Civil Trials

Junk Cars Text Spam: Attorney to Sue Spammers For $500 a Text

In April, we exposed the junk car kingpin who has been sending incessant text message spam to all of South Florida. (Reminder: Gregorio A. Tejera's number is (305) 303-0119. I'm sure he's enjoyed hearing from all of you for the last month.) Now an attorney is preparing a class-action lawsuit again ... More >>

John "La Ley" Ruiz, TV Lawyer, Claims Baseball Coaches Ripped Him Off

Ah, baseball. The nostalgic green of the outfield grass. The evocative crack of bat hitting ball. The zeal of litigation and the slow slog of civil justice. George Will say whaa?! Three prominent local figures in youth baseball are embroiled in an intriguing lawsuit filed earlier this month. Miam ... More >>

Randy Shannon Sues University of Miami, Says School Is Stiffing Him On Contract Payments

Former University of Miami football coach Randy Shannon has filed a lawsuit against UM in Miami-Dade court, alleging that the school is stiffing him on money he's owed. After firing the coach in November 2010, the school has tried to pro-rate the cash its still obligated to pay Shannon -- a maneuver ... More >>

Taco Bell Salmonella Alert

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, but it should be renamed the "Year of the Salmon--ella outbreak and consequent civil suits."Too long?Two lawsuits due to salmonella poisoning have been filed against Taco Bell this year. The second lawsuit, also filed by Marler Clark, ... More >>

Dr. Paul Perito, Penis Doc Accused of Botched Surgeries, Threatens Bar Complaint Against Attorney Who Keeps Suing Him

​Dr. Paul Perito has responded to our story which detailed another lawsuit stemming from allegedly destroying a patient's penis, the second time he's been hit with such a suit. We also chronicled past criminal charges against the urologist in which he was accused of selling counterfeit pills out o ... More >>

FAMU Band Director Julius White Fired, Family Plans Lawsuit in Wake of Hazing Death

​Dr. Julian White, the longtime and highly decorated band director of the Florida A&M University Marching 100, has been effectively fired following the hazing-related death of 26-year-old drum major Robert Champion. Champion's family now also plans to file a lawsuit against the university.

Andrew Marshall: Miami's Ted Kaczynski, Part 1

Read Part 2: Marshall's answer — build an arsenal of assault rifles and explosives.

Lime Fresh Mexican Sues Lime Truck: Lime vs. Lime

​Our sister publication, OC Weekly, broke the news that>Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, the Miami-based chain that's slowly taking over South Florida with nine locations and more to come, has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Irvine California's Lime Truck. It all started when The Lime T ... More >>

Lawyer Sues Tootsie's Strip Club Over Rolex Giveaway

​What is it it with local traffic ticket lawyers and their misadventures at strip clubs? Back in April, Ticket Clinic lawyer Mark S. Gold sued Goldrush strip club, claiming that the establishment got him drunk and made him run up a $18,930 tab. Now, Bret Lusskin, a Ticket Cricket attorne ... More >>

Royal Caribbean Sued After 17-Year-Old Girl Allegedly Raped by Cruise Singer

​A 17-year-old girl is suing Royal Caribbean after one of its employees allegedly plied her with alcohol and raped her during a March cruise.According to the lawsuit, 31-year-old Francisco Piñeda Adames was singing in the band aboard the ship when, two days into the cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, ... More >>

Lynn Dannheisser, Surfside Town Attorney, Gets Her Boyfriend a Taxpayer-Funded Job

​Surfside town attorney Lynn Dannheisser gets paid royally for her work representing the tiny hamlet just north of Miami Beach: $177,656 a year plus an automobile allowance, full benefits, and a pension. She's required to work only three days a week, and she's allowed to use her town hall office a ... More >>

Welch's Lies About Its Juice, Pays $30 Million and No One Notices

via Flickr ahisgettThe Purple menace.​Welch's, known for its juices and commercials featuring adorable gap toothed kids, has agreed to pay a huge settlement after being sued for false advertising. Welch's 100% Juice White Grape Pomegranate Flavored 3 Juice Blend was labeled as if it contained more ... More >>

Crash Course: 411-PAIN network will line their pockets with your insurance money

via Flickr ahisgettThe Purple menace.​Welch's, known for its juices and commercials featuring adorable gap toothed kids, has agreed to pay a huge settlement after being sued for false advertising. Welch's 100% Juice White Grape Pomegranate Flavored 3 Juice Blend was labeled as if it contained more ... More >>

This Jheri-Curled Man Claims He's Ricky Williams Real Daddy, Oh, and He Wants $2.5 Million

photo by Patrick Michels/Dallas Observer​If there's one thing Ricky Williams does well its running form things, and not just on the football field. A Dallas man claiming to be Williams' real father says Ricky has run from him his entire life. Now, he's filed a lawsuit against Williams and his moth ... More >>

Archdiocese of Miami Sued Over Alleged Sexual Abuse by Coral Springs Music Teacher

Michael MillerArchbishop of Miami Thomas Wenski gives a press conference after a recent trip to Cuba​The Archdiocese of Miami is getting hit with yet another lawsuit claiming sexual abuse by an employee of the Church.A lawsuit filed this morning in Miami-Dade Circuit Court alleges that Miguel Cala ... More >>

Shaq Responds to Child Porn Lawsuit: "Complete and Utter Fabrication"

​Yesterday, news broke of a bizarre lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade court that alleged amongst other wrongdoings Basketball star Shaquille O'Neal hatched a plan to plant child porn on a former employee's computer and use his law enforcement connections to have the man arrested. Today Shaq's repre ... More >>

Dwyane Wade Awarded Temporary Custody of Children

Every thing seems to be going Dwyane Wade's way in court (judicial, not basketball) lately. First he settled a series of lawsuits with a former business partner, and now he has been awarded temporary sole custody of his two sons in his increasingly ugly divorce with wife Siohvaughn Wade. The ru ... More >>

Cyclist hit by Miami-Dade Transit bus is part of a growing trend

Every thing seems to be going Dwyane Wade's way in court (judicial, not basketball) lately. First he settled a series of lawsuits with a former business partner, and now he has been awarded temporary sole custody of his two sons in his increasingly ugly divorce with wife Siohvaughn Wade. The ru ... More >>

Jersey Shore's Sammi "Sweatheart" To Face Assault Charges After South Beach Club Brawl

Sammi "Sweatheart" has fists of fury​You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl. Jersey Shore castmate Sammi "Sweatheart" Giancola will be facing criminal assault charges and a civil lawsuit after she got into a brawl at a South Beach club this weekend 24-ye ... More >>

Yelp has buckled to pressure, but it ain't enough

Sammi "Sweatheart" has fists of fury​You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl. Jersey Shore castmate Sammi "Sweatheart" Giancola will be facing criminal assault charges and a civil lawsuit after she got into a brawl at a South Beach club this weekend 24-ye ... More >>

Yelp's Lawsuit Letter To Paid Scouts: Don't Throw Away Your Records

Miami lawyer Jared Beck's lawsuit against Yelp has already led to some real changes at the giant of user-generated reviews. ​On April 5, Yelp's CEO, Jeremy Stoppelman, announced that the company would stop allowing businesses to pay to place a positive review atop their profile, and that ... More >>

Yelp Changes Some Advertising Policies in Response to Miami Lawsuit

Score one for Miami lawyer Jared Beck and his class-action suit against Yelp. Beck's case, which alleges Yelp extorts small businesses by manipulating the placement of bad reviews in exchange for monthly fees, is still weeks away from a hearing in a California court. But Yelp execs announced th ... More >>

The Circus is in Town: Suge Knight Brings Lawsuit Against Kanye West, Shore Club, to Miami Court

MTV.co.uk​Back in January 2009, bankrupt hip-hop chieftain Marion "Suge" Knight filed a lawsuit against Kanye West, claiming the rapper should be financially responsible for an unsolved 2005 shooting at a South Beach Shore Club party West hosted that left Knight capped in the leg. Among Sug ... More >>

Lawsuit: Barry University Worker Fired for Reporting Racism

C. StilesOswald Jones​Last May, New Times ran a story about a Barry University mechanic who found a noose in his office and was fired after reporting it to cops. The incident, it turned out, was a symbol of a larger problem: Stacks of lawsuits showed the century-old university had a history of rac ... More >>

At Florida Memorial University, surviving assaults is part of the curriculum

C. StilesOswald Jones​Last May, New Times ran a story about a Barry University mechanic who found a noose in his office and was fired after reporting it to cops. The incident, it turned out, was a symbol of a larger problem: Stacks of lawsuits showed the century-old university had a history of rac ... More >>

Club Madonna Owner Sues Miami Beach Over Alleged Extortion Scheme

Miami Beach officials tried to extort $30,000 in legal fees out of a strip club owner in exchange for a liquor license -- so says Leroy Griffith, owner of Club Madonna. Griffith, whose club is the only nudie joint in SoBe, made his claims in a lawsuit filed against city officials last week in U.S. D ... More >>

Family Files Lawsuit Against County for Inmate Death

Miami Beach officials tried to extort $30,000 in legal fees out of a strip club owner in exchange for a liquor license -- so says Leroy Griffith, owner of Club Madonna. Griffith, whose club is the only nudie joint in SoBe, made his claims in a lawsuit filed against city officials last week in U.S. D ... More >>

Masterpiece Theater, Part Two

Javier Lumbreras, bon vivant, art collector, and defendant, struts his stuff at the Bass

Like Beating an Undead Horse

Javier Lumbreras, bon vivant, art collector, and defendant, struts his stuff at the Bass

Sticky Lingers

"The streets look horrible. Everybody I talk to is like, ‘You’re right, man; gum is disgusting."

Religious Conviction

Judge José E. Martinez ruled on a contentious case involving the Archdiocese of Miami. Problem is, he's a Eucharistic minister

Fake Art, Real Money

That beautiful painting by Cuban artist Domingo Ramos? The one you bought from a Miami gallery for $10,000? Ready for some bad news? It's a forgery

Who is: Masoud Shojaee?

That beautiful painting by Cuban artist Domingo Ramos? The one you bought from a Miami gallery for $10,000? Ready for some bad news? It's a forgery

Devil or Angel

True or False:

David Collins is Miami's leading bail bondsman.

David Collins has lots of friends in law enforcement.

David Collins says he's put his criminal past behind him.

Barred for Life

The process for restoring the civil rights of felons in Florida works perfectly -- if not restoring their rights is the goal

Enough's Enough

Will the county risk Homestead's future on a no-win lawsuit? Find out on Tuesday.

Loads of Dirty Laundry, Part 2

Mohamed Ibrahim is now a felon, but the spin cycle continues

The Return of Litigious Joe

Miami's mayor is a fool for loot

Homestead's Dirt

In South Miami-Dade it's all in the land -- the earth, the profits, and the sweet deals

Cleaning Out the Cops

A new lawsuit charges that an accountant tried, and failed, to flimflam Miami's boys in blue

Street Sweepers

The City of Miami's court-approved plan to deal with the homeless is one part tough love, two parts blind hope

From Bad to Wurst

German citizen Anton Philipp has bought a lot of property on Miami Beach. Now it doesn't look too hot.

News of the Weird

German citizen Anton Philipp has bought a lot of property on Miami Beach. Now it doesn't look too hot.

Shoot Out the Lights

Gwendolyn Ramsey's run-in with police culminated in an emergency lobotomy. So where is she now? Behind bars.

News of the Weird

Gwendolyn Ramsey's run-in with police culminated in an emergency lobotomy. So where is she now? Behind bars.

News of the Weird

Gwendolyn Ramsey's run-in with police culminated in an emergency lobotomy. So where is she now? Behind bars.

News of the Weird

Gwendolyn Ramsey's run-in with police culminated in an emergency lobotomy. So where is she now? Behind bars.

News of the Weird

Gwendolyn Ramsey's run-in with police culminated in an emergency lobotomy. So where is she now? Behind bars.

The Collector

What do Armando Valladares, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Miriam Alonso, Xavier Suarez, Alex Penelas, Steve Clark, and the Miami Herald editorial board have in common? They're just a few of the big names enlisted by accused embezzler Roberto Polo in his fight to a

Never a Price Too High for the Commonwealth

Residents of Coral Gables should be proud of their city fathers for spending untold thousands to battle the scourge of upstart weekly papers