Law of Hollywoodland

Reporting Celebrity Justice from Divorces to DUIs

Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart to Sue if Naked Video of Them is Published

eric-dane-rebecca-gayheart

Today news broke of a nude video that has been leaked featuring Eric Dane of “Gray’s Anatomy”, his wife Rebecca Gayheart and former beauty queen Kari Ann Peniche.

The tape purportedly shows the trio in various states of undress hanging out at Peniche’s Southern California apartment, with the trio taking turn filming each other hanging out.

Mere hours after the story broke a legal representative for Dane and Gayheart, Marty Singer, made a statement that the video is “a private, confidential tape” and is ready to sue anyone who published the video.

There is currently no word on how the video was leaked, and if anyone is seeking to publicize the tape.

August 17th, 2009 Posted by admin | Celebrity, Lawsuit | no comments

Is a Manslaughter Charge Coming for the Death of Michael Jackson?

michael-jackson-manslaughter-search-warrant

When Michael Jackson died on June 25th in California, Dr. Conrad Murray was by his side.

Today, Dr. Murray’s office in Houston TX was searched by Los Angeles Police detectives and federal Drug Enforcement Agency agents using a search warrant.

Ed Chernoff, a lawyer in Houston hired by Murray shortly after Michael Jackson’s death stated that “the search warrant authorized law enforcement to search for and seize items, including documents, they believed constituted evidence of the offense of manslaughter.”  He also added that the detectives “left with a forensic image of a business computer hard drive and 21 documents” when they concluded their search in the early afternoon.

No notice has been given as of this writing as to what those documents were.

July 22nd, 2009 Posted by admin | Celebrity, Musician | no comments

ESPN’s Erin Andrews Using Power of Law to Combat Invasion of Privacy

erin-andrews-espn

Last week on July 16th, a video was posted on an adult-oriented website that was filmed through a hotel door peephole and showing a nude woman.  Although not specifically named, the video description hinted that it was a “blonde who looks a lot like a sports blogger favorite in her hotel room.”

In less than twenty four hours after posting,  the website received the following statement from ESPN.

I am the General Counsel of ESPN, Inc. It has come to my attention that you have posted on your site pictures of a young, blonde woman at [redacted]. These pictures were obviously taken through a peephole or otherwise in a fashion constituting a trespass/assault on the rights of the woman involved. Your continued posting of these pictures are highly likely to render you an accessory after the fact to a criminal act. We hereby demand that you (i) immediately remove these pictures from your site and (ii) disclose to us the source of the pictures. We intend to hold you fully responsible for further display of material that so obviously violates the law.

Please confirm by return e-mail that you intend to comply with these demands. In the absence of such confirmation we will assume you are an active and willing participant in these acts.

David Pahl

The video was taken down, though the blog’s proprietor Doug Sheckler has stated will not name the original source of the video.

Andrews’ lawyer later made a statement via a Newswire press release:

“While alone in the privacy of her hotel room, Erin Andrews was surreptitiously videotaped without her knowledge or consent. She was the victim of a crime and is taking action to protect herself and help ensure that others are not similarly violated in the future. Although the perpetrator or perpetrators of this criminal act have not yet been identified, when they are identified she intends to bring both civil and criminal charges against them and against anyone who has published the material. We request respect of Erin’s privacy at this time, while she and her representatives are working with the authorities.”

We’ll have more on this story as it continues, and provide information if and when the culprits have been identified.

July 21st, 2009 Posted by admin | Celebrity, Lawsuit, Sexual Harassment | no comments

David Alan Grier Heading for the Permanent Sleep on the Couch

david-alan-grier-getting-divorced

Christine Kim has filed for divorce from David Alan Grier due to irreconcilable differences according documents filed with Los Angeles County Superior Court on July 8th.

The pair were married two years ago, and have a one-year old daughter.

July 9th, 2009 Posted by admin | Celebrity, Divorce, Family Law | no comments

Three’s Company “Brunette” Arrested for DUI on Independence Day

Joyce DeWitt Mugshot

Joyce DeWitt Mugshot

On July 4th Joyce DeWitt, best known as  Janet Wood on “Three’s Company”, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

DeWitt was pulled over in El Segundo, California after driving past a police barricade.  When approached by an officer, there was the smell of alcohol and was given field sobriety tests.  When she failed those tests, she was arrests on suspicion of DUI.

Dewitt later posted a $5,000 bail.

July 8th, 2009 Posted by admin | Celebrity, DUI, Drunk Driving, Under Arrest | no comments

Gerard Butler Charged with Criminal Battery in Los Angeles

Gerard Butler charged with Criminal Battery

Gerard Butler charged with Criminal Battery

300’s Gerard Butler was charged in Los Angeles county courts earlier this week for criminal battery against a photographer.

The charge stems from a October 7, 2008 incident in which Butler allegedly punched a photographer three or four times in the mouth while leaving the Crown Bar after the premier of RockNRolla.

Butler faces arraignment on June 10th.  His reps have said that the photographer had been stalking Butler. Butler’s lawyer had no comment.

May 15th, 2009 Posted by admin | Celebrity, assault | 3 comments

Keifer Sutherland Arrested for Assault against Jack McCollough in NYC

Keifer Sutherland Arrested for Assault

Keifer Sutherland Arrested for Assault

Keifer Sutherland, star of The Lost Boys and Flatliners, has turned himself in yesterday to police in the Soho district of  Manhattan over charges of assault against fashion designerJack McCollough.

It has been reported since Monday by several news outlets that Sutherland headbutted McCollough at an after party following a costume gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Sutherland is currently serving a five year probation for a 2007 drunk driving charge.  If found guilty on assault charges, the consequences could be legally grave, as the probation requires Sutherland to “obey all laws”.

Neither the Manhattan District Attorney’s office or Sutherland’s representative have made a statement regarding the charges at this time. It is unclear whether Sutherland has sought criminal defense representation yet.

May 8th, 2009 Posted by admin | Attack, Celebrity, Under Arrest, assault | no comments

Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Assault Charges

chris-brown-pleads-not-guilty

Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty

On Monday, Chris Brown entered a plea of “not guilty” to charges of felony assault and making criminal threats.  Brown was charged back in March by Los Angeles County prosecutors, was was charged with the crimes against victim noted in court records as “Robyn F”.

Singer Rihanna, who was Chris Brown’s girlfriend at the time of the assualt and whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, had her lawyer at the hearing, and noted that “[Rihanna] would be pleased if this was over quickly” and would testify if need be.

If found guilty, Brown could spend up to five years in prison. After Brown entered his plea, he left quickly along with defense attorney Mark Geragos, who had no comment.

April 7th, 2009 Posted by admin | Celebrity, Domestic Violence, Under Arrest | no comments

“Thorne Forrester” Faces Lawsuit for Skipped Car Payments

Winsor Harmon Sued for Car PaymentsHarmon Sued for Car Payments

Winsor Harmon, who plays Thorne Forrester on CBS’ Bold and the Beautiful is facing a lawsuit from Daimler Chrysler Financial Services for missed car payments.

Last year, Winsor Harmon had his 2006 Mercedes Benz repossessed for failing to make payments on the lease of the $80,000 vehicle.  Now, Daimler Chrysler Financial Services has filed suit with L.A. County Superior Court to collect over $35,000 is missed payments and interest.

At this time there has been no statement from Harmon or his representatives.

April 2nd, 2009 Posted by admin | Celebrity, Lawsuit | 2 comments

NBA Star Charles Barkley Arrested in Arizona on DUI Suspicion

Charles Barkley Suspected of DUI

Charles Barkley Suspected of DUI

Charles Barkley, former NBA star for the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns, was arrested early this morning for suspicion of drunk driving.

Barkley was pulled over by local members of a law enforcement task force after running a stop sign.  He refused to take a breath test, but submitted to a blood test, the results of which are not yet available.

After being processed and cited, he was released and left the Old Town area scene, one of the trendy areas of the Phoenix metro area, in a taxi.

After Barkley’s arrest, Gilbert police Lt. Eric Shuhandler stated that “there was nothing unusual about how he was taken into custody” and “was treated exactly like we treat anybody else.”

December 31st, 2008 Posted by admin | Celebrity, DUI, Drunk Driving, Sports Athlete, Under Arrest | one comment