Britney Spears' Dad Jamie Accuses Singer of Using Stall Tactics in Attempt to Delay Conservatorship Trial

By:Rebecca Friedman

Britney Spears was freed from her 13-year conservatorship in November 2021 — but the legal aftermath is still ongoing.

The Princess of Pop's father, Jamie Spears, recently filed court documents accusing his daughter of using stall tactics in order to delay the conclusion of their conservatorship trial.

Jamie, who acted as his daughter's conservator throughout the majority of her court-ordered conservatorship, expressed his belief that a global settlement between him and Britney is unlikely to happen, and therefore, he doesn't see a point in moving forward with their upcoming scheduled trial due to a lack of settlement at mediation later this month, according to legal documents obtained by a news publication on Wednesday, February 7.

"There is no reason to stay any portion of the case (as the Court acknowledged at the January 5, 2024 hearing) and there is certainly no basis for staying briefing or any other activity that in any way relates to Jamie’s pending summary judgment motion set for hearing on April 12, 2024," the court papers detailed.

The document continued: "The parties have had months (indeed, years) to discuss settlement. They have not settled. Imposing a stay simply because there is a February 23, 2024 meditation seems certain to result in a trial continuance should the parties not settle at mediation."

The filing further noted a nearly three-year gap between now and when Jamie first filed his Petition for Order Allowing and Approving Payment of Compensation to Conservator and Attorneys for Conservative and Reimbursement of Costs on March 26, 2021. 

Jamie's petition is set to be resolved at the June 2024 trial.

"Meanwhile, Britney consistently tries to delay," Jamie claimed, alleging: "Britney wasted over two years with motion practice regarding the threatened deposition of non-party Robin Greenhill, had the deposition set for January 29, 2024, and unilaterally canceled the deposition the Friday afternoon before the deposition (apparently concluding that the deposition was pointless)."

"The Court cautioned the parties that it will not continue trial. The parties have already spent one month waiting for meditation and waiting for rulings on the outstanding discovery disputes. Every day is critical to ensure the case continues to progress and is ready for trial without the need for a continuance. Accordingly, Jamie requests the Court does not stay this action pending the upcoming mediation and maintains the firm trial dates," he concluded.

The Blast obtained court documents recently filed by Jamie.

Full Article & Source:
Britney Spears' Dad Jamie Accuses Singer of Using Stall Tactics in Attempt to Delay Conservatorship Trial

See Also:
Britney Spears' father files petition to end conservatorship after 13 years at helm of pop star's estate

Britney Spears

Heartbreaking: Elderly Woman Scammed $150,000 - Urgent Digital Vigilance Needed

In Greene County, Ohio, a 78-year-old woman lost $150,000 in a suspected romance scam, emphasizing the importance of digital vigilance. After meeting individuals through social media and word games, she was manipulated into sending money, despite her daughter's efforts to protect her. This case highlights the increasing prevalence and sophistication of online scams targeting the elderly.

by María Alejandra Trujillo 

Heartbreaking: Elderly Woman Scammed $150,000 - Urgent Digital Vigilance Needed

In an era where digital connections blur the lines between reality and illusion, a heartrending tale unfolds in Greene County, Ohio. A 78-year-old woman, ensnared in the intricate web of a suspected romance scam, has lost a staggering $150,000 to individuals she met through social media and word games.

The Unraveling of Trust

The woman's daughter, Gravenstine, found herself in the midst of this nightmare when her bank flagged suspicious check activity. Despite her efforts to prevent further financial loss, including canceling a $5,000 check and obtaining guardianship, her mother continued her covert mission to send money.

The octogenarian, exploited by the trust she placed in these online relationships, resorted to cashing checks clandestinely and purchasing gift cards. The individuals involved in this scam are believed to be posing as figures such as retired four-star Army Gen. Austin Scott Miller, preying on her vulnerability.

A Battle on Multiple Fronts

"It's like you're fighting a war on multiple fronts," Gravenstine said, echoing the sentiments of many families grappling with such scams. Despite contacting local police, Greene County Adult Protective Services, and the Ohio Attorney General's Office, prosecuting these cyber-based romance scams remains a daunting challenge.

The situation escalated to the point where the mother's home had to be sold to avoid foreclosure. Gravenstine now has guardianship over her mother, who is living in her own apartment, emphasizing the importance of monitoring loved ones' online activities to prevent such scams.

A Silent Epidemic

This case is not an isolated incident. More than 30 area residents, including elderly women, have fallen victim to similar cyber romance scams. Nationwide, these scams resulted in financial losses totaling $1.3 billion in 2022 alone.

Fraudsters employ sophisticated tactics to manipulate and deceive their victims, often gaining their trust over extended periods. They then exploit this trust, persuading victims to send money under various guises.

As technology continues to evolve, so too do the methods used by scammers. The human cost of these scams is immeasurable, leaving behind shattered trust and financial ruin.

Gravenstine's story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in the digital age. As she navigates the aftermath of her mother's ordeal, she hopes that sharing their experience will help protect others from falling prey to such scams.

Full Article & Source:
Heartbreaking: Elderly Woman Scammed $150,000 - Urgent Digital Vigilance Needed

ONLY ON 48: Limestone Co. teen saves elderly woman from being hit by train

Source:
ONLY ON 48: Limestone Co. teen saves elderly woman from being hit by train

The Other Side Of Elder Abuse. Here’s What Older Caregivers Face

by Sophie Okolo, MPH

In his 2018 song “Hurt The Ones We Love The Most,” singer-songwriter-producer Evan Blum writes, “So, tell me why we hurt the ones we love the most. Because we think they'll never go. Of everyone we've come to know. We hurt the ones we love the most.” When we ponder these lyrics, one cannot help but wonder about its uncanny similarity to the current state of caregiving in the U.S. It can be hard and exhausting, and it often affects relationships. But what happens when things go wrong?

There are shocking stories about older people being treated poorly by friends, family members, and nursing home employees. Elder abuse is more common than one might think; approximately one in 10 Americans aged 60+ have experienced some form of abuse. It is a critical public health issue that results in poor health outcomes and increased mortality among older adults of all races, cultures, sexual orientations, social classes, and geographic areas. But older caregivers, those providing care to a younger loved one or otherwise, also experience a unique type of treatment. While studies show that elder abuse occurs in various forms, from physical to financial, psychological, and social, what plagues older caregivers is relational trauma. This type of trauma refers to trauma within a close relationship, usually with a caregiver.

According to a new study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, older adults are increasingly serving as caregivers to others, which may increase their risk of adverse interpersonal experiences. The study analyzed caregiving (assisting another adult with day-to-day activities) and experience of elder mistreatment of caregivers across three domains: emotional, physical, and financial, adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, gender, education, marital status, concomitant care-receiving status, overall physical and mental health, and cognitive function. The study also examined the link between being the primary caregiver (rather than a secondary carer) and each domain of mistreatment among older caregivers. Interestingly, older caregivers were associated with experiencing emotional and financial mistreatment after age 60, and those who served as primary rather than secondary caregivers for other adults had over two-fold increased odds of emotional mistreatment. As the study implied, this is due to potential problems in interpersonal relationships.

A Snapshot Of Abuse And Older Caregiving

Each year, it is estimated that a shocking 500,000 older adults are abused in the United States, with family members most often the abusers. One common form is verbal abuse, which can instill terror and power in a relationship and lead to more types of abuse. Angela (not her real name) is a 66-year-old Cameroonian immigrant who takes care of her mother, but the relationship is strained due to past family trauma: “My mother feels I could have lived a better life… No matter what I do, she always brings this up while lashing at me. It has continued to affect our strained relationship, and living with her has become unbearable.” While Angela would like more harmony in the home, she feels trapped. “I feel like I have no say in my own home,” she says. It is critical for families to have open lines of communication, healthy boundaries, and plan for extra help and support like respite care, counseling, etc. If a parent and child have clear and similar expectations, then risk of abuse and mistreatment can be reduced.

With an aging population, there is a high likelihood of increase in older adults serving as caregivers, but the percentage of such caregivers being abused may also rise. Hence, as the findings suggest, efforts to prevent or mitigate elder mistreatment should put more emphasis on vulnerable older caregivers since the consequences of abuse can be especially serious and take a longer time to recover. It will take a holistic perspective to understand and tackle this problem. If not, it will continue with devastating societal implications for older adults and those working as caregivers. Raising awareness of this issue through education, empowerment, and advocacy is one step in helping reduce elder abuse, but developing a shift in mindset is the first step toward culture change.

Older Domestic Workers Matter

When the 2018 drama film Roma burst onto the scene, it made waves all around the globe because of the incredible story about an indigenous domestic worker living in Mexico. There are parallels between caregiving and domestic work, particularly with those employed as nannies, home care workers, house cleaners, and family caregivers. There are 70 million domestic workers worldwide without worker rights, which has laid the ground for abuse. Older domestic workers face a unique challenge because some do not have sufficient funds for retirement or a family to care for them in old age. Moreover, they feel undervalued and underappreciated, a sobering fact that another human being would deem another human being less than them. Research has shown that abuse against older women remains a serious problem. Most domestic workers are women, some are undocumented, and others lack social support. It is imperative that we need a multifaceted approach to ensure the protection of these workers, particularly those who are older women.

Prioritize Elder Justice

What society needs to address elder abuse is the collaboration of both primary care and social service sectors, which can enhance the comprehensiveness of future programs, policies, and legislation. As research has shown, elder abuse can happen in families and institutions of care, places where it should not happen. It also continues to be a global problem and can seriously diminish the quality of life of older caregivers. Victims become more confused, frail, and unhappy with their circumstances as they are abused and exploited. If not checked, elder abuse can persist despite policy recommendations, health interventions, etc. The significance of this problem as a public health and human rights issue has been acknowledged by the United Nations International Plan of Action, but it should not stop there. Elder justice must become a priority, and whether young or old, everyone deserves dignity, love, and respect. When this happens, we make good strides to overcome ageism and toward a world free from the threat of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Full Article & Source:
The Other Side Of Elder Abuse. Here’s What Older Caregivers Face

ACL final rule updates to Older Americans Act regulations

The goal is to ensure older adults can continue to receive services and supports in their homes, ACL said.

by Jeff Lagasse

 

Photo: Halfpoint Images/Getty Images

The Administration for Community Living has released a final rule that updates regulations for implementing its Older Americans Act (OAA) programs for the first time since 1988, aiming to better support the national aging network that delivers OAA services and improve program implementation.

The rule, ACL said, aligns regulations to the current statute, addresses issues that have emerged since the last update and clarifies a number of requirements. The goal is to ensure the nation's growing population of older adults can continue to receive services and support in their homes.

"The overwhelming majority of Americans want to live in their own homes as they age, and almost 95% of them do," said Alison Barkoff, who leads the Administration for Community Living." For many, this is possible because of the programs and services provided through the Older Americans Act – such as rides to medical appointments, nutritious meals, in-home services, and support to family caregivers. The updated regulations strengthen the stability and sustainability of these programs, and we are looking forward to working with our partners in the aging network to implement them."

WHAT'S THE IMPACT

There are a number of key provisions in the final rule, which clarifies requirements for state and area plans on aging and details requirements for coordination among tribal, state and local programs.

ACL said the rule also improves consistency of definitions and operations between state and tribal programs; clarifies and strengthens provisions for meeting OAA requirements for prioritizing people with the greatest social and economic needs; specifies the broad range of people who can receive services, how funds can be used, fiscal requirements, and other requirements that apply across programs; and clarifies required state and local agency policies and procedures. For example, the final rule establishes expectations regarding conflicts of interest.

In addition the final rule addresses emergency preparedness and response, and requires state agencies to maintain flexible and streamlined processes for area agencies on aging to receive approval to establish contracts and commercial relationships.

Other provisions include establishing expectations for legal assistance and activities to prevent elder abuse; clarifying the role of the aging network in defending against the imposition of guardianship and in promoting alternatives to guardianship; and updating definitions, modernizing requirements and clarifying flexibilities within the OAA nutrition programs. For example, the rule allows for the continuation of innovations developed during the pandemic, such as providing carry-out meals through the congregate meals program (in some circumstances).

THE LARGER TREND

The ACL said the final rule was the culmination of intensive collaboration over many years with the national aging network. It also reflects input received through a request for information; a series of listening sessions, including consultations with tribes and other engagement with Native American grantees; and more than 780 comments received in response to the June 2023 Notice of Proposed Rule Making from a wide range of organizations in the aging and disability networks.

Full Article & Source:
ACL final rule updates to Older Americans Act regulations

Judge Appoints Lawyer to Represent Orioles Owner Peter Angelos' Interests; Georgia, Louis Angelos appear in court – Baltimore Sun

By Alice Barrett

A judge on Thursday appointed an attorney to represent the interests of Peter Angelos, who is incapacitated by illness as his family fights for control of his assets, including his legendary law firm and the Baltimore Orioles.

Baltimore County Circuit Judge Keith R. Truffer also tried to sidestep a threat from Wells Fargo to freeze the accounts of the Angelos Law Firm over the family dispute over ownership and management of the law firm known for acting on behalf of asbestos and Tobacco attracts billions of dollars from victims.

But the judge postponed until another day a decision on other requests from the feuding family's lawyers, including whether the law firm should be placed under a temporary conservatorship.

Truffer appointed Benjamin Rosenberg, founder and chairman of Rosenberg Martin Greenberg in Baltimore, to represent Angelos in the lawsuit pitting his wife Georgia and older son John, the Orioles chairman and CEO, against younger son Louis.

Georgia Angelos arrives in Baltimore County Circuit Court on Thursday for a hearing alongside attorney Steve Silverman over who should control the assets of her incapacitated husband, Orioles owner Peter Angelos.

Georgia Angelos, 80, waited in a courthouse hallway, expecting to be called to testify at the hearing, but Truffer concluded it was unnecessary. Louis Angelos, 53, who ran his father's law firm, sat in the courtroom with his lawyers. John Angelos, 55, was not seen in the courtroom.

For all of Peter Angelos' prominence in legal, political, philanthropic and sporting circles, he and his family have largely avoided the spotlight in which they now find themselves.

“This family has always been a very private family,” Jeffrey E. Nusinov, representing Louis Angelos, noted at one point during the hearing.

At issue was the fate of the Angelos Law Firm, with the dispute raising concerns at Wells Fargo, its longtime banker, about who was responsible and authorized to access funds in the firm's 11 bank accounts.

Peter Angelos, who began practicing law in the 1960s, was the firm's sole partner and shareholder for a long time. In June, Louis Angelos transferred the company to himself and signed both sides of the transaction. He argued that because of his father's disability, state law required ownership of the practice to be transferred to a qualified person, namely him since he was the only attorney in Peter Angelos' immediate family.

However, Georgia Angelos' lawyers called the transaction self-dealing and theft and filed a lawsuit against Louis Angelos in August, alleging his father's “financial elder abuse.”

Their lawyers argued that Louis Angelos did not have the authority to transfer the law firm, even though he ran it in his father's absence.

“It's like Lamar Jackson having a great game,” said Doug Gansler, one of Georgia Angelos' attorneys, before introducing himself to the Ravens' quarterback, who then said, “I'm going to sell the team to myself now.”

“That’s not how it works,” said Gansler, a former attorney general and two-time Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

Gansler asked Truffer to place the company under conservatorship until its ownership is clarified. He noted that despite Peter Angelos' incompetence, checks with his stamp were still being signed, even one last month for $500,000.

Nusinov argued that there was no need for a conservator because Louis Angelos had run the company for the past four years since his father's illness. The matter was “cobbled together,” he said, by the other side using the law firm as leverage in the litigation.

Louis Angelos arrives in Baltimore County Circuit Court on Thursday for a hearing about who should control the assets of his incapacitated father, Orioles owner Peter Angelos. Louis Angelos sued his mother, Georgia Angelos, and his brother, John Angelos, in June.

Georgia Angelos' lawyers had written to Wells Fargo to inform them of the law firm dispute and to say that she was her husband's actual agent and the only one authorized to act on his behalf.

Mary Zinsner, who represents Wells Fargo, told Truffer that the bank was neutral in the family dispute but needed clarity about who bore responsibility.

“We need to know who to turn to,” Zinsner said, especially in the event of a problem with a particular check or account.

Truffer agreed to name three people suggested by Louis Angelos who would have the authority to sign checks on the law firm's bank accounts. The signatories were not named in court after Zinsner said their release would raise security concerns.

It is unknown if Louis Angelos was one of the three. His mother's lawyers argue that he has a conflict of interest because of his lawsuit against his family members.

Louis Angelos sued his mother and brother a day after transferring the law firm to himself, saying John Angelos was trying to consolidate control of the Orioles and his father's other assets. He wants to remove her as trustee from his father's trust, into which Peter Angelos' share of the Orioles has been transferred.

The lawsuit revealed that Georgia Angelos has been preparing for a future sale of the team and that she wants to close or sell her husband's law firm.

When Truffer appointed Rosenberg to represent Angelos, he acknowledged the central — if quiet — role the incapacitated team owner and attorney played in the family dispute.

According to his firm's website, Rosenberg is a longtime litigator who has served on several judicial commissions. There he points out that he previously served as co-chair of the Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland's Equal Justice Council and “has played a small role in ensuring that the phrase 'equal justice for all' is not an empty slogan.”

The judge also agreed to seal certain files containing confidential financial information and details about Peter Angelos' medical condition.

Truffer will hold another hearing on November 9 to consider a number of issues, including Georgia Angelos' motion to invalidate Louis Angelos' sale of the law firm to himself.

A trial is scheduled for July, but attorneys for the feuding family members have agreed to try mediation.

“Maybe I'm hopelessly optimistic,” Gansler told the judge, “but I think we can get there.”

Full Article & Source:
Judge Appoints Lawyer to Represent Orioles Owner Peter Angelos' Interests; Georgia, Louis Angelos appear in court – Baltimore Sun

Pilot program to aid gravely disabled residents could improve housing, hospitalization rates

by University of California, Los Angeles

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

An evaluation of Los Angeles County's pilot program aimed at bolstering aid to gravely disabled homeless residents found the initiative could offer a promising framework to improve housing and health outcomes for this vulnerable population while also relieving overburdened psychiatric hospitals.

The UCLA Health-led study is published in the journal Psychiatric Services.

Led by the county and including a partnership of more than 40 different organizations and agencies, the outpatient conservatorship pilot program sought to offer wraparound housing, health care and social services to 43 homeless residents who had severe illnesses such as schizophrenia, delusional disorders, substance use disorders and other medical illnesses. Many of the residents had been homeless for more than five years.

Beginning in 2020, county officials prioritized offering voluntary services to these residents before referring any of them to an involuntary conservatorship, known as a Lanterman-Petris-Short Act conservatorship. For those referred to a conservatorship, the pilot program allowed the county's Homeless Outreach & Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME, to continue providing services to the resident in the least restrictive setting deemed appropriate, including street-based services in some cases, as the residents awaited their court proceedings.

At the end of the pilot program's first year, 81% of the 43 homeless residents were no longer unsheltered, according to the study. While the study did not include a matched cohort as a control group, the housing placement rates in the pilot program were significantly higher than those observed by the county in recent studies. In the year before the pilot program began, about 20% of all people served by Los Angeles County's homeless outreach had obtained housing placement within 12 months.

About 65% of the residents were placed under a conservatorship with most requiring treatment at a psychiatric hospital. More than half of these residents were able to leave these locked settings and transfer to licensed residential facilities earlier than would have been possible prior to the pilot program, according to study lead author and UCLA Health psychiatry professor Dr. Elizabeth Bromley.

"This pilot really shows that if you have a well-staffed, very assertive, expert team that is practicing with high intensity, they're able to both identify people who can benefit from conservatorship and they're able to build enough care continuity into the process to minimize the amount of coercion," said Bromley, who also serves as director of the UCLA-Los Angeles Department of Mental Health Public Mental Health Partnership.

Full Article & Source:
Pilot program to aid gravely disabled residents could improve housing, hospitalization rates

Personal care assistant facing fraud charge after allegedly stealing $150K from 95-year-old woman

By 7 News WHDH

BOSTON (WHDH) - A multi-agency investigation has led to a personal care assistant being charged with defrauding a 95-year-old woman of about $150,000 by stealing from her bank account, collecting rent money intended for the victim, and taking out a reverse mortgage on her home, resulting in foreclosure, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

Dominique Emanuel, 41, of Brockton, is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 22 in Dorchester Boston Municipal Court on one count of medical assistance fraud by provider and larceny over $1,200 by single scheme.

Hayden credited the Boston Police Department, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the investigation leading to the charges.

“The stunning breadth of this scheme illustrates the trust and authority given to this woman and how she abused that trust and authority to fill her own pockets. It’s something we’ve seen far too often, and it’s a clear signal to older adults and their families to be ever vigilant when money and services are involved,” Hayden said.

In February 2023, Boston police received a report from a woman stating her 95-year-old mother’s personal care assistant, later identified as Emmanuel, had been stealing from her.

The victim told police Emmanuel had been her PCA for several years after meeting her at the Santander Bank in Mattapan where Emmanuel worked as a bank teller.

A review of the victim’s will led to the discovery that Emmanuel was listed as an alternate executor of the will. The victim’s daughter then discovered her mother’s Mattapan home was in foreclosure due to a reverse mortgage of which the victim and family members had no knowledge.

They also learned that approximately $120,000 was withdrawn from the victim’s Santander Bank account, which included $70,000 made payable to a construction company for work that was never done.

Additionally, Emmanuel was tasked with collecting rent in the amount of $1,800 from the first-floor tenant of the home. The tenant told investigators he had entered a rental agreement from March 2021 and he had paid the person known to him as Dominique $3,600 cash for the first and last month’s rent and $1,800 cash every month thereafter until December 2022, totaling over $30,000 in payments.

The victim never received these payments. Investigators were able to corroborate numerous cash deposits into Emmanuel’s Santander account during that timeframe.

A review of Emmanuel’s employment records from Tempus Unlimited, a personal care attendant program, showed that she had been paid for hours of work she did not perform, including days she was out of state. Records showed that she billed Tempus for hours while the victim was either being treated at a long-term care or an inpatient care facility and would not require the assistance of a PCA at home. The total Medicaid fraud loss is approximately $3,763.60.

With financial exploitation and abuse on the rise, District Attorney Hayden recently launched the Suffolk County Fraud Fighters, a multi-agency effort to help residents, particularly older adults, recognize common scams and signs of financial fraud.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), compared to anonymous scammers, older adults typically suffer greater financial losses when they know the perpetrator.

Full Article & Source:
Personal care assistant facing fraud charge after allegedly stealing $150K from 95-year-old woman

Texas Supreme Court Allows Defamation Case Against Netflix to Move Ahead

Johnston Tobey's Chad Baruch represents woman claiming defamation over ‘Dirty Money’

DALLAS, February 05, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Supreme Court of Texas has denied an attempt by video streaming company Netflix to end a defamation case brought by a Texas woman who claims she was harmed by a March 2020 episode of the Netflix television show "Dirty Money."

The episode, "Guardians, Inc," by award-winning producer Alex Gibney, suggested Tonya Barina was abusing her responsibility to her great-uncle, Texas millionaire Charles Thrash, the owner of a successful auto repair business in San Antonio. Court records indicate Mr. Thrash is incapacitated by Alzheimer’s disease. Ms. Barina is legal guardian of his estate.

Ms. Barina sued Netflix in 2021 alleging that the program falsely accused her of exploiting Thrash while failing to include information about Mr. Thrash’s girlfriend, Laura Martinez – who was denied guardianship of Mr. Thrash – and her attorney Philip Ross, both of whom were sanctioned for more than $225,000 for what the guardianship court deemed their "intentional, knowing and outrageous conduct."

According to court records, the two "engaged in a scheme to cause Thrash, a totally incapacitated individual without the capacity to contract or marry, to participate in a marriage ceremony." The marriage, to Ms. Martinez, later was annulled. Ms. Martinez and Mr. Ross also tried to have Mr. Thrash adopt Ms. Martinez’s adult children.

Those records also show that Ms. Martinez and Mr. Ross engaged in "fraud upon the Court" and interfered with Barina in the performance of her duties as guardian. The Court found that Ms. Martinez "will testify to whatever facts are necessary for the moment to achieve their purposes."

Barina alleges that Netflix had the records in question, but instead relied heavily upon the statements of Mr. Ross and Ms. Martinez.

Following Ms. Barina’s lawsuit, lawyers for Netflix filed a motion to dismiss under the Texas Citizens Participation Act, a law designed to protect free speech rights. The trial court denied that motion, and with the Texas Supreme Court decision declining without comment to review the case, Ms. Barina can continue her suit against the media company.

"Tonya Barina deserves justice, and with the action of the Texas Supreme Court, now she is in a position to move forward and get it," said Chad Baruch, managing shareholder of Johnston Tobey Baruch in Dallas. "Everyone is in favor of free speech, but that's not what this case is about. It’s about Ms. Barina’s allegation that Netflix made her the bad actor here when she’s not."

To hear Mr. Baruch discussing the case, click here.

Mr. Baruch was brought in alongside Ms. Barina’s attorneys Carl J. Kolb and Glenn Deadman to assist with the Texas Supreme Court appeal.

The case is Netflix v. Barina, No. 22-0914 in the Supreme Court of Texas.

Full Article & Source:
Texas Supreme Court Allows Defamation Case Against Netflix to Move Ahead

See Also:
Episode of Netflix Show ‘Dirty Money’ Found to Be Potentially Defamatory

Netflix Must Face Defamation Suit Over ‘Dirty Money’ Episode

Texas lawyer, Netflix lose defamation appeal concerning multimillionaire's court-appointed guardianship

Defamation lawsuit against Netflix linked to “Dirty Money” episode “Guardians, Inc.” which has a Massachusetts plot