Man sues library after being told he stinks

Salt Lake City, Utah

After being asked to leave a Sugar House library because of his lack of hygiene, a Utah man is suing the Salt Lake City Library for $25,000 — and he wants his library card re-activated.

According to a lawsuit filed in 3rd District Court Wednesday, the man wrote that over the summer, he was banned from the public library at 2131 S. 1100 East by a librarian "who said that I smelled and I was unclean."

The man wrote that the librarian was talking loudly with another man, and the duo then began "badgering" him while he was using a library computer.

Jury finds girls, parents liable for calling teacher 'perv', 'creeper'

From San Jose, California:

Two years after San Jose schoolgirls branded a teacher as a "perv" and "creeper" who inappropriately touched kids and peeked into their restroom, a civil jury Friday found the children and their parents financially liable for defamation in a case that pitted the rights of the accused against the aim of reporting perceived abuse.

The jury awarded $362,653 in compensatory damages to former Catholic school physical education teacher John Fischler after finding the families spread false statements about him that damaged his reputation. The 49-year-old broke into a huge smile Friday when he heard the favorable verdict, which his lawyer characterized as "complete vindication."
"I'm grateful the jury was able to see through the smoke screen and the truth came out." Fischler said in a choked voice outside the courtroom. "There's always going to be a scar. But the jury saw through the deception."
The Santa Clara County Superior Court panel also found that one of the girls -- who was 11 years old at the time -- acted with malice and is liable for punitive damages. The jury will decide how much during the second phase of the trial, which begins Monday.
The unusual case began in 2011 when administrators at Holy Spirit school in Almaden Valley were told that teacher John Fischler had inappropriately touched their 10- and 11-year-old girls and peeked in a girls' bathroom. School officials and police cleared Fischler of sexual misconduct.But the teacher, claiming the ordeal had indelibly stained his reputation and ruined his teaching career, declined to return to what he called a poisonous atmosphere at work and filed a lawsuit seeking nearly $1 million in damages.
The lawsuit contended he was the victim of a "conspiracy" by "classic parent bullies" and their daughters, including a popular girl he described as having a "gang-leader-like personality," to get him fired from the private Catholic school where he was an at-will employee.

Erotic werewolf romance writer bites hand that feeds

Werewolf creator from from Nebraska sues Siren:
Cass

County author Erin R. Flynn, who writes “gay erotic paranormal romance” under the pen name Joyee Flynn, is suing her Texas-based publisher in a contract dispute... The stories feature amorous encounters involving shapeshifters and werewolves, among other plot turns.

In an answering brief, Siren [Publishing] said Flynn's lawsuit is premature because her contracts require arbitration as the first step to settle a dispute. Siren has filed a separate lawsuit against Flynn in Texas.

Flynn started writing fiction in 2002 and has written 89 books for Siren since 2010, according to the lawsuit. She said she typically writes 15,000 words a day and can finish a book in a week or two.

Flynn submitted a manuscript for “Gideon” on June 1, but an editor at Siren wanted to market the book under a different imprint, so she withdrew it from consideration. On June 30, Flynn shipped the manuscript for “Trapped and Boiled.” But she objected to changes proposed by her editor, so she withdrew that one, too. Flynn said she never signed a contract for either book. Instead, she self-published the books on Amazon.com.

Siren's lawyers sent Flynn a notice that she had breached her contract. Then, after Flynn filed her lawsuit, Siren Publisher Diana DeBalko, who goes by Amanda Hilton, sent a takedown notice to Amazon.com asserting copyright over the books. The titles are no longer available online.

At issue is whether the two books are sequels to existing works that Flynn wrote under contract to Siren — in which case the publisher has the first right of refusal — or original works that stand alone in a series.

Siren's slogan is 'quality erotic romance for the sophisticated reader.' Here's the synopsis of Flynn's book, 'Two Wiggles and Some Fur: Unmated at Midnight:'

Jensen has wanted a mate for a long, long time. Picked on for his size and growing up in a time when being gay could get him killed, happiness was always out of reach for him. But then he found a role in a pack he was made for… Beta. Ever since, all he's done is protect people and keep his pack safe, and he is good at it. So when he meets two men eating out of the garbage, all his instincts kick in to help them.

Kyd and Redley have been on the run, and they’re tired, hurt, and desperate. When a huge wolf shifter shows up and offers help, they don’t know whether to trust him or run because he might eat them. As salamander shifters they have a few special gifts and realize they can trust him. But when they begin having trouble with the pack, who will Jensen listen to?

 Sounds scary.