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And just when you thought everything was so nice on the Friends set...A former writing assistant has filed a sexual harassment suit against the show's production company, its studio and some of the individual writers. Ms. Amaani Lyle recently had her case reinstated by the California Appeals Court. Ms. Lyle alleged in her court papers that she was constantly exposed to male writers discussing fantasy sex with Courteney Cox and Jennifer Anniston(do you think Lisa Kudrow is offended by being left out?). In addition, the other writers allegedly repeatedly questioned David Schwimmer's sexuality. The defendant writers, not suprisingly, have been there for each other, and have denied the allegations.

And a quick note from the Why People Hate Lawyers Dept. In Cohen v. McDonald's Corp. the plaintiff alleged that McDonald's committed consumer fraud in misrepresenting the nutritional value and quality of McDonald's food products. He specificallly aimed at(gasp!) the Happy Meal. McDonald's defended saying that his claim was pre-empted by federal law and FDA regulations, and argued that only the FDA can regulate nutritional labeling. The trial judge dismissed the claim and the Illinois Appellate Court thankfully, upheld the lower court's dismissal. If the case had gone forward, tort reform groups would no doubt have taken out newspaper ads describing how Ronald McDonald had to leave the state because of the Happy Meal Litigation Crisis.