Oprah Winfrey
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey must defend a defamation suit over remarks she made about a headmistress at her girls' school in South Africa after a sex-abuse scandal erupted there, a U.S. judge ruled.
The case is now set for trial on March 29 in Philadelphia.
Judge Eduardo Robreno refused to dismiss the suit in a decision Monday, ruling that former headmistress Nomvuyo Mzamane has enough evidence to pursue her defamation claims against the media mogul. Winfrey made the remarks in 2007 after the complaints surfaced at the $40 million Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, near Johannesburg.
A dorm matron who worked under Mzamane was later charged with abusing six students.
Mzamane accused Winfrey of suggesting she was not trustworthy through comments about the need for new leadership and remarks such as "I thought she cared about the girls of South Africa," according to the October 2008 lawsuit.
Winfrey's lawyers argued the remarks, made at a 2007 meeting with parents and at a 2007 press conference, reflected Winfrey's opinions. But the judge agreed they were potentially defamatory.
Mzamane, a native of Lesotho, previously held a leadership post at the Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia and returned to the area after her contract was not renewed at Winfrey's school. Mzamane has said she was unable to find work because of Winfrey's comments.
Bryan is top new solo artist
Reverse psychology may have done the trick for country singer Luke Bryan.
Fans picked him as the Academy of Country Music Awards' top new solo vocalist. A YouTube video he posted went viral, featuring other country singers jokingly telling fans "Don't vote for Luke Bryan."
Gloriana won top new vocal group, and Joey + Rory won top new vocal duo.
The three winners are now in the running for the overall top new artist award that will be handed out at the ACM Awards next month. Voting starts April 1 at VoteACM.com.
Each act will perform and receive trophies on a GAC television special set to air April 1 and hosted by Trace Adkins at the Grand Ole Opry. The ACM Awards will air live on CBS from Las Vegas on April 18.
Grisham releases e-books
Best-selling author John Grisham is finally ready to go digital.
More than a year after reports emerged he would make his books available in electronic format, Random House Inc. announced Tuesday that all 23 of his works can be purchased as e-texts.
Grisham, the author of such favorites as "The Firm" and "The Pelican Brief," has expressed mixed feelings about e-books and the quickly growing market. In an interview with the "Today" show last fall, he worried that if e-books really caught on, "then you're going to wipe out tons of bookstores and publishers and we're going to buy it all online."
-- From Our Press Services
Today's birthdays
p> Guitarist Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/ Jefferson Starship, 69; percussionist Harold Brown of War, 64; actor Patrick Duffy, 61; actor Kurt Russell, 59; actress Lesley-Anne Down, 56; actor Gary Sinise, 55; actress Vicki Lewis, 50; actor Rob Lowe, 46; Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan, 43; drummer Caroline Corr, 37; rapper Swifty of D12, 33.
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