Texas: Lawsuit Over Use of Pepper Spray (New York Times) Two advocacy groups asked a court to stop the Texas Youth Commission from permitting the use of pepper spray to subdue unruly juvenile prisoners before other forms of restraint. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three 15-year-old incarcerated youths with mental disabilities who say they have been sprayed or threatened with spray. Commission officials issued a directive last month allowing the ... [News Source]

Alameda County settles abuse lawsuit by Yusuf Bey foster daughters (San Francisco Chronicle) (09-13) 18:53 PDT OAKLAND - Alameda County has agreed to pay $188,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by three women who said the late leader of Your Black Muslim Bakery, Yusuf Bey, sexually assaulted them and abused them as minors after the county placed them in... [News Source]

Dallas County faces federal lawsuit over jail conditions (Dallas Morning News) A federal investigation into Dallas County's troubled jail system entered a new phase this week with the U.S. attorney general's office filing a civil lawsuit against the county and Sheriff Lupe Valdez in U.S. District Court. [News Source]

U.S. judge denies motions to dismiss lawsuit by man once charged in daughter’s death (Chicago Tribune) A federal judge has denied motions to dismiss a civil rights lawsuit filed by the father of a 3-year-old Wilmington girl who was sexually assaulted and drowned in a creek in 2004. [News Source]

Lawsuit: Stop pepper spray in youth jail (The Charlotte Observer) Two advocacy groups on Thursday asked a court to stop the Texas Youth Commission from permitting the use of pepper spray to subdue unruly juvenile prisoners before other forms of restraint. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three 15-year-old incarcerated youths with mental disabilities who say they have been sprayed or threatened with spray. TYC officials last month issued a directive allowing ... [News Source]

Country star asks judge to dismiss lawsuit (USA Today) John Michael Montgomery has asked a judge to dismiss a slander lawsuit against him, arguing in court filings that statements he made to police qualify as "pure opinion" and cannot be found slanderous. [News Source]

Discrimination Lawsuit Could Cost Taxpayers $7M (CBS 2 Los Angeles) If the city loses a discrimination lawsuit brought by a black firefighter who was fed dog food as a prank, taxpayers could be hit with a judgment of $7 million or more, legal consultants warned the Los Angeles City Council. [News Source]

ACLU files open records lawsuit against Providence police (Boston Globe) A civil rights group has filed a lawsuit against the Providence Police Department for allegedly ignoring an open records request. [News Source]

Groups file lawsuit targeting Texas Youth Commission’s use of pepper spray (Austin American-Statesman) Lawsuit claims new policy has caused use of spray to skyrocket. A growing battle over the use of pepper spray by the Texas Youth Commission headed to court today as two advocacy groups filed a lawsuit to stop the controversial practice that they insist was illegally approved. [News Source]

Whittaker, bank settle phony check cashing lawsuit (Lexington Herald-Leader) Powerball winner Jack Whittaker has settled a lawsuit with City National Bank of West Virginia over the cashing of $49,000 in forged checks. Kanawha County Circuit Judge Duke Bloom dismissed the lawsuit after the parties reached an agreement, his office said Thursday. A trial had been set for next Monday. Whittaker's company, Whittaker LLC, sued City National in January, claiming the bank was ... [News Source]