Split decision for Fox in case over X-rated viewing.The former director of music at Fox Sports Productions Inc. won a partial victory against the News Corp. unit on claims it falsely accused him of viewing pornography on his computer and threatened to report him to law enforcement officials. Jeffrey Jacquet, director of music from 1996 to 2000, may have suffered significant "humiliation and mental anguish When connected with a physical injury, includes both the resultant mental sensation of pain and also the accompanying feelings of distress, fright, and anxiety. As an element of damages implies a relatively high degree of mental pain and distress; it is more than mere disappointment, " from the actions of Fox Sports Productions, which terminated him in July 2000 after finding pornographic materials on his computer, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Aug. 25 ruling in 2nd Appellate District Court. In addition to the emotional distress emotional distress n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of damages in lawsuits for injury due to the negligence or intentional acts of another. Originally damages for emotional distress were only awardable in conjunction with damages for actual physical harm. claim, Jacquet had sued for wrongful termination wrongful termination n. a right of an employee to sue his/her employer for damages (loss of wage and "fringe" benefits, and, if against "public policy," for punitive damages). and discrimination. All three claims were dismissed in a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Superior Court ruling, which also said he would have to pay $119,279 in Fox's attorney's fees. In addition to the lower court's emotional distress ruling, the appellate court A court having jurisdiction to review decisions of a trial-level or other lower court. An unsuccessful party in a lawsuit must file an appeal with an appellate court in order to have the decision reviewed. overturned the payment of attorneys' fees. The three-judge panel affirmed the ruling on Jacquet's other claims. Jacquet, who sued in 2000, claimed he was wrongfully terminated and discriminated against because he was African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. . While he admits viewing some pornography sent in e-mails from friends, he claims Fox Sports Productions "forged and planted the evidence against him" in retaliation. "We were pleased the court saw it our way with respect to emotional distress and disappointed in its ruling in the discrimination clause," said Gregory Dawley, a partner at Billet Kaplan & Dawley PPC See Pocket PC, PowerPC and pay-per-click. PPC - PowerPC representing Jacquet. David Battaglia, a partner at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP LLP - Lower Layer Protocol representing Fox Sports Productions, could not be reached for comment. Ann Calfas, an attorney at Fox Sports Productions, did not return calls. The case is now set to go to trial on the emotional distress claim. Jones Loss An intellectual property partner at Jones Day joined Fulbright & Jaworski LLP on Aug. 25. John "Rocky" Rawls is the national trademark enforcement attorney for Starbucks Corp. and international trademark attorney for Amazon.com Inc. Pawls, whose move was brokered by Bill Vochoska at Alan Miles & Associates Inc., will be a partner at Fulbright & Jaworski's intellectual property department, which includes about 10 attorneys in L.A. Katten Ad Add Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman PPC has brought on D. John Hendrickson as special counsel to its national advertising practice. Hendrickson, who was a partner at New York-based Hall Dickler Kent Goldstein & Wood LLP's Beverly Hills office, will also represent film, publishing and Internet media clients in the firm's entertainment practice. In advertising, Hendrickson will handle celebrity endorsement agreements, agency-advertiser agreements, media buying agreements and right of publicity issues. Staff reporter Amanda Bronstad can be reached at (323) 549-5225 ext. 225, or at abronstad@labusinessjournal.com. |
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