Legal forms filed in Scouts appeal
Attorneys for the city this week filed several legal forms in federal court, clearing the way for an appeal to move forward in the local Boy Scouts eviction case.
The city wants to evict the Cradle of Liberty Council from a city-owned building on 22nd Street near the Ben Franklin Parkway.
But in 2010, a federal jury ruled that the eviction process interfered with the council’s first-amendment right to exclude gays.
The Scouts remain in the building, but the city is appealing the jury verdict in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
If the city hadn’t filed the forms by May 22, the appeal would have been dismissed, according to a letter sent by Third Circuit Court of Appeals Clerk Marcia M. Waldron.
“If you fail to comply, the case will be dismissed,” Waldron wrote on May 8.
The city filed the forms on May 21.
“We challenge whether the evidence and the law support [the] jury determination,” the city wrote on one of the forms. “We also ask for a new trial based upon misleading, erroneous and inconsistent jury instructions and jury interrogatories.”
That form also states that a federal judge was wrong in awarding the Scouts $877,122.07 in attorney fees to be paid by the city. The award was “based on improper rates and an incorrect calculation of the number of hours,” the form states.
Other information contained on the forms specifies the attorneys who will be handling the appeal, the procedure for ordering a court transcript and the civil-rights nature of the dispute.
The next major step is for the court to issue a scheduling order. The three appellate judges who will hear the case hadn’t been announced at press time.
— Tim Cwiek
Dual fundraiser for women’s groups
Elements Organization will host a fundraiser this weekend for this year’s LGBTQ Womyn of Color Conference while also generating support for Women Organized Against Rape.
Elements will stage a social and dance 7 p.m.-2 a.m. May 27 at Millcreek Tavern, 4200 Chester Ave.
Guests who bring a plain white T-shirt, which will be donated to WOAR, wil be admitted to the dance party, which will begin at 10 p.m., for $7, with general admission for $10.
The event will feature DJ NiiLO with drink specials during the social.
For more information, visit www.ourelements.org.
Cancer support group relaunches
A support group for LGBT people impacted by cancer will celebrate its relaunch event next month.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Eastern Pennsylvania will host the quarterly meetup group starting June 4 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
The group is designed for LGBT cancer patients, families and friends to gain support, education and networking opportunities.
“This cancer support group is important because the meetings will be a safe haven for the LGBT community, where they can share what they are going through with other people whom they can relate to,” said patient services manager Ilana Benyosef, LSW.
For more information or to RSVP, contact Benyosef at 610-238-0360 ext. 6781 or email [email protected].
— Jen Colletta