We all probably could have guessed it was coming: a lawsuit related to coronavirus.

The state of Missouri is suing televangelist Jim Bakker and his production company in an effort to stop them from advertising or selling Silver Solution, a product touted on Bakker's show to treat COVID-19 disease.

According to news reports, Bakker's guest, "natural health expert" Sherrill Sellman, appeared on a February program falsely implying that the Silver Solution could effectively attack the coronavirus. Silver Solution was being offered for $80 for four 4-ounce bottles.

"This influenza that is now circling the globe," Bakker said. "You're saying that Silver Solution would be effective."

"Well, let's say it hasn't been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but it has been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours," Sellman said. "Totally eliminate it. Kills it. Deactivates it."

The Missouri Attorney General's Office wrote in its application for a temporary restraining order that Bakker and Morningside Church Productions have violated Missouri law by "falsely promising to consumers that Silver Solution can cure, eliminate, kill or deactivate coronavirus and/or boost elderly consumers' immune system and help keep them healthy when there is, in fact, no vaccine, pill, potion or other product available to treat or cure coronavirus disease 2019." Bakker and his company are based in the state.

Earlier this month, the New York Attorney General's Office issued a cease-and-desist letter to Bakker.

"Your show's segment may mislead consumers as to the effectiveness of the Silver Solution product in protecting against the current outbreak," wrote Lisa Landau, chief of the New York Attorney General's Office's health care bureau. The World Health Organization "has noted that there is no specific medicine to prevent or treat this disease," the letter said. It gave Bakker 10 business days to comply or face legal action.

A few days after New York's letter, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission warned Bakker that his website and Facebook page were selling "unapproved new drugs" in violation of the law.

Despite Bakker's website removing Silver Solution for sale, a spokesman for the Missouri Attorney General's Office said it would continue seeking the temporary restraining order. "That way they can't come back in months or years and start selling solution as a miracle cure again," said Chris Nuelle, the Attorney General's Press Secretary.

—Source: npr.org

A Massachusetts judge has ruled in favor of several student athletes on a girls' hockey team who were disciplined by their high school for attending a house party where alcohol was served.

Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Maynard Kirpalani granted preliminary injunctive relief to the five teammates on grounds that Braintree Public High School's policy was too vague to be enforced.

"Under these circumstances, persons of common intelligence would likely differ on whether the plaintiffs were in the presence of alcohol and, thus, in possession of alcohol within meaning of the policy," Judge Kirpalani wrote. "The policy is insufficiently clear as to what conduct is prohibited and invites arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement."

According to news reports, the players attended a house party where parents were present. Despite calling their parents to pick them up once they learned alcohol was being consumed by underage party-goers, the girls were placed on "social probation" by the school, barring them from participating in sports or other activities for three weeks. School policy allows administrators to discipline students "deemed to be 'in possession'" of alcohol, even if the student is only in the presence of it.

Calling the policy ridiculous as it would prevent students from attending weddings or other events where alcohol is present, Dave Flanagan, attorney for the students, applauded the court's decision.

"They were very excited, that’s for sure,” Flanagan told reporters. The girls were allowed back on the ice in time to play in a big game, which they ultimately won, advancing them to the semi-finals.

—Source: Boston.com

A Tennessee woman is suing Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, seeking $30,000 in damages after allegedly being injured when an employee slammed a gate on her at Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain ride.

Among other complaints, the plaintiff claims in the lawsuit that the cast member failed to safely inspect and control the ride or exercise reasonable care. According to news reports, it is unclear from the lawsuit what injuries the woman suffered in the incident.

—Source: wdwnt.com

A lawsuit has been filed in Florida challenging 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' position on the March 17 presidential primary ballot.

Two Florida Democrats, Frank Bach and George Brown, have filed a lawsuit in circuit court in Leon County asking that that Sanders be disqualified from the Democratic primary because he is a declared independent. The lawsuit further requests the state refrain from counting any of the 244,000 absentee votes that may have been cast for Sanders by mail. The Florida Democratic Party labeled the complaint “ridiculous,” and the Sanders campaign called it “spurious.”

“Florida is a closed primary state, yet here we have someone who is an independent on the Democratic ballot,” said Karen Gievers, who is representing Bach and Brown. “You can’t be an independent and be a member of the party.”

“The Florida Democratic Party executive committee voted unanimously to place Senator Sanders on the Florida ballot,” Juan Penalosa, executive director of the Florida Democratic Party said. “Votes cast for the senator are valid and must be counted.”

Gievers countered, “It‘s hard to think that voter suppression or dilution would be described as ridiculous by a party official.”

According to news sources, Florida law gives political parties leeway to decide which candidates can appear on a party’s primary ballot.

—Source: Politico.com