All posts containing the tag: "court"
Posted Nov 21st 2009 11:09AM by TMZ Staff
Howard K. Stern has settled his $60 million defamation suit against Rita Cosby ... TMZ has learned.
A dismissal was filed late yesterday. We know the case settled and the terms of settlement are confidential.
Cosby -- in her book "Blonde Ambition" -- said, among many other things, Stern and Larry Birkhead had a sexual encounter that was caught on video. Both Birkhead and Stern said Cosby made it up.
Birkhead did not file suit.
Thus another chapter in the Anna Nicole Smith saga comes to an end.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Anna Nicole Smith
Tags: anna nicole smith, anna nicole smith settlement, AnnaNicoleSmith, AnnaNicoleSmithSettlement, court, defamation suit, DefamationSuit, howard k. stern, HowardK.Stern, larry birkhead, LarryBirkhead, lawsuit, rita cosby, RitaCosby, settlement
Posted Nov 21st 2009 2:15AM by TMZ Staff
It doesn't get much dumber than this -- one of the chicks arrested in the Burglar Bunch case rolled into court Friday wearing one of the very necklaces the gang is suspected of stealing from Lindsay Lohan.
Didn't take Sherlock Holmes to notice -- investigators immediately confiscated the necklace from Courtney Ames' neck because it looked just like the one stolen from Lindsay Lohan's home ... in fact, we already did a story about Courtney wearing the same exact necklace last week.
Ames had already told TMZ that she bought the rosary beads for five bucks at some shop, but today she told authorities the charm on the necklace was given to her by another member of the bunch -- i.e. it may have been stolen from someone at some point.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Burglar Bunch
Tags: burglar bunch, BurglarBunch, court, courtney ames, CourtneyAmes, lindsay lohan, LindsayLohan
Posted Nov 20th 2009 6:25PM by TMZ Staff
The man accused of using a spy cam to film Erin Andrews naked in her hotel room has been ordered to surrender his passport and his bail was jacked through the roof because the judge fears he could be a flight risk.
Michael David Barrett's bail was raised from $20,000 to $100,000 after Andrews' lawyer argued that Barrett had probably spent $20k following Erin around the country.
A judge also ruled that Barrett can only use his cell phone to talk -- no texting -- and he's only allowed to call immediate family members. He's also been put on house arrest and electronic monitoring.
Barrett posted the bail and is about to walk out of court.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Erin Andrews
Tags: allleged stalker, AlllegedStalker, arrested, court, erin andrews, ErinAndrews, espn, hotel, michael barrett, MichaelBarrett, nude, peeping tom, PeepingTom, reporter, video
Posted Nov 19th 2009 5:00PM by TMZ Staff
Chris Brown is in court today for a progress report hearing.
Brown pled guilty to assaulting Rihanna back in June -- and was sentenced to 180 days of hard labor plus a bunch of other stipulations, including one year of domestic violence counseling.
UPDATE 2:10 PM PT: All done -- the judge is satisfied -- next progress report hearing is scheduled for February 18.
UPDATE 2:08 PM PT: Brown has also completed 7 of his 52 domestic violence classes.
UPDATE 2:05 PM PT: Brown's progress report was just handed to the judge, which showed he has completed 100 hours of community service already.
UPDATE 2:04 PM PT: Here we go!
UPDATE 2:03 PM PT: Brown and one bodyguard are now sitting in the courtroom.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Chris Brown
Tags: chris brown, ChrisBrown, court, hearing, progress report, ProgressReport, rihanna
Posted Nov 19th 2009 12:30AM by TMZ Staff
The only thing outstanding about Faye Dunaway as a tenant is the balance she allegedly owes her NYC landlord -- and if she doesn't pay up, they want her out.
According to the landlord, the Oscar winning actress owes $1,920.85 in back rent -- and we've learned Vanderleigh Properties has filed a notice of non-payment in New York County Civil Court to get it back.
We're told the last notice was posted on her door on October 23rd and it's still there. The lawyer for the landlord tells us Faye has been late with payments in the past and they're currently taking steps towards eviction.
Calls to Dunaway's reps were not returned.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives
Tags: court, eviction, faye dunaway, FayeDunaway, landlord, petition, rent, tenant
Posted Nov 18th 2009 3:00PM by TMZ Staff
Nicole Richie was telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth Monday in court when she said she wasn't feeling well -- because now she's holed up in a hospital, sick as a dog.
Richie ended up having pneumonia ... and is now being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A., this according to her rep.
Richie's cough-filled testimony on Monday still did the job -- she was granted restraining orders against two paparazzi she claimed caused her to get into a car accident.
Filed under: Nicole Richie, Nurse!
Tags: cedars-sinai, cough, court, hospital, nicole richie, NicoleRichie, pneumonia, restraining orders, RestrainingOrders, sick
Posted Nov 17th 2009 11:56AM by TMZ Staff
Ryan Seacrest's lawyer was in court today to ask for a permanent restraining order against Chidi Uzomah -- the man who has allegedly been stalking her client.
Attorney Blair Berk went solo in court today -- Ryan wasn't there -- and here's what went down:
UPDATE 9:14 AM PT: The judge just granted the restraining order, ordering Uzomah to stay 100 yards away from Seacrest for three years. He was also ordered not to have contact -- direct or indirect -- with Ryan.
Chidi remains in custody -- he's been charged with felony stalking and two misdemeanor counts of disobeying a prior court order.
UPDATE 9:12 AM PT: The judge has read Ryan's declaration and feels Chidi Uzomah's actions were fairly frightening.
UPDATE 8:58 AM PT: It begins! The judge is on the bench.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Ryan Seacrest
Tags: blair berk, BlairBerk, chidi uzomah, ChidiUzomah, court, ryan seacrest, RyanSeacrest, stalker
Posted Nov 16th 2009 2:43PM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Conrad Murray was in court today in Las Vegas over child support payments to the mother of his child. Here's how it went down:
UPDATE 2:55 PM ET -- And just like that ... it's over. Dr. Murray has left the building.
UPDATE 2:50 PM ET -- The judge just said the baby mama has a right to waive the back support, so the slate is clean. But the judge added Murray must now make regular monthly payments and the court will check in with him every three months and if he keeps paying on time he won't be jailed. Next court date -- January 4th, and Murray must show.
UPDATE: 2:49 PM ET -- The judge asked Dr. Murray if he paid any of the $13,000 to her. He answered, "No, your honor." First we've heard him speak today.
UPDATE 2:47 PM ET -- The baby mama in question has just waived her right to the $13,000 Dr. Murray owes, provided she gets $1,003 a month in support from now on. This is the agreement the parties struck. Murray also paid $700 in court. The judge is confused -- why would she waive the 13 grand?
UPDATE 2:43 PM ET -- Dr. Murray is in court with his lawyer, but the baby mama is out of town and won't be appearing.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: child support, ChildSupport, conrad murray, ConradMurray, court, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Nov 16th 2009 12:00PM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE 10:43 AM PT: Dr. Murray has arrived at court.
Dr. Conrad Murray will appear in court today ... asking a judge to let him off the hook in his child support mess. His excuse -- he's broke ... so TMZ has learned.
Dr. Murray is on the hot seat in Las Vegas for not paying child support in California ... he's more than $13,000 behind in support. Authorities in California went to Nevada -- where Murray lives -- asking to enforce the judgment.
The Nevada judge ordered Dr. Murray to pay and scheduled a court hearing for today.
We're told Dr. Murray, along with his lawyer, Chris Aaron, will show at 11:30 AM PT. Dr. Murray will ask the judge to allow him to pay a minimal amount -- $100. Aaron tells TMZ Murray has not been able to get a job since Michael Jackson died and has no money. Aaron says Dr. Murray is not running from his obligation -- he has full intention of paying.
We will live stream the hearing.
Stay tuned ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: child support, ChildSupport, chris aaron, ChrisAaron, contempt, court, dr. conrad murray, Dr.ConradMurray, las vegas, LasVegas, micheal jackson, MichealJackson
Posted Nov 10th 2009 6:04PM by TMZ Staff
The judge in the Michael Jackson estate case just put a quick stop to Joe Jackson's objections to the will and to the executors -- in a nutshell, the judge said Joe had no dog in the fight ... no legal standing.
The judge indicated the way is now cleared to formally appoint John Branca and John McClain co-executors of Jackson's estate.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: court, joe jackson, JoeJackson, john branca, john mclain, JohnBranca, JohnMclain, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:45PM by TMZ Staff
What a turn! Katherine and Joe Jackson are fighting each other in court ... right now.
Katherine's new lawyer, Adam Streisand, is arguing to the judge that Joe has no legal standing to object to John Branca and John McClain as executors, nor does he have any standing to object to the validity of the will.
Streisand is arguing since Michael Jackson cut Joe out of the will, he has no dog in this fight.
During the fight, Billie Jean Jackson -- you know -- just stood up and said that she's an heir so she'll object ... so Joe's got that going for him.
Stay tuned...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: adam streisand, AdamStreisand, court, fight, joe jackson, JoeJackson, john branca, john mcclain, JohnBranca, JohnMcclain, will
Posted Nov 10th 2009 10:03AM by TMZ Staff
David Letterman's accused extortionist, Robert Halderman, is asking the judge to dismiss the extortion case against him.
In papers filed with the court, Halderman's lawyer wrote, "The sensationalism surrounding this indictment, fueled by the celebrity of the purported victim and the deference paid to that celebrity by the District Attorney's Office, has swallowed the only pertinent issue ...."
The issue: Whether the grand jury had sufficient facts to support the extortion case.
The lawyer, Gerald Shargel, also states Halderman "discovered evidence that Letterman had created and fostered an environment of workplace sexual misconduct that under any definition, amounted to actionable sexual harassment."
The lawyer says this was not extortion, calling it "a pure commercial transaction." The lawyer says Halderman was merely trying to sell the exclusive screenplay rights to Letterman.
The lawyer says Halderman even insisted on getting a written agreement -- something extortionists generally don't do.
In addition to the motion for dismissal, Halderman's lawyer is asking to inspect the grand jury minutes. And, he wants the items seized from Halderman to be suppressed as evidence.
And there's this ... Attorney Shargel claims the relationship between Letterman and Stephanie Birkitt continued through at least last summer.
Filed under: Exclusives, David Letterman
Tags: case, court, david letterman, DavidLetterman, dismiss, extortion, grand larceny, GrandLarceny, late show, LateShow, robert halderman, RobertHalderman
Posted Nov 6th 2009 5:28PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned Justin Timberlake was ordered to show up in court Monday to prove the woman he's accused of harassing him is a threat ... but the judge who made the order had already been removed from the case by Justin's lawyer.
As we first reported, Timberlake obtained a temporary restraining order last month against Karen McNeil. Timberlake claims she showed up at his property several times without invitation.
Timberlake's case is due back in court Monday -- his lawyer will try to make the restraining order permanent.
Timberlake filed a declaration in the case, but the more detailed declarations filed were from his two bodyguards, claiming the woman is an ominous stranger.
McNeil submitted a 60-page response in which she said she's a long time friend of Timberlake's. Although the response is rambling and crazy, it's her word against the bodyguards who don't know Timberlake that well.
As a result, sources tell us Judge Carol Boas Goodson told Timberlake's lawyer to get his client in court on Monday and testify himself about McNeil. But we've learned two days before Judge Goodson made the order, Timberlake's lawyers had already submitted papers to disqualify her from hearing the case.
So bottom line ... Timberlake was ordered to appear by a judge who no long had the case.
We don't know if Timberlake will show on Monday ... stay tuned.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Justin Timberlake, Exclusives
Tags: court, harrassment, judge, justin, karen mcneil, KarenMcneil, stalker, timberlake
Posted Nov 3rd 2009 1:00AM by TMZ Staff
They don't call him Johnny Dangerous for nothing -- the Hollywood Hills Burglar Bunch suspect (who's still on the run, no less) spent time in prison a few years ago for trying to slang massive amounts of coke.
Jonathan Ajar pled guilty in federal court in Wyoming in 2002 to possession with intent to distribute more than "500 grams of mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine," this according to court documents we obtained.
But get this ... as part of his plea, the second charge against Ajar was dropped -- which was the intent to sell roughly 35 POUNDS of marijuana.
Ajar was sentenced to 37 months in prison, four years supervised release and was forced to pay a measly $250 fine.
Ajar was behind bars from Feb. 20, 2003 until November 8, 2004 -- and lived in a halfway house after he was released.
As we first reported, Ajar was convicted of DUI earlier this year, busted for drug possession back in September ... and cops held up a wanted poster of him during a press conference about the Burglar Bunch case last week.
Filed under: Exclusives, Burglar Bunch
Tags: arrested, cocaine, conviction, court, hollywood hills burglar bunch, HollywoodHillsBurglarBunch, johnny dangerous, JohnnyDangerous, jonathan ajar, JonathanAjar, marijuana, wyoming
Posted Oct 30th 2009 6:52PM by TMZ Staff
Ryan Seacrest's lawyers aren't taking any chances -- they just got a temporary restraining order against the alleged stalker who was arrested at the E! building today.
Under the terms of the restraining order, filed by Ryan's lawyer Blair Berk, Chidi Uzomah is ordered to stay 100 yards away from Ryan. Uzomah must stay clear of Ryan's home, job, vehicle. He can have no contact -- either direct or indirect -- with Seacrest.
We're told Seacrest's people fear Uzomah is a real danger. We're hearing Ryan's lawyers moved quickly so LAPD Threat Management detectives could serve Uzomah with the TRO while he's still being interrogated at the jail. As we first reported, Uzomah is being held on felony stalking.
Chidi was convicted of three misdemeanors last month after attacking Ryan's bodyguard at a hospital in Orange County. He had a knife in his pocket. Uzomah pled guilty to three misdemeanors and was placed on probation. One term of probation -- stay away from Ryan. The D.A. is now considering whether to ask the judge to violate Uzomah's probation.
Uzomah was taken into custody earlier today ... moments after showing up to the E! building in Los Angeles with a knife. He also showed up at a radio station in Burbank earlier this month, looking for Ryan.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Ryan Seacrest, Exclusives
Tags: arrest, chidi uzomah, ChidiUzomah, court, custody, E, filed, knife, lawyers, restraining order, RestrainingOrder, Ryan Seacrest, RyanSeacrest, threat
