Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Professor Suing Johnny Depp For Concert Confrontation Can Seek Punitive Damages
Depp in 'The Rum Diary' / Photo courtesy FilmDistrict
()
A woman suing Johnny Depp for injuries she claims she sustained during a confrontation at a concert got the go-ahead by a judge to seek punitive damages against the actor.
The suit centers around a December 2011 Iggy Pop concert at the Palladium attended by 53-year-old UC Irvine professor Robin Eckert and her husband.
Eckert holds the actor's security team partially responsible for her alleged injuries; the suit claims "Depp's goons went berserk" as Eckert attempted to return to her V.I.P. seat at the show. The suit claims Depp's musclemen grabbed her from behind and bear-hugged her, restrained both of her wrists and ripped her cell phone from her hand "one finger at a time." The suit further states that one of the bodyguards handcuffed her and dragged her on the ground, causing her pants to fall off, exposing her rear-end to other patrons.
Today Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson denied a motion by attorneys representing the 49-year-old Depp, the Hollywood Palladium management company and several security guard firms to only allow Eckert to pursue her claims for compensatory damages, according to City News Service.
Support for LAist comes from
Eckert is a mother of two, and has been on medical leave from her UCI post since 2009.
While Eckert says the attack was "highly painful and embarrassing," Depp's lawyer, Andrew Brettler, has maintained that his client did not have an active role in Eckert's alleged experience.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist