Celebrities

Promoter’s Insurance Against Jackson Concert No-Show Excluded Illegal Drugs

As Michael Jackson geared up earlier this summer for a series of planned London concerts, a $17.5 million Lloyd’s policy insured promoter AEG Live against his non-appearance “resulting from accident.” But it also contains a provision excluding “any loss directly or indirectly arising out of, contributed to, by or resulting…

Aug 7, 2009 5:02 PM CDT

Simpson & Co-Defendant Argue for Bail, Separate Trial Based on His Notoriety

In arguments today before Nevada’s top court, a lawyer for O.J. Simpson and a co-defendant rested their respective cases on a similar basis—his notoriety. Simpson isn’t a flight risk, if he is released on bail while appealing his kidnapping and robbery conviction, attorney Yale Galanter told a three-judge panel of…

Aug 3, 2009 9:41 PM CDT

‘No Idea’ When Jackson Autopsy Will Be Released, as Medical Probe Expands

Public release of the result of Michael Jackson’s autopsy is being delayed indefinitely by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, as an investigation of the medical personnel who treated the renowned pop singer before his June 25 death expands. Assistant chief Ed Winter of the coroner’s office says he has…

Jul 31, 2009 5:41 PM CDT

Debbie Rowe Agrees Katherine Jackson Will Get Kids, Retains Visitation Rights

Michael Jackson’s children will be raised by his mother, Katherine Jackson, but the mother of two of the children will get visitation rights under an agreement reached by the two women, according to a newspaper report. A source tells the Los Angeles Times that the agreement is expected to win…

Jul 30, 2009 2:18 PM CDT

Feds Raid Vegas Home and Office of Michael Jackson Doc

Following up on an earlier raid by federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents on the Houston office of a physician who has treated Michael Jackson, authorities today arrived with a search warrant at the Las Vegas home and office of Dr. Conrad Murray. This time DEA agents were accompanied by Los…

Jul 28, 2009 5:31 PM CDT

Judge Appoints Guardian to Review Finances of Octomom’s Kids

A California judge has appointed a guardian to review the finances of Nadya Suleman’s octuplets. Judge Gerald Johnston of Orange County ruled a guardian is “appropriate and justifiable” in a suit filed by former Disney Mouseketeer Paul Peterson, a child labor advocate, the Associated Press reports. Peterson is represented by…

Jul 28, 2009 1:58 PM CDT

McCain Says Sorry for Campaign Use of Signature Jackson Browne Song

Sen. John McCain has apologized for his campaign’s unauthorized use of Jackson Browne’s signature 1977 hit Running on Empty in a settlement of a lawsuit filed by the singer-songwriter. Whether the settlement agreement includes any monetary payment wasn’t disclosed, but Browne says he was concerned that individuals hearing his song…

Jul 22, 2009 10:34 PM CDT

Feds Raid Office of Michael Jackson Doc in Manslaughter Probe

Federal agents raided the Texas office of one of Michael Jackson’s physicians today, executing a search warrant seeking evidence in a manslaughter investigation. However, a lawyer for Dr. Conrad Murray has said the Houston physician has done nothing wrong, is cooperating fully with the investigation and should not be the…

Jul 22, 2009 7:31 PM CDT

Jailed Attorney Sues Billionaire Ex-Client, Seeking to Retain $36M Quellos Fee

Seeking to retain $36 million in claimed advisory fees paid in connection with a Quellos Group tax shelter that put a billionaire media mogul in hot water, a jailed California lawyer has sued his former client in the latest chapter of a convoluted investment saga that has created trouble for…

Jul 22, 2009 5:30 PM CDT

Judge Rules Law Firm Not Liable for Posting News of Its Work for Trump

Donald Trump suffered another legal setback in a court ruling this week—or did he? Trump had claimed in a suit that Morrison Cohen invaded his privacy by mentioning his name on its website and linking to news of its multimillion-dollar recovery for him against a contractor who did work on…

Jul 22, 2009 12:00 PM CDT

Warren Beatty Depo to be Videotaped, Del. Judge Rules

Actor Warren Beatty has lost his bid to avoid having to give a deposition on videotape in a dispute over television and film rights to the Dick Tracy comic strip character he played in a 1990 movie. A bankruptcy judge in Delaware today denied Beatty’s request to avoid the camera…

Jul 21, 2009 9:40 PM CDT

Motown Songwriter Files Suit Against Willkie Farr Over Royalty Securitization

Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier has filed a malpractice suit against Willkie Farr & Gallagher that claims the law firm represented two sides of the table when securitizing Dozier’s future song royalties. The suit says the law firm issued opinion letters for trust documents and songwriter agreements while also representing Dozier,…

Jul 21, 2009 12:16 PM CDT

Probe of Michael Jackson’s Death Zeros In On Prescription Drug Issues

An ongoing investigation into the death of Michael Jackson may be focusing on his use of drugs prescribed under pseudonyms. Although it is illegal under state and federal law for a patient to be given drugs under a fictitious name, sources say the famous pop singer was prescribed medications under…

Jul 17, 2009 11:38 PM CDT

Judge Tosses SEC Case Against Mavericks Owner

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has won dismissal of civil insider trading accusations filed against him by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission—at least for now. U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater of Dallas gave the SEC 30 days to file an amended suit, Reuters reports. The SEC had maintained Cuban…

Jul 17, 2009 3:28 PM CDT

Donald Trump Loses Libel Suit Over Author’s Claim He’s a Mere Millionaire

A libel suit brought by billionaire—or is that mere millionaire?—Donald Trump over an author’s claim that the real estate mogul’s net worth is only about $200 million has been dismissed by a New Jersey judge. Granting a summary judgment motion to dismiss the suit against author and New York Times…

Jul 15, 2009 11:26 PM CDT