Celebrities

John Hinckley Jr. a ‘Flawed’ But ‘Fundamentally Decent’ Person, Lawyer Says

You may know John Hinckley Jr. as the man who shot and nearly killed former President Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton hotel in 1981. But the Hinckley of today, now a graying 56-year-old, is a “flawed” but “fundamentally decent” person who poses no threat to anyone, his lawyer told…

Dec 1, 2011 5:39 PM CST

Top Editors Knew of Phone Hacking, Reporter Testifies

Top editors at Rupert Murdoch’s now-defunct News of the World knew their reporters were hacking phones in search of stories, a former reporter there says. Onetime journalist Paul McMullan, testifying in a public inquiry on the phone hacking scandal that has rocked Great Britain, says the practice was so widespread…

Nov 30, 2011 10:27 PM CST

Conrad Murray Gets 4-Year Max in Death of Michael Jackson; Judge Cites ‘Cycle of Horrible Medicine’

Citing “a cycle of horrible medicine” by Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Conrad Murray, a judge in Los Angeles today sentenced him to the four-year maximum after his involuntary manslaughter conviction in the famous pop singer’s death. The defense had sought probation. Testimony at trial revealed that Murray had given Jackson…

Nov 29, 2011 7:19 PM CST

Cops Reopen Probe of Natalie Wood’s Death, Cite Boat Captain’s Comments

Homicide police in Los Angeles County are reopening a probe into the 1981 death of actress Natalie Wood partly because of comments by the captain of the boat she was aboard before her drowning. The Los Angeles Times blog L.A. Now, CNN and the Associated Press have stories on the…

Nov 18, 2011 12:24 PM CST

Chicago ‘Fathers’ Rights’ Attorney Is Representing Mom in Paternity Claim Against Justin Bieber

A Chicago lawyer well-known locally for his “fathers’ rights” advertising has taken on a celebrity case … for a mom who says teen singer Justin Bieber is the father of her baby boy. Although Mariah Yeater has dismissed without prejudice her San Diego Superior Court suit against Bieber, it could…

Nov 16, 2011 9:01 PM CST

Ex-NBA Star Spars with Lawyer in Deposition ‘Like a Bad 1970s Movie,’ Wins Dismissal

Allen Iverson told an opposing lawyer just what he thought of him at the end of a combative deposition in a lawsuit against the former NBA star over a bar fight. “Go to hell,” Iverson told lawyer Gregory Lattimer, who had just thanked the basketball player for sitting for the…

Nov 16, 2011 12:58 PM CST

Rapper Pitbull Seeks to Remove Suit Targeting His ‘Locked Up Like Lindsay Lohan’ Lyric

Lindsay Lohan’s emotional distress suit over a lyric in a song by Pitbull should be heard in federal court, according to a removal notice by the rapper’s lawyers. Lohan had filed suit in New York state court, but Pitbull—whose real name is Armando Christian Perez—says Lohan doesn’t live there. According…

Nov 9, 2011 5:11 PM CST

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Sanctioned for Missed Deposition After Video Shows Him Partying

A video of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s antics at a nightclub on the same day he begged off a deposition has led to sanctions against the boxer. In a ruling released on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Joseph Anderson Jr. of South Carolina ordered Mayweather to perform 40 hours of community service…

Nov 9, 2011 3:45 PM CST

Herman Cain Denies All Claims of Sexual Harassment, Retains ‘Pit Bull’ Celebrity Libel Lawyer

Following reported claims by four women that he sexually harassed them years ago when he headed the National Restaurant Association, Herman Cain continues to say all of the allegations are false. And the Republican presidential candidate has hired celebrity libel lawyer Lin Wood, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’ve been brought…

Nov 9, 2011 2:02 AM CST

Evidence Rulings and Incriminating Statements Made Conrad Murray’s Case a Losing Battle

Conrad Murray didn’t help his case when he made incriminating statements to detectives about the death of pop star Michael Jackson. During the police interview, the physician admitted he treated Jackson’s insomnia with the powerful sedative propofol, admitted giving Jackson the drug on the night of his death, and admitted…

Nov 8, 2011 1:02 PM CST

Prison Overcrowding Is a Plus for Lindsay Lohan, Who Served a 30-Day Sentence in Five Hours

Lindsay Lohan reported to jail Sunday evening to begin serving a 30-day sentence for violating probation and was released less than five hours later. Lohan was released early because of jail overcrowding, the Associated Press reports. Earlier press estimates said the actress would likely have to serve six days of…

Nov 8, 2011 12:34 PM CST

Conrad Murray Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter in Death of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s personal physician has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the iconic pop singer’s death in 2009 from an overdose of a powerful intravenous anesthetic ordinarily used in hospitals. Dr. Conrad Murray, 58, was convicted by a seven-man, five-woman Los Angeles Superior Court jury after about nine hours…

Nov 7, 2011 10:29 PM CST

Texas Broker Gets 17-Year Sentence in Fraud Scheme

The former CEO of a Texas-based investment firm has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for defrauding hundreds of investors out of more than $50 million. Several of his victims watched as Kurt Branham Barton, the former head of Triton Financial, gave a tearful apology at his sentencing hearing…

Nov 4, 2011 10:52 PM CDT

Lindsay Lohan Gets 30 Days for Admitted Probation Violation, Likely Will Serve 6 Days

Updated: Despite recent efforts to impress the judge by diligently working at her community service sentence in the Los Angeles morgue, actress Lindsay Lohan was sentenced today to 30 days for violating her probation in intertwined drunk-driving and necklace-theft cases. Due to jail overcrowding, the 25-year-old likely will have to…

Nov 2, 2011 6:46 PM CDT

New Lawsuit for Kim Kardashian: 72 Days After $10M Wedding to NBA Star, She Files for Divorce

No stranger to demand letters and litigation, reality television star Kim Kardashian has filed suit against another well-known individual—her husband, basketball star Kris Humphries. The divorce case (PDF) Kardashian filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court comes just 72 days after her $10 million wedding to the NBA player, the…

Oct 31, 2011 10:32 PM CDT