Celebrities

Garrison Keillor Files Suit Against Neighbor

A dispute between Garrison Keillor and his neighbor doesn’t have a Lake Wobegon ending: The host of A Prairie Home Companion has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a home addition. Keillor’s suit says the addition to his neighbor’s home in their historic district will “impair or destroy protected historical…

Jan 16, 2008 3:18 PM CST

Robert Blake Lawyer Argues for Reversal of $30M Verdict Due to Jury Misconduct

A lawyer for actor Robert Blake asked a California appeals court yesterday to overturn a $30 million damages verdict against him for his wife’s death. Lawyer M. Gerald Schwartzbach said his client did not get a fair trial because of jury misconduct, the Los Angeles Times reports. Court papers detailed…

Jan 16, 2008 1:32 PM CST

Jury Selection Under Way in Wesley Snipes Tax Trial

Jury selection began yesterday in the Florida trial of actor Wesley Snipes, accused of seeking to evade income taxes. Snipes has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the government and filing a false claim for a $7 million refund, the New York Times reports. Snipes maintains he was following expert…

Jan 15, 2008 8:11 PM CST

O.J. Simpson Held on Bail Violation

Former football hero O.J. Simpson is reportedly being held on a bail violation, after allegedly calling one of his co-defendants in a Las Vegas armed robbery case and expressing unhappiness over his testimony at a preliminary hearing. Simpson reportedly identified himself as “Miguel” when calling co-defendant Clarence “C.J.” Stewart in…

Jan 11, 2008 9:44 PM CST

Seinfelds Sued Over Cookbook Spat

The author of a children’s cookbook called The Sneaky Chef, with healthy recipes for kids using pureed vegetables, has filed a suit that contends a cookbook written by Jerry Seinfeld’s wife infringes her copyright. The plaintiff, Missy Chase Lapine, had done extensive research to find ways to camouflage fruits and…

Jan 8, 2008 7:50 PM CST

Clemens Sues Ex-Trainer for Defamation Over Steroid Allegations

Roger Clemens filed a defamation lawsuit last night against the trainer who says he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormones. Clemens’ lawyer, Rusty Hardin, told the Houston Chronicle the suit against trainer Brian McNamee was not filed for money. Instead, Hardin said his client wants to restore…

Jan 7, 2008 2:33 PM CST

Court Order Resolves Britney Spears Family Dispute

A three-hour argument last night over custody of Britney Spears’ two children was resolved ”peacefully by court order,” a Los Angeles police spokesman said. The lawyer for Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline, Mark Vincent Kaplan, arrived at Spears’ home around 8 p.m. yesterday evening, and the children were later turned over…

Jan 4, 2008 12:23 PM CST

Lawyers in Britney Spears Custody Case Quitting

Lawyers representing Britney Spears in her ongoing custody battle are calling it quits. The law firm Trope and Trope told a court yesterday that there has been a breakdown in communications with its famous client that makes representation impossible, according to an Associated Press story based on a filing obtained…

Jan 3, 2008 5:59 PM CST

‘Law & Order’ Promotes the Real McCoy

While the dramatized version Manhattan’s famed prosecutor’s office is set to get its fourth district attorney in 18 seasons, the city’s real district attorney has stayed put. Robert M. Morgenthau was first elected to the post in 1974 and, according to the New York Times’ City Room blog, easily won…

Jan 2, 2008 9:46 PM CST

Bianca Jagger Evicted in NYC

Rock legend Mick Jagger’s ex-wife has been evicted from the rent-stabilized New York City apartment she has called home for 20 years, potentially allowing the landlord to up the ante from the mere $4,600-per-month regulated rent that Bianca Jagger was paying to a fair-market rate. The 62-year-old model-turned-activist had been…

Dec 13, 2007 10:10 PM CST

Michael Flatley Awarded $11M for False Rape Accusation

“Lord of the Dance” star Michael Flatley has been awarded an $11 million default judgment against a woman for falsely accusing him of rape. Flatley’s lawyer, Ricardo Cestero told KNBC.com that a Los Angeles judge awarded the amount in the dancer’s lawsuit against Tyna Marie Robertson, an exotic dancer-turned-real estate…

Dec 11, 2007 3:20 PM CST

Michael Vick Gets 23-Month Sentence for Dogfighting Conspiracy

Updated: NFL superstar Michael Vick has been sentenced to 23 months in prison for his federal guilty plea to conspiracy in connection with a dogfighting operation. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback had faced a maximum of five years in prison, CNN.com reports in an article on today’s sentence. Vick and three…

Dec 10, 2007 4:18 PM CST

Phil Spector Hires New Lawyer, No Retrial for Months

It’s official: Music producer Phil Spector announced today that he has hired another lead lawyer. And, as a result, his retrial for allegedly murdering a former movie actress at his home will be delayed at least five months. Doron Weinberg of San Francisco, who will now represent Spector, told Los…

Dec 8, 2007 1:41 AM CST

Barry Bonds’ Frugality Scares Off Defense Lawyer

Baseball star Barry Bonds’ attempt to shave the legal fees charged by a well-regarded San Francisco criminal defense lawyer has apparently backfired. John Keker won’t be representing Bonds on charges he lied to a grand jury investigating steroid use, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub. req.) Sources told the newspaper…

Dec 6, 2007 2:25 PM CST

48-Day Jail Term for Kiefer Sutherland

Actor Kiefer Sutherland was sentenced today to a 48-day jail term after pleading no contest to a drunken-driving charge. He must begin serving the sentence before March 30, reports the Associated Press. However, the star of the popular 24 Fox television series apparently plans to serve at least some of…

Dec 6, 2007 1:46 AM CST