Popsquire

The Popsquire Beat provides this week’s best collisions between pop culture and law…

MacKenzie Phillips was arrested this week for drug possession. During a routine search at LAX, a bag of cocaine fell down her leg. After spending the night in jail, McKenzie posted $10,000 for bail. Let’s hope she gets some help and takes it One Leg At A Time!

Hilary Duff’s parents, Bob and Susan, were in court this week as part of their ongoing, bitter divorce. Susan asked the court to order Bob to contribute $25,000 for Hilary’s 21st birthday party and present, but she got something else — courtroom drama. After ordering Bob to pay $12,500 for Hilary’s birthday, the judge also sent him to jail for 10 days in contempt of court. In short, this week Hilary’s dad was Without Love!

Australia, a country filled with descendants of convicted criminals, may not allow Snoop Dogg to enter the country for his fall tour alongside Ice Cube. With a criminal record including several drugs and firearms charges as well as a murder acquittal, immigration officials confirm that they will be “undertaking a more thorough assessment of [Snoop's] character” in connection with a look at his visa status. Sadly and ironically, there may not be any doggy style down under!

Like a good lawyer, Popsquire put together a handy timeline of events in Lindsay Lohan’s life this week. Remember, Popsquire always encourages flashcards!

Aug. 27, morning: After rumors surface about a Samantha Ronson autobiography, Michael Lohan says: “She’s using my daughter. People never even knew who Samantha Ronson was until she met Lindsay. She was just some L.A. DJ. And now she’s writing a book? I am at wit’s end with this stuff. This is not in Lindsay’s best interest.”

Aug. 27, evening: Lindsay responds, saying “He’s out of control. I want him to stop hurting and talking to the media about the people I love.”

August 28, just after midnight: Samantha posts a blog response, saying “i feel no need to publicly defend my role in lindsay’s life – i’m just sorry that she likes me more than him.”

Aug. 28, morning: Lindsay’s blog posts that her father “has become a public embaressment and a bully- To my family, my co-workers, my friends, and a girl that means the world to me (its obvious who that is)…His recent attack on my life and my loved ones is simply for an ADDICTION THAT HE HAS- FAME.”

David Duchovny is seeking treatment for a sex addiction.  In a statement released by his attorney, he says: “I have voluntarily entered a facility for the treatment of sex addiction…I ask for respect and privacy for my wife and children as we deal with this situation as a family.”

Popsquire’s perspective…

Yes, even this represents a collision between pop culture and law!  As the star of the sexually charged show, Californication, David’s work requires him to participate in sex scenes.  For someone who is battling a sex addiction, this may present a problem both for him and the show.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled employees.  Assuming a sex addiction qualifies as a disability, David conceivably might ask for a reduction in such scenes to help him overcome his addiction.  Then, the studio and network are faced with questions about whether that would be “reasonable.”

Maybe the solution is for David and Showtime to take it one lay at a time…

Technorati Tags: americans with disabilities act, californication, david duchovny, disability, kyd miller, madeleine west, pop culture law, reasonable accommodation, rehab, sex addiction, tea leoni, x files

It’s a big day in the history of pop culture/law collisions!  Michael Jackson, who was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005, turns 50 today.  In light of this birthday milestone, Popsquire dedicates the Jackson hit, “PYT.”

Technorati Tags: acquittal, birthday, child molestation, michael jackson, pop culture law, pyt

Click here to read the police report detailing the events that led to Suge Knight’s recent arrest for beating up his girlfriend. If, like most Popsquire disciples, you are too busy (or lazy) to click the link, here’s what you need (and may not want) to know. According to the report…

Suge and his girlfriend, Melissa Isaac, were on their way to an “adult entertainment” club when Suge got a call from another woman. Melissa confronted Suge, he bagan pulling her hair and punching her with closed fists on the back of her neck.

Melissa grabbed the steering wheel, hoping to wreck and escape. When the car’s tire went flat, she opened the door and began to run. Suge caught up to her, threw her to the ground, and repeatedly punched and kicked her. After blacking out, Melissa woke up while being dragged across gravel.

Thankfully, the police arrived, and Melissa was transported to a hospital for treatment. Popsquire wishes her a speedy recovery both from her physical injuries and from enduring an abusive relationship.

Technorati Tags: adult entertainment club, assault, battery, deadly weapon, domestic violence, marion knight, melissa isaac, pop culture law, suge knight

Extras are Cruising toward a settlement!

Because you are obsessed with Popsquire, you remember that 12 extras are demanding $11 million from Tom Cruise and his production company for physical injuries they allegedly suffered during the filming of Valkyrie last year in Germany.

The head of the German studio that was co-producing the film now confirms that the studio’s legal department has made a settlement offer and are awaiting a response from the extras’ attorney. The studio head also added: “You have a different system in Germany. If you lose an arm, it’s not worth a million dollars.”

Popsquire’s perspective…

Settlement negotiations can be tricky. If you want to settle a case, you have to convey a desire to compromise, while simultaneously demonstrating the willingness to litigate if the appropriate agreement cannot be reached. In short, this explains the German studio’s offer of settlement coupled with a statement about how little money an arm is worth.

Technorati Tags: extra, litigation, pop culture law, settlement, tom cruise, valkyrie

MacKenzie Phillips is taking it One Leg At A Time…

According to TMZ, police arrested MacKenzie for drug possession yesterday, only after a bag of cocaine fell down her right leg during a search at LAX. This is now both sad and ironic. Popsquire wishes MacKenzie all the best and hopes she can win the war against her battle with addiction.

UPDATE: After spending one night in jail, MacKenzie posted $10,000 in bail and has been released.

Technorati Tags: addiction, airport security, cocaine, disease, drug possession, heroin, lax, mackenzie phillips, one day at a time, pop culture law

Popsquire is one of US Weekly’s Fashion Police! Below are examples from this week’s issue, which hits stands today. For more Fashion Police, click here and visit your local newsstand.

Technorati Tags: bridget marquardt, dustin hoffman, girls next door, playboy, pop culture law, popsquire, us weekly fashion police

In a recent interview, Chris Ciccone reveals that lawyers didn’t think it was “wise” to include this story about Demi Moore in his Madonna tell-all:

Yeah — and she’s (Demi) dancing up on me and humping me from behind. The one part that’s not in the book is that she was lactating at the time and she was squirting breast milk at my lesbian friends. My friend Michelle called me the next morning and asked me, “How do I get breast milk out of my black dress?” and I said “How the fuck would I know? Call Demi.” It was hysterical. There are no pictures of it but it actually happened. The lawyers didn’t think it was wise for me to print that — so there’s your juicy tidbit.

Listen to your lawyers, Chris!  This kind of story easily could invite a claim for invasion of privacy.  While we await legal action, enjoy this Kelis hit, “Milkshake.”

Technorati Tags: breast milk, chris ciccone, demi moore, invasion of privacy, lactate, lactation, madge, madonna, madonna tell-all book, out magazine interview, pop culture law, Privacy

Because you are a faithful Popsquire follower, you know that Suge Knight had a busy day yesterday. After being arrested for allegedly beating up his girlfriend, he posted $19,000 in bail and was released from jail. Check out this video footage of Suge’s arrest…

Technorati Tags: battery, deadly weapon, domestic violence, knife, las vegas, marrion knight, pop culture law, suge knight, video

Hilary Duff’s dad is Without Love!

Hilary and Haylie’s parents, Bob and Susan, have been battling it out in bitter divorce proceedings for more than two years, and yesterday’s hearing was no exception.  According to the Houston Chronicle, Susan sought a court order requiring Bob to contribute $25,000 for Hilary’s 21st birthday present and party, but she got something else — courtroom drama.  After ordering Bob to pay $12,500 for Hilary’s birthday, the judge also sent Bob to jail for 10 days in contempt of court for allegedly violating an injunction against selling assets without court approval.

Popsquire’s perspective…

Family law cases often destroy families and continue for several years, especially when the parties fight over significant sums of money.  With allegations of unauthorized asset sales and misuse of money, this case is ripe for further drama.  Realize, however, that family law judges have seen it all and typically are prepared for far worse than the Duffs!

Popsquire wishes Hilary and Haylie all the best and invites everyone to treat them with Dignity.

Popsquire is a helper!  So, if you missed Bill Clinton’s speech last night, you can watch here.

Technorati Tags: barack obama, bill clinton, democratic national convention, dnc, Politics, pop culture law

On tonight’s musical lineup at the Democratic National Convention are Kanye West and the Black Eyed Peas. Kanye will be performing for a party sponsored by the Recording Industry Association of America and One, the antipoverty campaign founded by Bono. The Black Eyed Peas will perform for the Creative Coalition.

Popsquire encourages you to vote! Through votes, our country can become Stronger…

Technorati Tags: black eyed peas, democractic national convention, Fergie, kanye west, law, Politics, pop culture, recording industry association of america

Suge Knight (ironically) has never been sweet…

The hip hop mogul and ex-convict was arrested today in Las Vegas after allegedly beating his girlfriend and having a knife in his hand. According to Las Vegas Now, Suge was booked for assault with a deadly weapon, battery, domestic violence and possession of a controlled substance

Technorati Tags: assault with deadly weapon, battery, controlled substance, domestic abuse, knife, law vegas, marion knight, pop culture law, suge knight

Dear Alanis,

You wrote a song many years ago about so-called “irony.”  Most of your lyrics, however, simply described “bummers” instead of irony.  Today, Popsquire writes to inform you that MacKenzie Phillips is bringing us a real life example of irony, in case you are still searching for better examples than “a fly in your chardonnay” or a “death row pardon two minutes too late.”

Best known for her role on One Day At A Time, MacKenzie was arrested today at LAX for possession of heroin and cocaine.  This is ironic, Alanis, because MacKenzie’s arrest for drug possession exhibits the opposite meaning of her show’s title, One Day At A Time, which serves as the mantra for many people struggling with drug and alcohol addictions.

Popsquire is a helper, so please write back if you would like additional examples.  In the meantime, here is an encore presentation of your catchy, yet inaccurate song to inspire a re-make/re-write.   Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: alanis morissette, arrested, balloons and baggies, cocaine, drugs, heroin, ironic, irony, mackenzie phillips, one day at a time, pop culture law, valerie bertinelli