National Roundup

South Carolina Court upholds $4M verdict in A&E show dispute CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- A federal appeals court has upheld a Charleston real estate investor's $4 million verdict in a dispute over profits from the A&E reality television show "Flip This House." The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week upheld the verdict awarded to creator and one-time host Richard C. Davis. A jury in 2008 awarded the money to Davis, who created the show and appeared on its first season. The Trademark Properties Inc. real estate investor sued after he said the cable network broke an oral agreement to split the show's profits. Attorneys for A&E have said the network had no such agreement. A spokesman on Tuesday would not talk about the appellate decision. Davis said Tuesday that he wants to return to television with a series about restaurant renovations. Illinois Orbitz says will defend self agai n st American suit CHICAGO (AP) -- Orbitz Worldwide Inc. said Wednesday that it will vigorously defend itself against a lawsuit filed by American Airlines, which is in a dispute with the online travel company over commissions. American, which is owned by AMR Corp., has been trying for months to reduce the commissions it pays online travel sites for each ticket booked. In December, it stopped selling tickets through Orbitz as part of the push. A week later, Expedia Inc. removed American from its listings. American's tickets are still absent from the Orbitz site. Earlier this month the airline and Expedia announced a deal in a joint statement but did not disclose the terms. American filed a lawsuit in Texas on Tuesday against Orbitz and Travelport, an online travel company that owns half of Orbitz Worldwide. Orbitz said in a statement that it is "leaving open all possible options to seek relief from American Airlines' predatory actions." The company claims American is trying to force it "to adopt an airline ticket distribution model that limits consumer choice and inhibits competition." New York Wrongfully convicted man wins $6.5M settlement WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) -- A New York man who wrongfully served 16 years in prison has won a $6.5 million settlement. Jeffrey Deskovic was released from prison in 2006 after DNA linked the 1989 murder of a Peekskill High School classmate to another man. He was exonerated at age 33. Deskovic filed a lawsuit in 2007 accusing the police and medical examiner of fabricating evidence that led to his conviction. The 37-year-old Deskovic will receive $4 million this year and $2.5 million in 2012. His mother, who was a plaintiff in the suit, will receive $250,000. The settlement was unanimously approved by the Westchester County board of legislators late Monday. Colorado Woman raped in deserted Denver airport concourse DENVER (AP) -- A woman who missed a connecting flight at Denver International Airport said she was raped in a deserted concourse by a man she met at an airport bistro while two janitors passed by and did nothing. Officers arrested Noel Alexander Bertrand, 26, of Portland, Ore., early Tuesday after two airline employees on the tarmac saw the attack through a window and called for help, Denver television stations KMGH and KDVR reported. Bertrand was being held on suspicion of assault and felony sexual assault with bail set at $10,000. The 22-year-old woman said she was flying from Oregon to Illinois on Monday to interview at a convent and decided to spend the night at the airport when she struck up a conversation with the man. The woman said Bertrand followed her after the bistro closed at midnight. He asked to kiss her, and she refused, but he moved in anyway and then threw her to the floor. The woman said the man pulled her pants down and assaulted her for about 10 minutes. During the attack, two airport janitors passed by and said nothing, she said. Airport spokeswoman Jenny Schiavone told the Denver Post that a security guard called 911 and detained Bertrand until police arrived. A woman who said she is Bertrand's grandmother answered the phone at his Portland home Tuesday and said he is in Denver. She said her grandson is a former U.S. Marine but declined further comment. Another airport spokeswoman, Laura Coale, told KMGH that the airport was investigating whether any employees failed to report the attack. Connecticut High court reaffirms life sente nce in cop killing HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut's highest court has upheld a 67-year-old man's life sentence for killing a Plainville police officer in 1977. Supreme Court justices unanimously dismissed Gary Castonguay's argument that he should serve 60 years in prison instead of life. The court's ruling was released Wednesday. Castonguay was convicted in 1980 of shooting Officer Robert Holcomb on Nov. 21, 1977, during a burglary. Castonguay received a retrial in 1989 because of technical errors and was convicted again, receiving a life sentence with no specific ending date. State law changed on July 1, 1981, to define "life imprisonment" as 60 years. Justices said in their ruling released Wednesday that the law was not retroactive to Castonguay's crime or others committed before 1981. A message left for Caston guay's attorney was not immediately returned Wednesday. New Hampshire State High Court hears case on cigarette making CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- The New Hampshire Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on whether a tobacco retailer who lets customers roll their own cigarettes is a tobacco manufacturer. The state argues that Tobacco Haven, in Brookline, should pay into a national settlement fund that taxes major tobacco producers. The proceeds of that fund help states cope with the health care costs of tobacco-related illnesses. Tobacco Haven and its affiliate, North of the Border Tobacco, are appealing a lower court ruling ordering it to pay into the national fund. The state claims that because the retailer sells pipe tobacco for use in the cigarettes, it is creating a cigarette-manufacturing business. The excise tax on pipe tobacco is significantly less than on the finer-cut, roll-your-own tobacco. Published: Thu, Apr 14, 2011