Brooke Mueller did not relapse, according to her lawyer, but merely checked into rehab because of a pre-scheduled “maintenance” program approved by a judge. Yale Galanter says that when his client pleaded guilty to cocaine possession last month, she made arrangements to go back to rehab four times over the next year.
George Zimmerman is following the lead of prosecutors in his pending case for the murder of Trayon Martin, by requesting that certain evidence in his trial be kept under wraps. Zimmerman’s lawyer, Mark O’Mara, filed a motion last week requesting that his client’s text messages, emails and journal entries not be released to the public, until they can be reviewed by both sides… Continue
Actor’s lawyer says he’s been ‘completely vindicated.’ By Gil Kaufman John Travolta Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images The first of the two anonymous massage therapists who filed a sexual battery lawsuit against John Travolta has withdrawn his legal action. According to CNN , Okorie Okarocha, the lawyer representing a client known as John Doe #1, filed papers on Tuesday to drop the client after he discovered that the masseur had misstated the date on which he alleged the incident with Travolta took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Travolta’s lawyer, Martin Singer, said the withdrawal means the actor has been “completely vindicated” and added that, “we fully expect that my client will similarly be vindicated with respect to Doe #2, as well as with respect to any other person who makes meritless claims against John Travolta.” Despite Singer’s claims, Okarocha he stood behind the second unnamed plaintiff, who claimed Travolta groped him during a massage in an Atlanta hotel last January. “I can guarantee that John Doe #2 has a truckload of witnesses to back up what he’s saying,” he said. Okarocha said the second therapist’s claims are reportedly backed up by a series of e-mails in which he complains to his supervisors about Travolta’s advances. Reacting to that comment, Singer said the documents he’s seen online purporting to be one of those e-mails, “significantly does not refer to my client at all, nor does it make any mention whatsoever of any of the things outrageously alleged in Doe #2’s lawsuit … Instead, Doe #2 voiced complaints about his co-workers gossiping and being insubordinate.” The fact that the e-mail doesn’t once mention Travolta’s name, “says it all,” according to Singer. “Nothing that is alleged in Doe #2’s lawsuit was mentioned in the e-mail he sent to his bosses, making his claims even more unbelievable … The allegations in ‘Doe #2’s’ lawsuit are unraveling, just like ‘Doe #1’s’ ridiculous allegations, which were proven false and impossible,” he said. Okarocha appeared confident in his case, though, vowing to “mop up” in the courtroom with the witnesses and documents in the case against Travolta. “I think I can show a custom, habit and practice,” Okarocha said, referring to his claims that the actor has sexually assaulted dozens of other massage therapists over the years. “If I bring in 100 people that don’t have an ax to grind, don’t want any money, they’re in 50 different states, they don’t know each other, they’re all massage therapists, they all have dates, they’re at different spa resorts and they say this exact same thing happened, it’s pretty hard to refute.” Unlike the first accuser, Okarocha vowed that his client, “ain’t going nowhere,” and is looking forward to a trial. Travolta, 58, has been married to actress Kelly Preston for 20 years and has repeatedly denied whisper campaigns about his sexuality. Before dropping the first accuser, Okarocha apologized on Friday for putting the wrong date of the John Doe #1 incident in the lawsuit, which his client initially told him occurred on January 16, 2012. Singer was able to produce a restaurant receipt and a time-stamped photo that showed Travolta was in New York, not Los Angeles, on that date. Rather than amend the lawsuit, Okarocha decided to withdraw the allegation from the suit and drop John Doe #1 to avoid hurting the chances of the second plaintiff’s suit. Radar Online reported that John Doe #1 has hired famed L.A. attorney Gloria Allred to represent him. “I represent John Doe #1. Mr. Doe’s lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice which means that he is still legally entitled to file another lawsuit against John Travolta if he chooses,” said Allred. “We are in the process of conferring with him regarding the next steps, which he may wish to take. Our client and our firm has no further comment at this time.”
This is just disgusting. Another day another dollar for the hatemongers trying to profit off Trayvon’s death . An anonymous retailer is trying to make money off the Trayvon Martin controversy. Someone is selling online shooting targets displaying the likeness of the deceased 17-year-old. There’s no face inside the hoodie, but the bag of Skittles and the bottle of iced tea makes it clear the paper target designed for shooting practice is supposed to be Trayvon Martin. For $8 plus $7.50, sharpshooters have been able to buy a 10 pack of the targets online. In Sanford, where George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin, people are horrified. According to this advertisement which had been posted on a popular firearms auction site, the sellers say they support Zimmerman and believe he is innocent and that he shot a thug. People in Sanford, where Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin, are horrified – including Zimmerman’s lawyer. “This is the highest level of disgust, and, I don’t know, the lowest level of civility,” said Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara. O’Mara says he worries how Trayvon Martin’s parents will react to this, and he’s concerned it will enflame the community even further – hurting his client. “It’s this type of hatred – because that’s what this is, its hate-mongering – that’s going to make it more difficult to try this case,” O’Mara said. It is still unclear who is making these targets, but in a lengthy email exchange, the seller tells wrote “my main motivation was to make money off the controversy.” The seller would not disclose how many targets have been made, but says the response is overwhelming. The seller said he sold out of the targets in two days. “I hope there’s a crime that we can charge that person who made that with. I’m not sure what it is, but we need to come up with one, because that’s disgusting,” O’Mara said. The online advertisements for the targets have been taken down as of Friday. SMH. This is a damn shame but after we read about how much money Zimmerman’s been caking for his defense online we can’t say we’re surprised at the number of hatemongers out there. Source
At first glance, it seems disturbingly exploitive: Lifetime will soon air a reality show based around the family of Whitney Houston . But sources tell TMZ the motivation behind this program isn’t merely to make money off the singer’s tragic death; for Cissy Houston, it’s to help boost the career of her granddaughter, 18-year old Bobbi Kristina. Bobbi Kristina Sings Adele While believing the series will push along the family’s “healing process,” Cissy is mostly concerned about Bobbi , insiders say, and hopes this will be a showcase for her talents. Look for the Houston family docu-series to feature a far more serious tone than similar programs such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians and for Whitney’s sister, Patricia, to serve as the lead. Will you tune in?
Not long after William Balfour was found guilty of murdering her mother, brother and nephew, Jennifer Hudson released an email statement regarding the tragedy as a whole. “We have felt the love and support from people all over the world, and we’re very grateful,” Hudson and sister Julia said, extending a prayer “from the Hudson family to the Balfour family” because “we have all suffered a terrible loss in this tragedy.” Quoting Scripture, the Hudson sisters concluded: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). It is our prayer that the Lord will forgive Mr. Balfour of these heinous acts and bring his heart into repentance someday.” Balfour faces life in prison, and his attorney plans to appeal her client’s multiple convictions next month.
Oscar winner was on hand when the jury read verdict convicting Balfour on all counts on Friday afternoon. By Gil Kaufman William Balfour Photo: Cook County Sheriff’s Department/ WireImage After two-and-a-half days of deliberation, the jury in the murder trial of William Balfour returned a guilty verdict on all counts on Friday afternoon (May 11). Balfour was on trial for the murders of Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson ‘s mother, brother and nephew. The jury returned guilty verdicts on three counts of murder, as well as one count each of home invasion, residential burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and aggravated kidnapping. Because Illinois no longer has a death penalty, Balfour will spend the rest of his life in jail without the possibility of parole. According to the Chicago Tribune, an hour before reading the verdict, the jury sent a note to Judge Charles Burns informing him that they were split, but still working to reach a verdict. Around the same time, Burns received another note asking for all of the evidence about the cell-phone tower coverage in the area of the murder. The judge sent back a transcript of the testimony of FBI Special Agent Nikki Skovran, who performed a forensic analysis on Balfour’s cell phone on the day of the murders that placed him near the Hudson home around the time the victims were killed. Earlier, the jury of six men and six women had requested copies of two videos in evidence: one from an area high school that showed the time Balfour’s car was parked on the street and another of the police interrogation of Balfour, in which he claimed he left it there around 8:30 a.m. on the morning of the murders. During the trial, prosecutors had argued that the time stamp on the school surveillance video provided proof that Balfour, 31, was lying about his whereabouts that morning. Balfour is alleged to have shown up at the Hudson home on the morning of the killings appearing agitated, saying he’d been up all night drinking. He spotted balloons that Julia received from a new boyfriend for the holiday Sweetest Day, got angry and punched the balloons, according to police. When Julia left the house to go to work, Balfour remained behind outside. The jury began their deliberation on Wednesday night and had been sequestered at a hotel for two nights. As the verdict was read, Hudson, huddled close with her fianc
If you thought the potholes on your road were bad, maybe think twice before calling city hall. Chances are you have nothing on this Russian cabbie. In the local news segment below, the maligned taxi driver laments that his vehicle is stuck in what is obviously a rather large gouge in the road. One obscured, apparently, by water caused by a recent storm, poor drainage, or both. Don’t you hate when that happens and you can’t see how deep it is? Speaking of which, watch what happens when he tries to get it out. Just wait. Russian Taxi Driver
The Beastie Boys’ MCA, real name Adam Yauch, has died. The hip hop pioneer was 47. In 2009, MCA announced he was being treated for cancer of the parotid gland and a lymph node. He underwent surgery and radiation therapy. It is unclear as of this posting whether Yauch’s death was related to cancer. MCA co-founded Beastie Boys in 1979 (yes, 1979) with Mike D, and Ad Rock, and went on to churn out some of the most iconic albums in hip-hop. They trio landed their big break after working with young producer Rick Rubin, who would sign them to his newly-formed Def Jam Recordings in 1984. License to Ill, Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communication won the group multiple Grammys and a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Yauch is survived by his wife and daughter. He will be missed by many. Russell Simmons’ site GlobalGrind (dot) com first reported his death. What are your favorite memories of Yauch, and of the Beastie Boys in general? Beastie Boys – Sure Shot
Lost amidst the hoopla of Kim Kardashian dating Kanye West ? She’s still married to Kris Humphries! How can this be, considering the couple signed a pre-nup that divided their assets? And considering they have now been apart far longer than the 72 days for which they were wed? Simple, Kim’s lawyer argued in court today: Humphries is dragging out the precedure because he wants to keep his name in the news. According to TMZ, Laura Wasser stood in front of a judge today and decreed the action of her client’s ex. She said Kardashian will be asking Kris to foot her legal fees if a divorce trial actually commences. And it looks like we really might be headed down that path: the judge ruled that depositions will be permitted, meaning Kim might truly sit in front of opposing counsel , under oath, and be asked about her motivations for marrying Humphries. Amazing.
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