AP Photo/Long Beach Press-Telegram, Brittany Murray

We all sympathized with Brian Banks last year when we heard the story of how the then-26-year-old’s name had been cleared after he was falsely accused of rape and had served five years in prison.  Since then, he has gone on to earn a spot with the Atlanta Falcons after his NFL career was cut short at 16, and now even more justice has been served, as his accuser has been ordered to repay the settlement she received from her high school as a result of her accusation.

Brian’s exoneration came after  a surprise Facebook friend request from his accuser, Wanetta Gibson, who wrote to him in a message, “I figured you and I could let bygones be bygones. I was immature then, but I’m much more mature now.’” When Brian met up with Wanetta she told him she would help him clear his name, saying: “‘I will go through with helping you but it’s like at the same time all that money they gave us, I mean gave me, I don’t want to have to pay it back.’”

Now she has no choice because, according to the Long Beach Press Telegram the Long Beach Unified School District won a $2.6 million default judgment against her. When she was 15, Wanetta won $750,000 of a $1.5 million settlement from her school after she sued them over a lack of safety on campus,  on top of her false rape allegation. Now a judge has ordered her to pay back that $750,000 plus interest, attorney’s fees, and an additional $1 million in punitive damages for a total of $2.6 million dollars. Long Beach Unified Superintendent Christopher J. Steinhauser said:

“The court recognizes that our school district was a victim in this case. This judgment demonstrates that when people attempt to defraud our school system, they will feel the full force of the law.”

Now we can finally say justice has fully been served. Let’s hope Brian gets some of that settlement as well.

Nikki Nelson / WENN

Somebody needs to call Iyanla, because the messiness between Dwyane Wade and Siovaughn Funches-Wade that keeps playing out in public needs to get fixed for the sake of their sons. Funches-Wade spoke with the site Jocks and Stiletto Jill about the state of her life now, and she claims that reported monetary settlements never really happened, and that she’s behind on her mortgage and has no car insurance because the money he allegedly owes her hasn’t been given. She also opened up about trying to pursue a law degree and why she says Wade is trying to “control” her. Here are some of the most interesting tidbits from the interview:

Jill: Is there a discrepancy between what you are receiving from Dwyane each month as part of your divorce settlement and what has been reported? There were reports of you receiving $1 million plus $25K a month in spousal support.

SFW: There has been no settlement PERIOD. Not even close to the $25k a month reported either. As a matter of fact, Mr. Wade is frequently late on the items he is supposed to pay for. I’ve recently received a noticed about the mortgage on my Chicago home being behind $75,000 and my car insurance has been canceled.

Jill: Ok, so why aren’t you working?

SFW: I’m currently in law school, the course doesn’t really allow for me to have a full time job.

Jill: Has law school always been a goal or did this come following the issues you’ve had with your lawyers during the case

SFW: It has always been something I wanted to do. I put my life on hold when Mr. Wade’s career took off. I raised our son. Even now Mr. Wade is practicing alienation with our children. He’s trying to prevent me from seeing my son’s on Mother’s Day this weekend. Usually the boys fly to Chicago to spend it with me but this year Mr. Wade wants to change that.

Jill: That’s interesting considering the Heat play the Bulls this weekend in Chicago. Why do you think he wants to alienate your sons from you. What is the all the “animosity” stemming from?

SFW: It’s about control. He wants to control me, that’s what abusers do. And it’s about money. He wants to create the image of a good family guy for his sponsors, he’ll do anything for money.

Jill: Do you think there is a way that you and Dwyane can come together and co-parent without being so reliant on courts and lawyers? If yes, what are those steps in your mind? If he retains custody, would you consider moving back to Miami to be closer to your sons?

SFW: Move to Miami for what? He won’t let me see my sons now so there’s no reason to believe he would if i was in Miami full time. And it’s reached a point now where my oldest son doesn’t want to visit at all. My youngest has been told I don’t want to see them. The other day he got on the phone with me and said he was told that I didn’t want to come see him. I have finals, I’m trying to grow as a person. Mr. Wade is vindictive and he’s trying to turn my sons against me.

I paid out of my own pocket for a mediator to try to resolve the issues. The session was set and Mr. Wade just didn’t show up. No excuse, no call. I’ve made the effort.

According to Jocks and Stiletto Jill, Funches-Wade also stated that Wade has retaliated against her multiple times for doing interviews by dragging her back to court and by trying to file suit to make her go back to work. She’s upset about this because she says that he knows that will impact her ability to finish Law school first. It’s all a shame, but at the same token, this expectation for Dwyane to still pay for everything for her and the way it seems that she’s feeling entitled just sitting back waiting for bills to be paid comes off kind of backwards. But I hope that she can keep the relationship she has with her boys and that Wade isn’t restricting that. But only Siovaughn, Dwyane, and God knows what’s really the truth and what’s really going on with these two…

Source: WENN

It’s hard to believe that more than a year has passed since 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed only minutes away from his father’s Florida home, by neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman. Following Trayvon’s death, his family filed a wrongful death suit against the homeowners association of the Sanford subdivision where the teen was killed, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

Portions of the legal papers filed against the association by the family’s attorney Benjamin Crump were made public today. The settlement amount was crossed out, as both parties agreed to keep the agreed upon figure confidential, but many are led to believe that award money will exceed $1 million. When asked by an interviewer whether or not the speculations were true, the family’s attorney responded:

 ”I have no comment on that subject…I know you did not get that from me.”

Back in February, the attorney representing Trayvon’s accused killer, Mark O’Mara revealed that the association’s insurer made an attempt to settle with the family of the slain teen for $1million, but his parents rejected the figure.

“It is understood and agreed that the payment made herein is not to be construed as an admission of any liability by or on behalf of the releasing parties; but instead the monies being paid hereunder is consideration for avoiding litigation, the uncertainties stemming from litigation as well as to protect and secure the good name and good will of the released parties,” a portion of the settlement reads.

As a part of the settlement agreement, Trayvon’s parents agree to drop their wrongful death claim as well as their claims for pain and suffering and loss of earnings and expenses. Benjamin Crump, however, made it very clear that Zimmerman is in no way a part of this deal and that the family has plans of filing a suit against him at a later date.

Money certainly will not bring their son back, but it’s good to know that this is one less trial they’ll have to endure.

Source: TMZ

While Kevin and Torrei Hart’s divorce was settled after more than five years of marriage in November of 2011, the former couple had never reached a decision regarding financials. Well, until now that is. Kevin Hart’s attorney Debra Opri has finally settled the financials of the divorce, reports TMZ.

Kevin is currently reported to be worth an estimated $9 million and will pay Torrei a lump sum of $175,000. Many are saying that Kevin got off kind of easy with the settlement. Some even believe that the couple had some sort of prenuptial agreement. In addition to the lump sum, Kevin will be required to cough up $19, 875 per month in child support for the former couple’s 8-year-old daughter Heaven and 5-year-old son Hendrix. We also hear that Torrei walked away with an Escalade truck and jewelry.

While everyone will more than likely have their two cents to contribute regarding the seemingly small amount of money that Torrei was awarded in comparison to other Hollywood divorces, what really matters is her happiness and peace of mind. She doesn’t appear to have allowed her divorce to cause her to miss a step as she continues to put our hilarious videos. Just a couple of weeks ago, photos surfaced of Torrei all dressed up, happily celebrating her birthday with family, friends and her two beautiful children, aboard a yacht.

She appears to be in a great place.

Source: Black Celeb Kids

Thoughts?

JIMI CELESTE/patrickmcmullan.com== (PatrickMcMullan.com via AP Images)

A Jersey Shore town now has to shell out $2.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a club owner who says officials didn’t want black performers to play at his venue.

Stephen D’Onofrio, who owned The Sawmill Cafe in Seaside Park, claimed municipal officials purposely tried to ruin his business because they didn’t want black performers on his stage, reports New Jersey 101.5. D’Onofrio filed the suit prior to his selling the club in 2009, but a settlement was only reached in the last week. The lawsuit also named several high-ranking town officials, police officers, and others as defendants, who the club owner said tried to prevent him from booking black bands from 2004 to 2009. D’Onofrio claimed The Sawmill was subjected to various forms of harassment, including fines and forced closings.

The problems started when, on April 13, 2004, the Sawmill Café hosted Method Man. D’Onofrio said in a press statement: “The overreaction and subsequent abuse of power that the Sawmill staff and I endured for years after Method Man played will never be forgotten.”

But city officials refuted this, saying D’Onofrio invited the scrutiny of the police, planning, zoning and building departments after he made alleged misrepresentations to the planning board about the use of part of the venue called the Green Room, where Method Man performed. Zoning officials claimed that the restaurant was actually a night club, and night clubs are prohibited in the borough. Even so, city officials acknowledged that entertainment was prevalent at the Sawmill Café for more than 20 years prior to the Method Man event.

According to the radio station, Borough Mayor Robert Matthies confirmed the settlement, saying the town decided it was in “the best interests” of all the defendants. Under the deal, none of the defendants admitted doing anything improper.

“This case is a reminder that there are indeed consequences for the abuse of power by local governments. This is an excellent result for our client, which is what we always strive for,” D’Onofrio’s lawyer Philip Davolos of the law firm Chance and McCann of Bridgeton, said in a press release.

AP Photo/Eric Risberg

Bank of America has agreed to pay Fannie Mae $10 billion to settle claims that the bank’s Countrywide Financial business issued home loans that contributed to the housing crash and economic recession in 2008.

“Both Fannie and Freddie [Mac], which have suffered billions of dollars in losses in recent years, have argued that Countrywide misrepresented the quality of home loans that it sold to the two entities at the height of the mortgage bubble,” The New York Times reports. “Bank of America assumed those troubles when it bought Countrywide in 2008.” The bank will pay $3.6 billion to Fannie Mae and buy back $6.75 billion in mortgages.

Bank of America is trying to get out of the mortgage business all together, but as the Times reports, they’ve run into problems with other outstanding lawsuits, including one from the Justice Department that could take $1 billion to settle. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that that settlement, which is meant “to compensate minority borrowers for alleged discrimination,” has been delayed with homeowners still being contacted and the possibility that checks won’t go out for another two years.

“The department said Countrywide charged black and Hispanic borrowers higher mortgage-lending fees or steered them into costly subprime loans even though their credit histories qualified them for a mortgage with more favorable terms,” the WSJ says. In its response, BofA tries to distance itself from Countrywide’s pre-acquisition business practices. Recipients will get between $200 and more than $15,000.

Bank of America is also participating in an $8.5 billion settlement (along with other financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citibank) to settle bad loan claims. Only $3.3 billion will go directly to borrowers (3.8 million customers total). The rest will be used for loan modifications and other adjustments, according to Forbes.

A machinist at work at a plant in Oregon. Image: AP Photo/The Columbian, Steven Lane)

Meyer Tool, an engine parts manufacturer based in Cincinnati, has agreed to pay $325,000 in back wages and interest to 60 African-American workers who were rejected for entry-level machinist positions. The company reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, putting an end to the race-discrimination case.

According to Fox 19 in Cincinnati, the OFCCP “found that Meyer Tool didn’t give equal consideration without regard to race to qualified job applicants.” In addition to the cash payment, the company will offer 11 of the applicants positions and training to all employees.

The company still hasn’t copped to doing anything wrong, and continued to defend itself through its legal representation.

“Meyer Tool has made changes to its recordkeeping procedures and carefully monitors those procedures to ensure this does not occur again,” said Colleen Lewis, a partner at Dinsmore. “As always, Meyer Tool Company remains committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and diversity.”

The case has been going on for seven years and, according to Lewis, this will put an end to the case and the expense.

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Image: iStockphoto

A Tampa-based environmental clean-up company, WRS Environment and Infrastructure (a.k.a. WRS Compass), has settled a racial discrimination case for $2.75 million with 11 employees. The suit was brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which alleged that the company subjected seven black employees in Lake Calumet, I.L. to repeated harassment in the form of hanging nooses, use of the “N-word,” poor work assignments and even physical threats. Two of the workers who complained were sacked.

The harassment went beyond African-Americans, with slurs (“n****r lover,” for instance) and threats of physical violence allegedly hurled at four white employees, according to Business Insurance.

In addition to the monetary settlement, the company must revise its anti-discrimination policies and train employees on the new rules.

A couple of other companies have recently become embroiled in discrimination lawsuits. Clothing retailer Wet Seal has been accused of firing black employees because they didn’t fit the company’s “brand image.” And the owner  perfume retailer Bond No. 9 has been accused of discriminatory practices. This link will take you to the EEOC page, which offers an overview of what racial discrimination is and how to file a complaint. This link discusses sex discrimination. And this one discusses pregnancy discrimination.

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Source: Gossiponthis.com

It looks like the tragic accident involving Tameka Raymond’s son may ease strife in another area of her life. Usher apparently wants to settle the nasty custody battle that has been going on between him and his ex-wife for months now. After experiencing the tragedy involving Tameka’s son Kile who was left brain dead after a ski accident, the singer wants to make amends and end the fighting between them.

According to TMZ:

Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ … Usher spoke with Tameka over the weekend and suggested that they settle up, but he did not significantly change his offer — 50/50 custody with a very slight increase in child support.  Tameka said no way.

But apparently Usher softened after the conversation, because our sources say he met with his lawyers earlier this week and instructed them to craft a new proposal that would give Tameka “a majority” of custody, though the sources did not specify the exact breakdown.  We’re told Usher is also raising his child support offer “significantly.”

Usher’s obvious motivation is the suffering Tameka is going through. According to the sources he’s very sympathetic to her pain and realizes now is not the time to continue a fight over her other children.

The offer hasn’t been presented to Tameka yet, but TMZ’s contacts say she is open to a “reasonable settlement.” Hopefully this will at least give her one less thing to worry about although it’s unfortunate it took this accident to come to this point.

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

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Source: Tmz.com

I guess the media should thank Vanessa Bryant for getting them through a slow news season this past winter, even if it all the reporting was in vain. When Kobe Bryant’s wife filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage, everyone had something to say about his infidelity, her assumed conniving plan, why she was getting half when she never stepped on the court. The discussion went well beyond these two, but now that six months have passed and there’s still no signed paperwork. TMZ is reporting it’s not going to happen.

The thing is, under California law, Vanessa has to wait six months from the time she petitioned for divorce before she can file final documents to make things official. That six-month date will hit this weekend, meaning Vanessa could walk away from it all on Monday, but from the closed-door reconciliation that’s been going on between these two, that won’t be happening.

We already saw a few instances of the couple hanging out in public, with Vanessa showing up to one of the Laker’s games, and apparently they’ve been spending a lot of quality time together, although Kobe still hasn’t moved back into Vanessa’s home. Make that one of three of Vanessa’s homes, because back when these two were working on a divorce settlement, Kobe signed over the deeds to three mansions and supposedly awarded Vanessa $75 million—half of his worth—on top of that.

I do hope these two are able to work things out and be a whole family for their children’s sake but for some reason something tells me Vanessa’s getting her Shaunie O’Neil on and stacking away an even bigger nest egg for the moment when she decides to leave Kobe for good. But I’m just speculating.

What do you think? Will Vanessa and Kobe make it last or will she leave him for good eventually?

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