See you in court

Diddy arrives at the 2nd Annual Essence Black Women in Music reception honoring Grammy-nominated artist Janelle Monae in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

As P Diddy is sued for one trillion dollars, we take a look at some of the quarter’s most intriguing lawsuits.

Plaintiff: Valerie Joyce Wilson Turks, unemployed

Defendants: Sean Combs (alias P Diddy/Puff Daddy/Diddy/Puffy), Kim Porter and Rodney King

Reason: Turks claims Combs – along with his former girlfriend Kim Porter and Rodney King, who was infamously a victim of assault by police in Los Angeles in 1991 – was behind the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and that he assaulted her son and has a poker chip of hers, which she says is worth “100 zillions of dollars”. Turks, who also claims to have a 23-year-old son by Combs, is seeking $900 billion (£571.5bn) in child support and $100bn (£63.5bn) in lost income. She is also seeking a restraining order against the rap mogul.

Sample quote: “[Diddy] went through Kim Porter and Rodney King and knocked down the World Trade Center and then they all came and knocked my children down.” (Turks)

Plaintiff: Helen Hutcheson, former dental practice manager.

Defendant: John Hutcheson, Helen’s husband, and Karen Robertson, owners of Rosemount Dental Clinic

Reason: Mrs Hutcheson claimed her husband reneged
on a promise to pay her £3,000 a month as manager of
his practice in Aberdeen. Mr Hutcheson and his business partner claim that no promise had been made and legal papers state that John found this sum excessive and said the wage promise was “tongue-in-cheek”. Mrs Hutcheson’s claim was dismissed on the grounds that she had not been a member of staff for long enough to make a claim of unfair dismissal.

Sample quote: “There is absolutely no animosity between my husband and I, none at all.”

Plaintiff: Jonathan Doyle, filmmaker/sasquatch impersonator.

Defendant: The State of New Hampshire

Reason: Doyle claims a violation of his right to free speech after park rangers told him he needed a permit to walk on a mountain dressed as Bigfoot. Doyle, an amateur filmmaker, visited Mount Monadnock on 26th September last year to film walkers’ reactions to Bigfoot “sightings”. When park manager Patrick Hummel informed him that he needed to buy a $100 permit to proceed, Doyle refused and lodged a complaint with the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union (NHCLU).

Sample quote: “I love and respect our mountain; Mount Monadnock is my favourite mountain but this situation is absurd and uncalled for.” (Doyle)

Plaintiff: David Martin, sushi eater.

Defendant: Jay Oh, owner of A Ca-Shi Restaurant

Reason: Martin is seeking $4,000 in damages for “humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish” after Jay Oh requested he stopped separating the fish from the rice during an all-you-can-eat sushi meal. Martin, a type 2 diabetic, who has to watch his carbohydrate intake, claims Oh encouraged him to either eat the rice or order sashimi at a special price rather than continuing to eat just the fish part of the sushi.

Sample quote: “The rice is part of the all-you-can-eat sushi. If you only eat the fish, I would go broke.” (Jay Oh)

Posted on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023 - Categories: #2 - Jan-Mar 2011, App Issues.