Celebrities

Judge, Former ‘Thug’ Who Kicked Whites Out of Courtroom, Teams Up With Bill Cosby

The black Atlanta-area judge who sparked controversy when he asked all whites to leave his courtroom so he could lecture the black defendants last month is partnering with comedian Bill Cosby tonight in an effort to spread their shared message to youth at risk. The pairing of judge/comedian makes sense,…

Apr 24, 2008 2:27 PM CDT

James Spader Argues Before ABC’s ‘Supreme Court’

If the public isn’t getting enough access and appreciation for how the U.S. Supreme Court operates from the justices themselves, they may be able to glean some insights by watching some prime-time TV drama. On this week’s ABC hit show Boston Legal, the high court was the featured guest, with…

Apr 24, 2008 12:30 PM CDT

Anna Nicole’s Mom Files Against Lawyer, Website

The mother of the late Anna Nicole Smith has filed defamation suit in Texas against Smith’s former lawyer and several media organizations, including the popular celebrity gossip site TMZ.com. Virgie Arthur maintains that Smith’s lawyer and companion, Howard K. Stern, and media outlets, spread a false story that she was…

Apr 24, 2008 11:27 AM CDT

Fla. Lawyer Meets Jennifer Aniston (and Dave Barry)

A Florida lawyer got his 15 minutes of fame last week after he was selected to be an extra in a movie being filmed in South Miami. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, it also included, as another extra, the newspaper columnist Dave Barry. Thus, not only did civil litigation…

Apr 21, 2008 9:56 AM CDT

No Slowdown for Britney’s Lawyers: Latest Spears Legal Bill is $372,500

Last month, Britney Spears was told to ante up $375,000 to pay her ex-husband’s legal fees in a child custody case. Now, a Los Angeles judge says, she’ll have to pay another $372,500 to cover legal fees related to her own conservatorship. “And that doesn’t even include the $10,000 a…

Apr 18, 2008 8:22 PM CDT

Newark’s Ex-Mayor Convicted of Fraud in Land Deal

Former Newark, N.J., Mayor Sharpe James has been convicted of fraud and conspiracy in connection with the sale of nine city lots to his mistress at bargain prices, the New York Times reports. The girlfriend, Tamika Riley, was also convicted of fraud and conspiracy. She was accused of reselling the…

Apr 16, 2008 4:21 PM CDT

Prosecutors Recommend Three-Year Sentence for Wesley Snipes

Prosecutors say actor Wesley Snipes deserves a three-year sentence—the maximum—for failing to file tax returns for three years. They argue in a sentencing memorandum that a lengthy sentence will help deter other tax crimes, Legal Times reports. Snipes is a “truly notorious offender” who evaded more than $15 million in…

Apr 16, 2008 1:33 PM CDT

Obama’s Legal Career Wasn’t All About Civil Rights

During his four-year career as a Chicago lawyer, Barack Obama did indeed handle a number of civil rights cases. But in addition to the legal work he highlights in his initial autobiography and on the presidential campaign trail, he also handled a number of more routine cases, such as real…

Apr 8, 2008 4:23 PM CDT

Celebrity Medical Files Breached at UCLA

A rogue employee reportedly peeped into confidential medical files of 32 celebrities, politicians and other high-profile patients at UCLA Medical Center, as well as 29 noncelebrities, in 2006 and 2007. Among those whose confidentiality was violated: television personality Maria Shriver, who is the wife of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The unauthorized…

Apr 7, 2008 4:43 PM CDT

Coroner’s Jury Blames Driver, Paparazzi in Death of Princess Di

A coroner’s jury has ruled that paparazzi and the driver of a car that tried to escape them share the blame for the car crash that caused the death of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed. The driver, Henri Paul, also died in the 1997 crash. The jury heard evidence that…

Apr 7, 2008 4:06 PM CDT

Woody Allen Sues Over American Apparel Rabbi Ads

Woody Allen claims in a lawsuit that American Apparel misappropriated his likeness on billboards and online advertising. The $10 million suit says the company used an image from Annie Hall of Allen dressed as a rabbi in ads that ran last year, report the Associated Press and the Wall Street…

Apr 1, 2008 1:06 PM CDT

Jury: No Criminal Charges in Death of Anna Nicole Smith’s Son

A Bahamas jury investigating the death of Anna Nicole Smith’s son has determined the 20-year-old died from an accidental drug overdose. The jury recommended that no criminal charges be pursued, the Associated Press reports. Daniel Smith died in September 2006 while visiting his newborn sister Dannielynn at a Nassau hospital.

Mar 31, 2008 6:41 PM CDT

Coroner Rejects Princess Di Conspiracy Theory

A UK coroner finally on Monday rejected the conspiracy theory fueled for more than a decade by questions from Mohamed Al Fayed that Princess Diana was murdered in a plot by Britain’s royal family. Lord Justice Scott Baker, who is leading the inquest into the traffic deaths of Diana and…

Mar 31, 2008 4:40 PM CDT

Lawyer Touts ‘Oscar Scoop’: She Is Woman in Green Dress

Celebrity lawyer Vicki Roberts has issued a press release announcing that she is the woman in the green dress who accompanied actor Gary Busey to the Academy Awards last month. “Oscar Scoop! The Woman in the Green Dress Identified,” the press release is headlined. Legal Blog Watch, in its report…

Mar 21, 2008 3:03 PM CDT

Dirty Tricks in Hollywood Lawsuits? Paramount Chair Testifies at PI’s Trial

Updated: In much-awaited testimony in the wiretapping and racketeering trial of a so-called private investigator to the stars, the chairman of Paramount Pictures told a federal jury today that he had no knowledge of Anthony Pellicano’s alleged illegal surveillance tactics. The case has been closely watched because of the window…

Mar 20, 2008 8:30 PM CDT