Celebrities

Lawyers of reality TV

Last year, Kim DePaola of the Real Housewives of New Jersey was hosting the grand opening of her designer dress shop when a brawl broke out. One of the guests got punched and then nailed with a stiletto heel, leaving a bloody gash on his forehead.

In true reality TV fashion, the cameras kept rolling, capturing all the gory details of the unfolding drama. The man who was hit with the shoe later filed a lawsuit, claiming that the brawl was staged by the show to amp up the drama.

Dec 1, 2014 4:00 AM CST

Former DA explains his ‘prosecutor speak’ on why he declined to charge Cosby

A former Pennsylvania district attorney who declined to prosecute Bill Cosby in 2005 says his decision was based on the available evidence. In an interview with NBC 10 in Philadelphia, former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor said the alleged victim had delayed going to police for a year, making…

Nov 24, 2014 7:20 AM CST

Rolling Stones settle $12.7M insurance claim over shows canceled due to Jagger’s girlfriend’s death

Updated: A legal battle between the Rolling Stones and insurance underwriters, concerning the band’s $12.7 million claim over the cancellation of seven Rolling Stones performances earlier this year, has been settled on undisclosed terms. However, band members are unhappy because private information about their families and health were made public…

Nov 11, 2014 11:10 AM CST

OJ Simpson asks Nevada Supreme Court for new trial

O.J. Simpson has thrown a legal Hail Mary in the hopes of getting his 2008 conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping thrown out. The Associated Press reported Monday that Simpson’s lawyers have filed their final appellate brief to the Nevada Supreme Court. Simpson, who was convicted of leading a group…

Oct 27, 2014 3:53 PM CDT

Prosecutors will appeal Oscar Pistorius verdict and sentence

South African prosecutors announced they will appeal both the judgment and sentence handed down to sprinter Oscar Pistorius. The New York Times reported that Nathi Mncube, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority in South Africa, sent out a tweet Monday saying that prosecutors “will be appealing both the conviction…

Oct 27, 2014 2:00 PM CDT

Judge’s ‘media whores’ remark doesn’t offend Adrian Peterson’s lawyer, but DA wants recusal

A court appearance by Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on Wednesday got sidelined by a prosecutor’s objection to a “media whores” comment by the judge. Peterson was expected to plead not guilty to reckless or negligent injury charges for the switch beating of his 4-year-old son, but the plea…

Oct 9, 2014 8:00 AM CDT

Suit claims Glen Campbell cut production company out of Alzheimer’s documentary

A lawsuit filed on Monday against Glen Campbell claims the singer violated an agreement to include a production company in development of a documentary chronicling his farewell tour and Alzheimer’s struggle. The production group, the Record Company, says Campbell signed the contract in June 2011, about the same time he…

Oct 3, 2014 5:45 AM CDT

Google threatened with $100M suit over hacked celebrity photos

A demand letter has been sent to Google accusing the company of failing to remove from its index photos taken from celebrities’ hacked iCloud accounts. The letter, sent on Wednesday by lawyer Martin D. Singer, threatens a $100 million lawsuit, according to Hollywood Esq. Singer writes that since the photos…

Oct 2, 2014 2:14 PM CDT

Wal-Mart says lack of seat belts puts Tracy Morgan and others at fault in crash

Wal-Mart has struck back at 30 Rock actor and comedian Tracy Morgan and others suing the company over a fatal six-car crash in New Jersey in June. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wal-Mart filed a response Monday in New Jersey federal district court blaming Morgan and others for not wearing…

Sep 30, 2014 11:15 AM CDT

Law firm uses rapper Master P and his ‘trademark grunt’ to brand its advertising

A well-known rap artist isn’t just narrating video advertising for a Kentucky personal injury law firm. Winton & Hiestand is also branding its services with what Above the Law describes as Master P’s “trademark grunt.” Spelled UGHH! on law firm billboards, which feature the heading “HURT? MAKE EM SAY UGHH!,”…

Sep 25, 2014 12:40 PM CDT

Federal jury says Patti LaBelle’s entourage not responsible for injury to West Point cadet

Despite a security video that plaintiffs counsel says showed Patti LaBelle’s son, hairdresser and 400-pound bodyguard going after a West Point cadet waiting for a ride home outside a Houston airport terminal, a federal court jury on Tuesday rendered a verdict for the soul singer and her entourage. LaBelle herself…

Sep 24, 2014 3:55 PM CDT

Federal judge declares mistrial in Patti LaBelle case because there are no black jurors

A federal jury on Monday was about to begin hearing a civil case filed against soul singer Patti LaBelle and others over an alleged unprovoked beating of a West Point military academy cadet by her bodyguards. But then the judge overseeing the Houston case called a halt. Although he wasn’t…

Sep 16, 2014 10:45 AM CDT

ACLU to defend man jailed for posting heavy metal band’s violent song lyrics on Facebook

James Evans often posts lyrics from songs he is listening to on his Facebook page. One day last month, the lyrics were from a heavy metal song by Exodus that was inspired by the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech, Billboard reports. “Student bodies lying dead in the halls, a blood-splattered…

Sep 12, 2014 10:40 AM CDT

Oscar Pistorius is found guilty of culpable homicide

A judge in South Africa has found track star Oscar Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa announced her verdict on Friday and set the sentencing hearing to begin on Oct. 13, report the New York Times, CNN and…

Sep 12, 2014 7:03 AM CDT

Oscar Pistorius acted ‘unlawfully,’ but he isn’t guilty of premeditated murder, judge says

Updated: A judge in South Africa said Thursday that track star Oscar Pistorius acted “unlawfully” in the shooting death of his girlfriend last year, but he wasn’t guilty of premeditated murder. Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa said the charge of culpable homicide still must be considered, but she didn’t decide that…

Sep 11, 2014 7:05 AM CDT