Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Woody Allen sues American Apparel

Veteran filmmaker Woody Allen has filed legal papers accusing clothing company American Apparel of using his image in its advertising without his permission. The comedian claims he was never contacted by an American Apparel representative about the billboard and online advertisements, which featured an image - taken from the Oscar-winning 1977 movie Annie Hall - of Allen dressed as a Hasidic Jew. In legal documents filed in U.S. District Court in New York on Monday, Allen says he doesn't endorse commercial products in the U.S. and that American Apparel hasn't compensated him for the use of his likeness. Allen is seeking damages of more than $10 million.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Executive Board Elections - March 18th

Elections will be held Tuesday March 18th at 12:30 p.m. in Room A110.

ONLY paid members can vote - PLEASE BE THERE!!!! This is very important!

There are NO absentee ballots - we have a drop-down system. If you do not win for the position you run for, you can drop down to the next position, and so forth.

If you intend to run for an executive board position, you must email us at this address (UM.ESLS@gmail.com) and let us know: (1) Full name; (2) Year; (3) Position you are running for - specify ONE position, not all the ones you would consider - ; and (4) 4-5 sentences to let voters know things like: who you are, why you should win, leadership/sports/entertainment/work experience, other school involvements (i.e. do you have enough time to dedicate to ESLS?), ESLS involvement this year, or whatever else you feel like writing in those sentences. DEADLINE TO LET US KNOW YOU ARE RUNNING & SUBMIT YOUR 'BLURB' IS SATURDAY, March 15th!!

Below is a brief description of the six open positions:

PRESIDENT - Oversees everything and everyone. Helps with everything from posting flyers to emailing members to keeping in contact with professionals. Comes up with events and ideas for the semester. Represents the Society. Has direct contact with school administration, particularly regarding our biggest and most notable events (e.g. Symposium). Attends ICC (Inter Club Council) meetings monthly. Prepares LAFAC proposal for the Symposium (with Treasurer). Ensures the Symposium runs smoothly and that every detail is taken care of. Attends all events and meetings.

VICE PRESIDENT OF SPORTS - Maintains direct contact with sports law professionals. Maintains a master list of contacts. Does research to expand our contact list. Invites those professionals to speak at meetings throughout the semester. Coordinates with the VP of Entertainment so that speakers are alternated. Invites those professionals to attend our social events. Sets up sports panels at the Symposium - from topic titles to what speakers are speaking on which topic to who is moderating. Coordinates with the VP of Entertainment to find the perfect keynote speaker for the Symposium. Generally an independent position because the VP of Sports is the only one doing this task. Attends all events and meetings.

VICE PRESIDENT OF ENTERTAINMENT - Maintains direct contact with entertainment law professionals. Maintains a master list of contacts. Does research to expand our contact list. Invites those professionals to speak at meetings throughout the semester. Coordinates with the VP of Sports so that speakers are alternated. Invites those professionals to attend our social events. Sets up entertainment panels at the Symposium - from topic titles to what speakers are speaking on which topic to who is moderating. Coordinates with the VP of Sports to find the perfect keynote speaker for the Symposium. Generally an independent position because the VP of Entertainment is the only one doing this task. Attends all events and meetings.

TREASURER - Handles the ESLS bank account (with the school through the budget office). Collects and deposits membership dues, keeping track of all new members. Makes reimbursements. Tracks spending. Deposits amounts collected through fundraising. Collects and deposits Symposium registration fees. Prepares LAFAC proposal for the Symposium (with the President). Coordinates all catering needs for the Symposium. Reimburses speakers for their expenses. Attends all events and meetings.

SECRETARY - Maintains the ESLS email account. Emails members of upcoming events, information, job postings, etc. Ensures the member list on the gmail account matches the Treasurer's list of paid members. Takes minutes in executive board and general meetings. Creates agendas for executive board and general meetings. Assists the Publicity Chair with putting up banner and posting flyers. Email Hearsay when there is an event. Assist other executive board members when necessary. Handles all ESLS mail. Attends all events and meetings.

VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION - Maintains all communication with the proper school offices to ensure ESLS events run smoothly. Make room reservations for all meetings, events, and the Symposium. The Symposium room/lounge reservations are made early in the Fall semester once a date is picked. Coordinates with Facilities to request any necessary accomodations. Obtain parking passes for speakers at least 2-3 days in advance. Coordinates with the AV/IT Department to request any necessary audio visual equipmement, microphones, etc. Completes the CLE application for the Symposium, working directly with the President and the CLE office. Attends all events and meetings.

ALL ABOVE DESCRIPTIONS ARE NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE! THE EXECUTIVE BOARD WORKS TOGETHER AND WORKS VERY HARD TO MAKE ALL EVENTS RUN PROFESSIONALLY! THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW THINGS TO DO!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!!!!

Monday, February 4, 2008

ESLS Happy Hour - This Thursday, February 7th

As there is no "Beer at the Rat" this Thursday, ESLS is holding a happy hour at Town Kitchen & Bar in South Miami from 6:30 to 8:30.

So take a break from your appellate briefs and casenotes, and have an adult beverage... or two... or four.

ESLS Happy Hour @ Town Kitchen & Bar
This Thursday, February 7th
6:30 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.

Town is located at 7301 SW 57th Court in South Miami.
http://www.townkitchenbar.com/

Friday, January 25, 2008

General Meeting - Tuesday 1/20/08 at 12:30 in Room 352

Head's up everyone!

What: ESLS General Meeting
When: Tuesday, January 29th, 12:30pm
Where: Room 352
Topics: Spring Symposium, another ESLS happy hour, rescheduled Drew Rosenhaus event

See you there!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Lawsuit over Crowe's Cinderella Man injury

An insurance company is suing to prevent the production company behind 2005 film Cinderella Man claiming compensation for Renee Zellweger after Russell Crowe's shoulder injury delayed filming. Crowe hurt his shoulder during training for the role of boxer James J. Braddock and subsequently delayed the seven-week shoot by another seven weeks. Clarendon National Insurance Company has now filed a lawsuit against Omnikrom in Los Angeles Superior Court in a bid to prevent them from asking for $3.4 million compensation for Zellweger's loss of earnings during that time. However, the firm insists it has already paid out almost $6 million in claims to cover Crowe's surgery and rehabilitation and other production delays. It also claims in the lawsuit that the production company did not file the claim until July 2005, at least five months after the balance of the insurance claims were paid, and thus they should not be required to cover the cost of Zellweger's extra fee.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

"Borat" driver's ed teacher sues Fox

A driving instructor has sued the makers of the movie "Borat," accusing them of lying to him about the nature of the crass comedy by telling him he'd be in a documentary about the integration of immigrants into U.S. life. The lawsuit was brought Tuesday by lawyers for Michael Psenicska, a Baltimore high school mathematics teacher who has owned a driving school in Perry Hall, Md., for the last 32 years.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, seeks $100,000 in compensatory damages and unspecified punitive damages, saying the hit movie earned hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office. It says Psenicska is entitled to damages because defendants, including producer Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. and star Sacha Baron Cohen, used images of him extensively in advertising the film, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." Psenicska's lawsuit says Fox and Cohen fraudulently induced him to sign documents approving his appearance in "Borat" just before he was filmed giving Cohen's Borat Sagdiyev character a driving lesson.

According to the lawsuit, the film's staffers had promised they were producing a documentary about the integration of foreign people into the American way of life, a subject that interested Psenicska because he was in the business of teaching foreigners to drive. Yet, it says, when filming began, Borat did a hugging and kissing routine, struggled with his seat belt like a child, drove on the wrong side of the road, made ethnic slurs, said women had small brains and rolled down a window and offered a female pedestrian $10 for "sexy time."

Twentieth Century Fox spokesman Gregg Brilliant said Psenicska consented to the filming. "He signed a release, and we have an agreement," Brilliant said. "Now, 2 1/2 years after giving his consent and more than one year after the movie was released, Mr. Psenicska has decided to file a lawsuit, citing the financial success of the film, in spite of our agreement."

Haggis, Hatcher in breach of contract suits

"Crash" director Paul Haggis is suing one of his co-producers on the Oscar-winning movie over $4.7 million in unpaid royalties. Haggis claims he is owed the millions in profits from the film and has accused Bob Yari of breach of contract. The filmmaker is disputing an agreement signed in 2002 regarding the distribution of royalties, which depended on the film's financial success. "Crash," which went on to win three Academy Awards, was originally made on a budget of just $6.5 million plus $1 million in financing, but went on to gross over $100 million worldwide - more than 10 times its original cost. However, Yari has argued in court documents that the movie was not as profitable as it seemed, because various additional production costs had not been taken into account. Haggis is not the only person suing Yari over the film's financial issues - legal suits have also been launched by Bobby Moresco, who co-wrote the film, and co-producer Cathy Schulman.

* * * * * * * * * *

A beauty company is suing Teri Hatcher for allegedly breaking a contract by promoting rival products. Legal papers, filed by executives at Hydroderm skincare in Los Angeles on Tuesday, claim the Desperate Housewives actress promoted other beauty items, despite the fact she was paid $2.4 million to solely advertise Hydroderm products. The lawsuit reads: "Hatcher's name, image and likeness have been linked to so many competitors' products that it is anyone's guess as to what product keeps her skin and lips youthful." Hydroderm is seeking Hatcher's $2.4 million salary, unspecified damages and its legal costs.