Carlos Watson, the founder of Ozy Media, was sentenced on Monday to 116 months in prison for defrauding investors and misrepresenting the company’s finances. The decision comes after Watson’s conviction in July for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that included falsifying contracts and fabricating deals to gain investor trust, according to Reuters. Fraudulent Deals And Fabricated Contracts The sentencing, delivered by US District Judge Eric Komitee in Brooklyn federal court, marks the culmination of a high-profile case. Prosecutors accused Watson and his now-defunct media startup of inflating revenue projections and audience
Byron Allen’s $10 billion lawsuit accusing McDonald’s of racial discrimination is heading to trial, following a federal judge’s ruling, according to Variety. The media mogul alleges that the fast-food giant denied advertising opportunities to his Black-owned media outlets while reserving substantial budgets for general-market advertising. Court Allows Jury to Decide United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin found sufficient grounds for the case to be heard by a jury. In his decision, he noted that this type of case benefits from a full hearing. Allen’s lawsuit claims that McDonald’s created
Joanna Smith-Griffin, founder of the education-focused AI startup AllHere Education, has been charged with fraud and identity theft after allegedly misrepresenting her company’s financial health and customer base. Smith-Griffin, 33, reportedly secured nearly $10 million in investments by inflating revenue figures and claiming non-existent contracts with major school districts, including New York City Public Schools. Misrepresentation and Personal Gain Launched in 2016, AllHere Education aimed to combat absenteeism in schools using an AI chatbot named “Ed.” By 2021, Smith-Griffin asserted that her technology was adopted by eight major districts. However,
Shaquille O’Neal, former NBA star and current sports commentator, has reportedly agreed to an $11 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit over his promotion of Astrals non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Shaq’s NFT Lawsuit And FTX Links Under Legal Scrutiny The settlement, awaiting court approval, also addresses separate claims linked to the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The lawsuit was filed after investors alleged they suffered financial losses tied to Astrals NFTs, a collection of 10,000 digital collectibles promoted by O’Neal. Plaintiffs argued that his celebrity endorsement heavily influenced their
Three-time Grammy Award winner Megan Thee Stallion is suing YouTuber and social media personality Milagro Gramz, alleging cyberbullying and false claims surrounding the high-profile shooting case involving Megan and rapper Tory Lanez. According to Billboard, the lawsuit, filed by Megan’s legal team on Wednesday, accuses Gramz of being a “mouthpiece and puppet” for Lanez. Megan’s legal counsel, the firm Quinn Emanuel, is demanding an end to what they call a “campaign of harassment.” Accusations of Spreading Misinformation and Invasion of Privacy According to the lawsuit, Gramz, whose real name is
Megan Garcia has filed a lawsuit against Character.AI following the death of her 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer III. Sewell, an Orlando, Florida, teen, reportedly grew attached to a chatbot he named “Dany,” modeled after Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones. Garcia alleges that her son’s obsessive use of the chatbot, coupled with the app’s addictive design, contributed to his mental health struggles, ultimately leading to his suicide. AI Chatbot “Daenerys” Became Son’s Closest Confidant Character.AI, an interactive chatbot platform, lets users design or select lifelike personas with which to communicate.
SoLo Funds, a Los Angeles-based fintech startup, is facing a class action lawsuit filed on October 16, accusing the company of “unlawful and deceptive” lending practices. As first reported by Bloomberg, the lawsuit alleges that SoLo misled users by disguising hidden fees as “tips” to lenders and “donations” to the company. While these fees are technically optional, the suit claims they are difficult to avoid, making loans more expensive than advertised. Deceptive Lending Practices Alleged in Lawsuit SoLo Funds allows users to request small loans, up to $575, which are
A Black senior legal counsel at Workday, Anthony Hill, has filed a lawsuit against the tech company, claiming racial and disability discrimination after it sent police to his home for a “wellness check” during his medical leave. According to Business Insider, Hill, who was receiving treatment at a hospital at the time, felt the event was a distressing and unnecessary escalation. The lawsuit, filed in December 2023 in California’s Northern District Court, follows Hill’s claim that he informed his manager of a medical emergency on October 12, 2022. He provided
Shaquille O’Neal, the basketball star turned business mogul, is at the center of a class-action lawsuit linked to the Astrals NFT project. The case, which has captured public and legal attention, has recently moved forward following a ruling from the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The court’s decision granted partial progress for the plaintiffs, while dismissing other claims. Lawsuit Moves Forward with Mixed Results The core of the lawsuit revolves around O’Neal’s promotion of Astrals, a project featuring 10,000 3D NFT avatars and a decentralized autonomous
A Texas nonprofit grant program aimed at supporting diverse small business owners, has agreed to revise its application process after being sued for allegedly discriminating against white men. The lawsuit was brought by the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), a group led by conservative activist Edward Blum, who is also suing Fearless Fund, a Black women-led VC firm. Lawsuit Challenges Race-Based Criteria The lawsuit centered around a $50,000 grant offered by the Founders First Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit founded by Kim Folsom and led by Shaylon Scott. The
