Latest news with #legalcomplaint
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
WhatsApp message urges Afghans to sue Britain
Afghans have been encouraged to sue the British Government over the 'kill list' data breach in a WhatsApp message urging them to contact UK law firms. The message gave details of how to lodge a legal complaint through Barings, a Manchester-based law firm that specialises in privacy and data breach cases. It provided the web address for a portal for Barings where Afghans can complete a compensation claim form, and was widely circulated among Afghans living not only in Afghanistan but also Pakistan and the UK. Barings has 1,000 Afghan clients suing the Government over the data breach and is adding 100 claims a day following the lifting of the super-injunction covering the case on Tuesday. Up until Tuesday, the law firm - like the media - was prevented from highlighting the data breach or the existence of the injunction. Barings said it first became aware of the data leak in March after being contacted by an Afghan who found the company in an online search for firms specialising in such cases. In the space of a few weeks, 650 Afghans had instructed Barings to act on their behalf. However, Adnan Malik, the lawyer heading up the group action, said: 'We didn't send any WhatsApp messages.' He said that all Barings correspondence with clients was by email and he had never seen the spreadsheet containing the records of 25,000 Afghans who had applied for asylum in the UK, which was accidentally leaked in February 2022 . The Ministry of Defence was first made aware of the data breach 18 months later in August 2023 when a case worker warned officials of the circulation of a 'kill list'. Mr Malik informed the Government Legal Department in April that his firm was acting for Afghans over the data breach. On April 15, the Government slapped a superinjunction on him preventing him from discussing the case. '100 new cases a day' Mr Malik said: 'We had about 800 cases before the injunction was lifted and now we have 1,000. We are getting 100 a day coming in. No doubt the Government wanted the injunction because this is going to cost the Government a lot of money.' Each claim is worth a 'five-figure sum', according to Barings. With 25,000 names on the list – and extended families also put in danger of reprisals by the Taliban – the final legal bill could exceed a quarter of a billion pounds. The data breach alone could be worth up to £10,000 per claimant with much bigger compensation for any resulting risk to life. Under the terms of the conditional fee agreement clients must sign, Barings receive their fees and expenses – capped at 25 per cent – of any successful claim. The Government, which has already spent billions flying people endangered by the leak out of Afghanistan, has said it will fight the compensation case, although the MoD declined to say on what grounds. On its website, Barings states: 'Barings Law are helping Afghan nationals who assisted British Forces seek justice after the Ministry of Defence exposed their identities, placing them at risk of serious harm. The MoD has tried to suppress the data breach for nearly three years by taking out a super-injunction.' Separately, a former Afghan soldier who fled to Iran because his name appeared on the leaked spreadsheet, said he had been added to a WhatsApp group that included British phone numbers allegedly belonging to three lawyers based in London. There is no evidence the lawyers were genuine or worked for reputable firms in the UK. The man, who worked alongside the British military in Afghanistan, said: 'I was added to a WhatsApp group with three other British numbers. They said they were lawyers in London and could help me get money from the UK Government. 'They said they would help me get thousands of pounds from their Government and asked me to send them my banking details and sign a letter to confirm they are my lawyers.' The individuals, who used random characters instead of real names in their biographical details, told him they would bring him to Britain and that he should pay them 30 per cent after receiving compensation from the government. 'I thought it was a scam and told my British contacts about it,' he said. When the Afghan man asked how they found him, the purported lawyers said 'that's not important,' he added.
The Guardian
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Tuanzebe launches legal complaint against Manchester United alleging ‘medical negligence'
Axel Tuanzebe has lodged a legal complaint against Manchester United alleging 'medical negligence', with the claim by the club's former defender relating to an injury sustained in or after July 2022. A submission entitled 'Tuanzebe v Manchester United Football Club Limited' was registered last Wednesday at the high court, with the case type described as 'Clinical Negligence – Part 7 Claim – Medical Advice'. The claim is understood to relate to an injury in his final year at the club. Tuanzebe, who joined Burnley this month on a free transfer, endured an injury-disrupted six years at United after his debut in a 4-0 FA Cup win over West Ham in January 2017, before leaving for Ipswich in the summer of 2023. The defender made only 37 United appearances, with injuries limiting his opportunities, though he also had three loans at Aston Villa and one at Napoli and Stoke. In September 2019 he became United's youngest captain since 1985 when Ole Gunnar Solskjær gave him the armband for a Carabao Cup third-round tie against Rochdale. It meant that Tuanzebe, who joined United aged eight, had captained the club at every level. When contacted by the Guardian, United declined to comment. Darren Fletcher, meanwhile, has been appointed lead coach of United's Under-18s. The Scot returned to the club in 2021, having been there as a player for 20 years, and has had roles including technical director and a coach with the first team. Jason Wilcox, United's director of football, said: 'He knows exactly what it takes to be a successful academy graduate and has played a key role in shaping the pathway for so many of our young players in recent years.'
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kanye West's ex-assistant hits him with ANOTHER sexual assault claim as she accuses him of orally raping her
Kanye West ex-personal assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, has accused her former boss of forcing 'his penis into her mouth' during a business trip in San Francisco in a newly filed second amended complaint.. In a new legal document, obtained by the 36-year-old claimed the rapper, 48, 'sexually harassed and assaulted' her on multiple occasions. The oral rape allegedly occurred not long after she began working for Ye in July 2021. She alleged that he attempted to kiss her on the lips, more than once, despite her repeatedly rejecting his advances, which she insists she told him were 'not professional.' After participating in a writing session for his album, Donda, the complaint alleges that he invited her to his hotel suite to discuss the record. When she arrived, Pisciotta alleges in the complaint 'Ye abruptly laid down in his bed and insisted that Ms. Pisciotta lay beside him.' She proceeded to 'reluctantly' sit next to him in bed as her then-boss praised her work and shared how he could 'propel' her success in the music industry, according to the complaint. The conversation quickly turned south, she claims, as he began speaking in graphic detail about an unnamed model's genitals and described his sexual encounters with other women. Pisciotta claims in the complaint that West attempted to kiss her again, but that she 'continued to deflect his advances.' She then claimed he began to ask her questions about her vagina, such as 'What's it like?', 'Can I touch it?', and 'I just wanna see what it's like.' According to the complaint, despite her reminding him his behavior was not professional, Pisciotta alleges West 'stroked his penis over his pants with one hand and forcibly touched her vagina with the other hand.' 'Ms. Pisciotta immediately told Ye to stop. Ye soon fell asleep mid-sentence,' the complaint reads. 'Ms. Pisciotta left the room once Ye fell asleep.' During that same stay in San Francisco, Pisciotta claims West went to her hotel room and demanded to use her shower. After cracking the door open, Pisciotta says in the complaint that her former boss 'pushed the door open and proceeded directly into the bathroom.' When he reemerged, she claims in the complaint he was only wearing a 'towel covering the lower half of his body' and approached her while she was sitting in a chair. She claims 'Ye dropped the towel from his waist to expose his penis,' removed her from the chair she was sitting in, and pushed her onto the bed, so that she was pinned against its pillows and headboard. Pisciotta says he used his 'body to pin and restrain' her and restricted her from leaving the bed, before thrusting his penis repeatedly into her mouth, according to the complaint. 'As Ms. Pisciotta frantically pled for Ye to stop, Ye forced his penis into her mouth. Ms. Pisciotta froze in shock and fear but continued to plead with Ye and beg him,' according to the legal documents. After the alleged rape, she alleges he apologized and left. When she confronted him about the sexual assault, she said in the complaint he gave her what she thought was 'a sincere apology' and agreed to continue working for him. Still, she insists in the court record he never stopped his sexually inappropriate behavior and harassment. She claims he detailed sexual fantasies about her, demanded she send him explicit material including topless and nude photographs, constantly remarked on her body and even allegedly called her while engaging in sexual acts with another woman. Other shocking claims in the second amended complaint included that he offered someone the opportunity to have sex with her and that he 'constantly told her that 'he wanted to have sex with her and how he thought about her while he had sex with other women.' She also says he offered 'one million dollars in exchange for her deleting her OnlyFans account, from which Ms. Pisciotta earned approximately one million dollars over the course of eight months.' After deleting her account, Pisciotta claims in the court paper that West refused to pay the 'agreed-upon amount' and quickly lost her substantial OnlyFans following. During her employment, she alleged he interrogated her about her love life, the last time she had sex, how large her partners' penises were and if she would be 'open to engaging in threesomes with her partners, his partners, and other women Ye found on various social media platforms.' After terminating her in fall of 2023, she claims he 'grabbed' her neck and 'squeezed his hand around her throat, restricting her airflow' after running into each other at a concert, according to the complaint. 'With his hand still around her neck, Ye pulled Ms. Pisciotta's face towards his, inserted his tongue in her ear, and licked her ear repeatedly, causing it to become wet with his saliva. Ms. Pisciotta recoiled in horror and quickly walked away,' her complaint says. Pisciotta claims West went on to move into Ms. Pisciotta's same apartment complex, which caused her 'significant anxiety and distress.' She said in the complaint while he lived there he would walk past her place in a 'conspicuous manner' and even 'stationed his security team at various points of the complex.' Pisciotta alleged this pushed her to relocate to 'Florida as a means of escaping Ye.' Following her move, she claims he hired an individual who offered 'swatting' services for purchase, to 'swat' her. Pisciotta, who began working for Ye in 2021 as a music talent scout (A&R) for his Donda album, originally sued West in 2024. While working as his personal assistant and Chief of Staff, she handled his music, fashion ventures (like YEEZY), property management, and schedule. During this time, she claimed in the complaint that he controlled her life and made her ask for permission to shower or take breaks. Additionally, she alleged he verbally abused her, especially in front of male colleagues, demanded 'hugs' where he would press himself against her and spoke about monitoring her social media to masturbate to her photos. She also accused him of assaulting her in 2015 while she blacked out at a studio session. She believes she was drugged and has no memory of the evening, according to the court document. Another disturbing allegation involves a flight to a fashion show. She claims in the complaint that he locked her in a room and masturbated in front of her, until someone from the outside was able to open the door as she 'cried into her lap.' West previously denied Pisciotta's other allegations made in her initial June 2024 complaint. In his initial legal response to her prior claims, West's companies issued a blanket denial of all allegations made by Pisciotta — including her claims of sexual assault. In response to Pisciotta's original lawsuit, West's lawyer called the claims 'baseless' and announced plans to countersue. In her new, second amended complaint, Pisciotta lays out a sweeping list of allegations, including sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, assault, battery, sexual battery, sex trafficking, stalking, false imprisonment, gender discrimination, promissory estoppel, failure to prevent harassment, discrimination and retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Pisciotta's lawyer confirmed to Daily Mail that the second amended complaint was mailed to West. In a statement to Pisciotta's attorney, Lisa Bloom, wrote: 'We are pleased that the judge granted our request to file an amended complaint against Mr. West in the sexual harassment, assault and battery case we are litigating against him in California Superior Court, County of Los Angeles.' 'In a series of recent tweets, Mr. West calls himself 'a walking me too' (we agree) and corroborated many of our client's claims by proclaiming, 'If a CEO don't hug you inappropriately he's a f@gg*t' and 'Life is about using your position to f*k the baddest b!**hes possible' and other disgusting and offensive posts,' she continued. Bloom concluded: 'Every woman deserves a respectful workplace free of groping and sexual harassment. We look forward to aggressively litigating this case on behalf of our brave client, Lauren Piscotta.'
New York Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Fernando Tatis, Jr. sues Big League Advance Fund for exploitative business practices
San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. filed a legal complaint Monday against Big League Advance Fund and Big League Advantage, LLC (BLA), a company that offers players upfront payments in exchange for a percentage of future MLB earnings. Tatis owes millions to BLA after agreeing to a deal with them in 2017. Advertisement The complaint, filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, seeks to hold BLA accountable for 'its exploitative, predatory business practices, which shamelessly push illegal loans on young, vulnerable athletes — most from economically disadvantaged Latin American countries,' according to a press release sent on behalf of Tatis' legal team. Tatis, who signed a 14-year, $340-million deal with the Padres in 2021, initially praised the agreement with BLA, telling The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal in 2018 he signed the agreement because he needed the money to hire a personal trainer, rent a better apartment and buy better food. At the time, Tatis was in a prospect in the minor leagues and said he wasn't worried about the BLA bill that would come if and when he made it to the big leagues. 'I'm not afraid,' Tatis said. 'I'm not going to spend that money stupidly. You've got to be smart with your decisions, with what you're going to do.' That thinking has apparently changed. According to the release, the suit alleges that 'BLA has for years run an unlicensed lending business that evades legal oversight and siphons millions in earnings from California workers.' 'I'm fighting this battle not just for myself but for everyone still chasing their dream and hoping to provide a better life for their family,' Tatis states in the release. 'I want to help protect those young players who don't yet know how to protect themselves from these predatory lenders and illegal financial schemes — kids' focus should be on their passion for baseball, not dodging shady business deals.' Tatis is not the first player to try to sue BLA. Former big leaguer Francisco Mejía sued BLA in 2018, citing 'unconscionable' tactics BLA used to persuade him to give up 10 percent of his future MLB earnings in exchange for three separate payments totaling $360,000. Tatis agreed to his deal while in the Dominican Republic, according to the press release, and many in the industry have raised concerns over the disproportionate amount of young Latin players who sign these types of agreements. Advertisement The money BLA gives players is not a loan, per se: if a player doesn't reach the big leagues, he owes nothing. If he does reach the major leagues, however, the price — a portion of pre-tax major-league earnings — can be hefty. Michael Schwimer, a 32-year-old former pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies who is the president and CEO of BLA, told The Athletic in 2018 the goal of his company is to help minor leaguers guard against uncertain futures. Some believe otherwise. 'California lawmakers have put in place serious, straightforward protections against predatory financial activity, but BLA has still disregarded our laws to pursue a business model built on prohibited, deceptive and abusive practices,' said Robert Hertzberg, who is part of Tatis' legal team in the complaint.
