Celebrities

Ex-lawyer and publicist for Insane Clown Posse sues for sex harassment, cites sexism culture

A fired publicist who also acted as a lawyer for Insane Clown Posse’s recording company has filed a suit claiming she was sexually harassed, belittled and mocked at work. The suit by Andrea Pelligreni says she was presented with a sex toy as a present, yelled at on a regular…

Sep 18, 2013 12:30 PM CDT

Did unpaid, newbie prosecutor imperil case by thanking juror Tom Hanks? Contact leads to plea deal

A domestic violence prosecution began to unravel after a lawyer in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office approached a juror in the stairwell to thank him for his service. The juror was actor Tom Hanks, report CNN, TMZ and the New York Daily News. The contact by the lawyer—who wasn’t…

Sep 13, 2013 12:02 PM CDT

Man who claimed to be lawyer for ‘Housewives’ stars is charged with UPL, police say

Police say a man claiming to be the lawyer for two “Real Housewives of New Jersey” stars isn’t actually an attorney. Police charged Mark McGuire, 53, with unauthorized practice of law, report the New Jersey Star-Ledger, the Bergen County Record and the Associated Press. Police say McGuire sat with the…

Sep 12, 2013 12:33 PM CDT

Lawyer who abandoned $200,000 Ferrari to get to court on time gets new Ferrari

A Toronto lawyer who famously abandoned his $200,000 Ferrari in rising flood waters to get to a court hearing on time has been richly rewarded for his efforts. Employment lawyer Howard Levitt has gotten a “very generous” deal on a new Ferrari, courtesy of the Italian sports car company, the…

Sep 10, 2013 4:39 PM CDT

Harper Lee settles case claiming agent tricked her for ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ rights

Harper Lee has reached a settlement with the agent she claimed tricked her into giving him the copyright for To Kill a Mockingbird, the man’s defense lawyer told Reuters. Lee’s attorney confirms the information as well, Hollywood Esq. reports. In 2007, according to Lee’s Southern District of New York federal…

Sep 9, 2013 7:00 PM CDT

Judge OKs Christo’s 6-mile, $50M ‘Over the River’ art project as legal battle continues

Finding that a 1,700-page federal environmental review put together by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management adequately considered the environmental risks and planned mitigation measures, a Colorado judge on Thursday gave Christo’s proposed six-mile, $50 million project to drape the Arkansas River with shimmering fabric a green light. However,…

Sep 9, 2013 11:00 AM CDT

Paula Deen suit is dismissed; plaintiff says celebrity chef is ‘woman of compassion and kindness’

The restaurant manager who sued Paula Deen and her brother for alleged workplace discrimination has dismissed the lawsuit and issued a statement calling Deen a “woman of compassion and kindness.” The suit settled on Friday for undisclosed terms, report the Huffington Post, Bloomberg News, Reuters and Fox News. There was…

Aug 27, 2013 10:40 AM CDT

Donald Trump faces $40M suit by New York AG, who says students got lesson in bait-and-switch

Donald Trump and the former Trump University are facing a $40 million suit that claims students hoping to learn real-estate techniques paid for pricey courses that didn’t live up to promises. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the suit on Saturday, report the New York Times, the Associated Press…

Aug 26, 2013 3:49 PM CDT

Chubby Checker lawsuit over raunchy smartphone app can go forward

A trademark lawsuit filed by entertainer Chubby Checker focused on a smart phone app of the same name, can go forward, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled Friday. The app in question reportedly estimates the size of a man’s genitals based on his shoe size, Reuters reports. Hewlett Packard, the…

Aug 16, 2013 7:12 PM CDT

Judge in Paula Deen case had refused to stay deposition in which she made N-word admission

The federal judge in the Paula Deen case had refused to stay the deposition that got the celebrity chef fired from the Food Network. Deen had admitted in the May deposition that “of course” she had used the N-word, but it was a long time ago. Lawyers for Deen and…

Aug 15, 2013 10:45 AM CDT

Ailing celebrity lawyer to give up practice in exchange for deferred indictment in obstruction case

An ailing Los Angeles attorney known for representing celebrities including Al Pacino and Phil Spector has reportedly agreed to stop practicing law in exchange for a promise by prosecutors to defer his indictment in an obstruction case. Roger Rosen, 68, who is suffering from cancer, said nothing as he left…

Aug 14, 2013 7:15 PM CDT

Paula Deen wins dismissal of racial bias claim by white plaintiff

A federal judge in Savannah has ruled a white plaintiff who worked at a Georgia restaurant owned by Paula Deen and her brother has no standing to pursue a racial bias claim. U.S. District Judge William Moore Jr. said plaintiff Lisa Jackson is no more than “an accidental victim of…

Aug 13, 2013 12:58 PM CDT

First Amendment doesn’t protect video game maker for using athlete avatar, 9th Circuit says

A federal appeals court is allowing a former college athlete to pursue a right-of-publicity lawsuit against a video game maker that used an avatar with his jersey number and looks. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the company, Electronic Arts Inc., was not protected by…

Aug 1, 2013 1:17 PM CDT

‘Harry Potter’ author JK Rowling settles suit against lawyer who disclosed she authored new novel

Famous as the author of the Harry Potter children’s book series, J.K. Rowling had hoped to fly under the radar when she wrote a new book, The Cuckoo’s Calling, by doing so under a pseudonym. However, that plan failed when Chris Gossage, a partner at Russells, the London law firm…

Jul 31, 2013 7:15 PM CDT

DUI case dropped against lawyer who claimed he was set up, mid-trial, by opposing counsel

Updated: A drunken-driving prosecution will not be pursued against an attorney who was arrested midway through a high-profile defamation trial after unwittingly having drinks with a paralegal from the law firm representing his client’s opponent. C. Philip Campbell contended that his Jan. 23 arrest, a few blocks away from the…

Jul 29, 2013 9:20 PM CDT