battery and assault. It is a baseless and vindictive legal manoeuvre designed to re-victimise, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward'. The lawyers said they intend to get the Robinsons' lawsuit thrown out by invoking California's laws against using the courts to silence and intimidate people who sue. The four women, whose names are withheld in their lawsuit, each allege that Robinson would wait until they were alone with him in his Los Angeles house and then sexually assault and rape them. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. (AP)
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Smokey Robinson sues former housekeepers for defamation over rape allegations
Robinson and his wife Frances Robinson filed the counterclaim on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court against the women and their lawyers, whose allegations, they say, were 'fabricated in an extortionate scheme'. The filing is a fast and forceful legal and public pushback from the 85-year-old Motown music luminary in response to the women's May 6 lawsuit and a May 15 announcement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that its Special Victims Bureau is 'actively investigating criminal allegations' against Robinson. The women are seeking at least 50 million dollars, alleging Smokey Robinson repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted them in his home when they worked for him between 2007 and 2024. They said Frances Robinson, a co-defendant, enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The counterclaim opens with friendly text messages from the women to contradict their claims against Robinson, whose songs, including Tears Of A Clown and The Tracks Of My Tears, established him among the biggest hitmakers of the 1960s. The filing says the women 'stayed with the Robinsons year after year', holidayed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and 'even a car'. The filing — which includes photos from the holidays and gatherings as exhibits — says that despite the couple's generosity, the women 'secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth'. 'Unfortunately, the depths of Plaintiffs' avarice and greed know no bounds,' the counterclaim says. 'During the very time that the Robinsons were being extraordinarily generous with Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs were concocting an extortionate plan to take everything from the Robinsons.' John Harris and Herbert Hayden, attorneys for the former housekeepers, said in a statement that the defamation suit 'is nothing more than an attempt to silence and intimidate the survivors of Mr. Robinson's sexual battery and assault. It is a baseless and vindictive legal manoeuvre designed to re-victimise, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward.' The lawyers said they intend to get the Robinsons' lawsuit thrown out by invoking California's laws against using the courts to silence and intimidate people who sue. The four women, whose names are withheld in their lawsuit, each allege that Robinson would wait until they were alone with him in his Los Angeles house and then sexually assault and rape them. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. The Sheriff's Department would give no details on its investigation beyond confirming its existence. Robinson, who was a central figure in the Motown Records machine with his group the Miracles and as a solo artist, is a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
