After 30 years, Jeffrey Norman Crum has been indicted for the murder of 12-year-old Jennifer Odom in Hernando County, Florida. Crum is already serving two life sentences for sexual battery and attempted murder and is described as "a bad guy who is very violent". The Odom family is relieved that the case has been solved after 30 years of grief and anguish.
Northwestern University is facing a widening hazing scandal with two lawsuits from former quarterback Lloyd Yates and an unnamed female athlete alleging mistreatment and sexual abuse. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing both plaintiffs, and more lawsuits are expected to be filed in the coming days. The university has a responsibility to protect its students and ensure that they are not subjected to mistreatment or abuse.
Four former Northwestern University football players have come forward to allege a culture of abuse and hazing in the school's athletics department, prompting civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent more than 15 former male and female Northwestern athletes. The allegations come in the wake of the firing of Northwestern's longtime football coach, Pat Fitzgerald, last week, and the former players are speaking out to ensure that no other student-athletes have to endure the same treatment.
Relatives of the victims of a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York in 2022 have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against social media companies, weapon manufacturers, and gun retailers. The lawsuit, announced by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, seeks damages for the 10 people killed in the attack, as well as for the survivors and the victims’ families. It is a reminder of the need for increased regulation of online platforms and the need to address the proliferation of hate speech and conspiracy theories.
Susan Louise Lorincz, a 58-year-old white woman from Florida, has been charged with first-degree murder after shooting and killing her Black neighbor. In the months leading up to the incident, Lorincz had been calling the victim's children racial slurs. The victim's family attorney, Ben Crump, has released a statement expressing his condolences and calling for justice. The case is still under investigation.
A tragedy occurred in Ocala, Florida on Friday when Ajike “AJ” Owens, a mother of four, was shot and killed by her neighbor. Family members of Owens have demanded justice for her death, and Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods is investigating the role of Florida’s “stand your ground” law in the shooting. The law, enacted in 2005, allows people to use deadly force if they feel their lives are in danger and has been a controversial topic in the state.
The family of Tyre Nichols has released a statement acknowledging the results of the medical examiner’s report, which confirms that he died from blunt force trauma. The attorneys representing the family are now calling for justice and accountability for the officers involved in the incident, and are demanding that the police department implement reforms to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future. The Shelby County District Attorney’s office has yet to announce any charges in the case.
Ed Sheeran is facing a copyright infringement lawsuit in a Manhattan federal courtroom, with the heirs of Marvin Gaye's co-writer claiming that Sheeran's hit "Thinking Out Loud" violates the copyright of the soul classic. At the start of the trial, attorney Ben Crump said they had "smoking gun" proof of the infringement, and Sheeran was called to the stand to face questioning. The jury will get to see concert footage of Sheeran flipping between the two songs, and the outcome of the trial is yet to be determined.
