Reuters People News Summary

Following is a summary of current people news briefs. Assault on 'Empire' actor Smollett investigated as hate crime

Chicago police said on Tuesday they were investigating an assault on "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett as a possible hate crime after two men yelled racial and homophobic slurs and wrapped a rope around his neck. The 36-year-old African-American actor, who is gay, was reported to be in good condition after taking himself to a hospital after the incident early on Tuesday, police said. Utah man sues Gwyneth Paltrow for alleged ski slope 'hit and run'

A Utah man has sued Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow for $3.1 million, claiming she slammed into him on a ski slope in 2016, breaking four of his ribs and knocking him unconscious before skiing off. Terry Sanderson, 72, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Paltrow in Utah state court over the alleged "hit and run ski crash" at the Deer Valley Resort in Park City. Jay-Z wins fight for African-American arbitrators in trademark case

Jay-Z has agreed to privately arbitrate a trademark and contract dispute with clothing company Iconix Brand Group Inc, his lawyers said on Wednesday, after enough African-American arbitrators became eligible to handle the case. Lawyers for the rapper and entrepreneur asked a New York state judge to dismiss Jay-Z's Nov. 28 lawsuit in Manhattan to halt the arbitration related to his 2007 sale of the Rocawear clothing brand to Iconix for about $204 million.