Judge
Backpage.com Judge Refuses to Recuse Herself, Lacey Responds
Last Friday, the Phoenix federal judge presiding over the criminal trial against the former owners of Backpage.com issued a 14-page ruling that detailed her refusal to recuse herself from the case, following a motion by the defendants that revealed her husband’s explicit activism against them as part of a crusade alleging “human trafficking.”
NY Judge Allows Strike 3 to Serve ISP With Copyright Supboena
A New York judge authorized Strike 3 Holdings last week to serve an internet service provider with a subpoena in order to identify the individual associated with a specific assigned IP address that Strike 3 claims has been “downloading, copying and distributing” their copyrighted content using BitTorrent technology.
Backpage Defense Asks Judge to Recuse Herself Over Husband's Propaganda Pamphlet
Lawyers for the former owners of adult classified website Backpage.com have requested that Judge Susan Brnovich recuse herself from their ongoing trial over public statements made by her husband, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a vocal activist against what he calls “human trafficking,” including a lurid pamphlet published by his office.
Judge Rules Against Mile High in 'Martha's Vineyard Background Art' Case
A federal judged ruled today against Mile High Media and other defendants in the “Martha’s Vineyard Background Art Case,” porn producers were accused of using a rental property to shoot content without permission or clearance for on-camera artwork.
New Jersey Judge Establishes Parameters for Strike 3 Subpoenas
A New Jersey judge who was tasked by an appeals court to allow Strike 3 Holdings to issue subpoenas against suspected content pirates has issued an order establishing parameters to safeguard the privacy of the defendants.
Strike 3 Case: Appeals Court Rebukes D.C. Judge for Anti-Porn Bias
A three-judge panel at the D.C. Circuit court ruled yesterday in favor of Strike 3 Holdings’ appeal, allowing them to be granted subpoenas in copyright cases they were filing. This reversed a lower-court ruling where a judge had taken the unusual step of lambasting the adult entertainment company for the nature of its content.
Appeals Judge Grants Strike 3 Supboenas to ID Alleged Copyright Violators
A New Jersey federal judge on Tuesday overruled a circuit court ruling preventing Strike 3 Holdings from identifying alleged illegal downloaders of their adult content.
South Dakota Judge Limits State Prisons Ban on All 'Sexual Material'
A federal judge issued his opinion yesterday ruling that the South Dakota prison system’s extreme ban on what they term “sexual content” is unconstitutional.
Ron Jeremy Pleads Not Guilty, Bail Set by Judge at $6.6M
The arraignment hearing for Ron Jeremy on forcible rape and sexual assault charges, postponed last Wednesday, continued this morning at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Georgia Judge Orders Arrest of Pleasure Product Store Owner Over Fines
A DeKalb County judge has ordered the arrest of a Georgia pleasure product store owner over a dispute with the city of Brookhaven, which has attempted to put him out of business using zoning regulations and exorbitant fines.
Judge Grants MindGeek Early Discovery in DMCA Lawsuit
MG Premium, a MindGeek company described by their lawyers as "among the world's leading providers of adult entertainment content," was granted early discovery last month by a Washington State court in their lawsuit for damages and injunctive relief against the operators of YesPornPlease.com and VShare.io.
Michigan Judge: These Are 'No Ordinary Times' to Discriminate Against Adult Businesses
An Eastern Michigan court decision on Monday established that local strip clubs should be eligible for the Payment Protection Program (PPP) administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the U.S. Congress-approved COVID-19 relief package, regardless of the “prurient clause” included as part of the application.
Judge: Wisconsin Strip Club Owners Eligible for SBA Loans
A U.S. District Judge issued her opinion that four Wisconsin strip clubs should be eligible to receive COVID-19 emergency loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Paycheck Protection Program.
Canadian Judge Rules in Landmark Decision on Sexual Services Laws
Charges against a London, Ontario couple, Tiffany Harvey and Hamad Anwar, who were arrested in 2015 following a raid on their business, Fantasy World Escorts, have been stayed following a landmark decision by Judge Thomas McKay that the charges are unconstitutional.
Federal Judge Upholds California Labor Bill AB5
A federal judge in Los Angeles ruled today against Uber and Postmates' challenge of AB5, the controversial labor legislation designed to regulate the "gig economy." The legislation has resulted in much confusion for workers and employers that might be affected by it, including those in the adult industry.
GirlsDoPorn: Judge Proposes Awarding $12.3M in Damages to Models
San Diego Superior Court Judge Kevin Enright filed today a "(Proposed) Statement of Decision" on the civil case against the owner and staff of the GirlsDoPorn website brought forth by 22 models who shot for them. The statement proposes awarding the plaintiffs over $12 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
AB5 Update: Judge Declines to Rule Uber Drivers Are Employees
The newest data point in XBIZ’s ongoing coverage of California’s AB5 initiative comes from U.S. District Judge Edward Chen, who has declined to compel Uber to reclassify its drivers in California as employees.
Judge Freezes GirlsDoPorn Assets, Orders Liquidation
A San Diego judge issued yesterday a temporary restraining order freezing the assets of GirlsDoPorn’s owner Michael Pratt and associates, who are currently being sued for fraud in civil court by 22 former models and have also been charged by the Department of Justice with sex trafficking.
Another Judge Criticizes Strike 3 Holdings' Mass Copyright Litigation
A federal judge in New Jersey became yesterday the latest magistrate to rule against Strike 3 Holdings and also to use the occasion to criticize the adult company’s strategy of filing a massive number of copyright lawsuits against anonymous downloaders.
Judge Rejects Motion to Dismiss Backpage.com Case
U.S. District Court in Arizona Judge Susan Brnovich rejected today a Motion to Dismiss filed by the defense for the former owners of adult classifieds website Backpage.com, which was shuttered and seize by federal authorities who accuse the company of “participation in a conspiracy to facilitate and promote prostitution,” and also of money laundering, human trafficking and other charges.
