Popsquire

The Popsquire Beat provides you with the week’s best pop culture/law collisions…

The courts still want a piece of Britney Spears! This week, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected her motion to dismiss a misdemeanor charge for driving with an invalid license last year, leaving the possibility of an October trial. Picture it…The judge asks Britney to state her name for the record and swear in; she says, ‘It’s Britney, bitch!”

Oprah Winfrey’s mother, Vernita Lee, is being sued by a high-end Wisconsin fashion boutique for allegedly failing to pay for more than $150,000 in purchases. According to the store, she has been racking up the bill since 2004 and has failed to make minimum monthly payments in the amount of $2,000. In short, Oprah’s mom may not be paying for her favorite things!

In June 2008, a flight attendant filed a $5 million lawsuit, claiming that J-Lo’s dog chomped her leg on a plane trip. Now, the plaintiff’s attorney says that Marc Anthony is being added as a defendant to the federal court lawsuit because he may be the dog’s registered owner. Unlike love, dogs do cost a thing!

Have a great weekend. Please don’t drink and drive. And, remember to tune in to MTV’s Video Music Awards on Sunday night to watch Popsquire’s favorite pop culture/law collision, Britney Spears. Popsquire loves a good comeback!

Technorati Tags: 5150 hold, Britney Spears, comeback, invalid driver's license, jennifer lopez dog lawsuit, marc anthony, misdemeanor charge, mtv video music awards, oprah, pop culture law, Popsquire Beat, vernita lee

Heart has no love for Sarah Palin!

The rock group is asking the McCain/Palin campaign to stop using their music. The campaign used the group’s hit, “Barracuda,” as the official rallying cry for the VP candidate following her nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. The duo issued this statement to EW:

“Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song ‘Barracuda’ no longer be used to promote her image. The song ‘Barracuda’ was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The ‘barracuda’ represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there’s irony in Republican strategists’ choice to make use of it there.”

Popsquire’s perspective…

Although songs generally can be played at various conventions and venues for entertainment without permission, the tune changes when TV is involved. Authorization and additional fees typically apply when a recording (i.e., movie, television) are involved. The McCain camp should know better, especially because Jackson Browne already is suing for unauthorized use of his hit, “Running On Empty.”

Technorati Tags: ann wilson, ascap, barracuda, copyright infringement, heart, jackson browne, john mccain, nancy wilson, pop culture law, sarah palin

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Technorati Tags: elaine, julia louis dreyfuss, karen walker, megan mullaly, Politics, pop culture law, sarah palin, seinfeld, tina fey, will & grace

US Weekly can’t get enough of Popsquire!

Check out the Fashion Police section of the magazine on stands now for Popsquire’s snarky (and helpful) comments about celebs’ fashion felonies. Below is an example from this week’s issue, which you also can see here.

Technorati Tags: fashion, fashion felonies, michael jackson, pop culture law, popsquire, us magazine, us weekly

Check out this video footage of Akon in concert in South Africa.  After crowd surfing, he emerges on stage and…well, you decide.  Popsquire is not sure if he intentionally hit the women or if everyone simply was scrambling for balance, causing the physical altercation.  What do you think?

Technorati Tags: akon, assault, battery, pop culture law, so lonely, south africa, violence

Technorati Tags: bristol palin, john mccain, jon stewart, levi, pop culture law, republican national convention, sarah palin, teen pregnancy

Check out this clip from last night’s episode of CNN’s Showbiz Tonight.  Popsquire’s pop culture legal expert, Russell Wetanson, discusses Jennifer Aniston’s upcoming role on 30 Rock as well as controversy surrounding 90210.  Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: 30 Rock, 90210, brooke anderson, cw, jennifer aniston, kristin dos santos, oral sex, pop culture law, showbiz tonight, stalker, the rachel cut

Britney Spears is scheduled to kick-off the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday night. “MTV has long played an important role in my career,” Spears, 26, says in a statement to US Magazine. “How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs?…I’m excited to open the entire show, to say hi to my fans and to be nominated.”

Popsquire’s perspective…

Let’s hope that MTV remembers that Britney remains under the control of a conservatorship. This means that she can’t enter into any contracts. Instead, the network must make sure her daddy signs off!

Assuming MTV can get this right, then Popsquire is looking forward to Britney’s appearance.  Popsquire also wishes her the best and, for the sake of watching a great video (and obvious pun), hopes it isn’t Toxic!

Technorati Tags: 5150 hold, Britney Spears, gimme more, piece of me, pop culture law, russell brand, toxic, video music awards

David Spade is a baby daddy!

David Spade is the father of a baby girl born last week in Missouri to Playboy Playmate Jillian Grace, the actor’s rep tells People.  “David and Jillian have been in close contact throughout her pregnancy and he plans to go see the baby during his first break from shooting Rules of Engagement.”

Popsquire’s perspective…

Even though David and Jillian are not married, family laws require him to contribute money to the child’s upbringing.  He and Jillian can work out an amicable deal outside the court system, or she can file a request for support.  Even if they work out a private arrangement, it should be in writing!

Technorati Tags: Baby Daddy, child support, david spade, jillian grace, playboy, pop culture law, unmarried, unwed

Oprah’s mom may not be paying for her favorite things!

Oprah Winfrey’s mother, Vernita Lee, is being sued by a high-end Wisconsin fashion boutique for allegedly failing to pay for more than $150,000 in purchases. According to the store, she has been racking up the bill since 2004 and was required to make minimum monthly payments in the amount of $2,000.

Vernita is expected to respond to the lawsuit by September 19.

Technorati Tags: debt, lawsuit, open account, oprah winfrey, pop culture law, valentina inc., vernita lee

The courts still want a piece of Britney!

Yesterday, A Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected her motion to dismiss a misdemeanor charge against her for driving with an invalid license last year.  Although Britney likely is hoping to put her pop culture/law collisions behind her, this decision now leaves the possibility of an October trial.  Click here to read the court’s decision.

Popsquire’s perspective…

Most people receive a simple notice of correction if they are caught without a CA driver’s license.  Britney, however, may face a court trial.  This definitely is a waste of judicial resources.  She has a CA license.  Move on!

For a refresher course on Britney’s 2007 and 2008 pop culture law collisions, read this timeline.

Technorati Tags: Britney Spears, driver's license, judge james steele, misdemeanor, motion to dismiss, pop culture law, valid license

Fans from many zip codes tuned in to watch last night’s premiere of the CW’s 90210!

Of course, Popsquire was among the 4.9 million who watched and saw several collisions between pop culture and law — trespass, theft, and drugs, among others. In case you can’t get enough of the new 90210, tune into CNN’s “Showbiz Tonight” at 11pm tonight to watch Popsquire’s pop culture legal expert, Russell Wetanson, discussing whether the show crossed the lines of decency.

Until then, enjoy this recent CNN clip of Popsquire discussing Tori Spelling…

Technorati Tags: 90210, battery, brenda walsh, drugs, jennie garth, kelly taylor, pop culture law, rob estes, shannen doherty, the cw, trespass

MacKenzie Phillips is taking it One Felony Count At A Time!

The former tv star officially has been charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor arising out of last week’s drug bust at LAX. She faces one felony count each of cocaine and heroin possession, as well as a misdemeanor count of unauthorized possession of a hypodermic needle/syringe.

MacKenzie is now in rehab, but is expected back in court in October. Popsquire wishes her the best as she continues to battle her addiction disease. Let’s hope this latest incident will serve as her “Wake Up Call!”

Technorati Tags: cocain, drugs, felony, heroin, mackenzie phillips, misdemeanor, one day at a time, pop culture law, rehab, valerie bertinelli

Howard K. Stern is hoping to trim away the lies!

In a defamation lawsuit filed yesterday in LA Superior Court, Howard is attacking Mark Speer and Jackie Hatten, whom he claims invented a web of lies that served as the basis for Rita Cosby’s Anna Nicole Smith tell-all, “Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith’s Death.”

Howard credits them with juicy, untrue allegations about him, including that: (1) he and Larry Birkhead had sexual relations; (2) he stole money from Anna Nicole and funneled it into offshore accounts for his parents; and (3) he supplied Anna Nicole with drugs.  Click here to read the entire lawsuit, which is quite entertaining!

Popsquire’s perspective…

This lawsuit reads like a tell-all book — juicy, juicy, juicy.  By re-hashing the details, Howard is both bringing attention to himself and to the allegations about him.  He may hope to clear his name, but he risks people (especially bloggers!) focusing only on the alleged untrue statements instead.

Moreover, a civil lawsuit is ultimately about monetary damages.  Unless the defendants have money to fork over, a legal victory for Howard may not produce anything other than bills for legal fees.  Alternatively, if Howard can intimidate them with litigation, maybe they will provide written apologies as part of a settlement.

Popsquire will keep you posted!  In the meantime, click here for a time line of events leading up to Anna Nicole’s death.

Technorati Tags: blonde ambition the untold story behind anna nicole smith's death, howard k. stern, jackie hatten, larry birkhead, mark speer, offshore accounts, pop culture law, rita cosby

Surf’s up for two men who allegedly popped the paps!

Skylar Peak (24) and Philip Hildebrand (30) have been charged with misdemeanor battery for reportedly throwing a photographer into the water as he tried to shoot pictures of Matthew McConaughey surfing in late June.

Popsquire’s perspective…

If convicted, these surfers likely will get less than a year in jail or only be required to pay monetary fines of up to $1 000.  Although considered a less serious crime than a felony, a misdemeanor still should be taken seriously.  If convicted, these guys will have criminal records, assuming they already don’t!

Below is video footage of the incident at issue.  It’s not great, but it will give you some insight into what happened…

Technorati Tags: anti-paparazzi laws, battery, felony, matthew mcconaughey, misdemeanor, paparazzi, philip hildebrand, pop culture law, skylar peak