Popsquire

A million lawyers would kill for clients like these.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

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Real Housewives’ Kim Zolciak didn’t work *that* hard for the money. [ICYDK]

Britney Spears goes from 5150 to 1-2-3! [Popbytes]

A self breast exam is not assault. Just ask Mila Kunis! [Popwrap]

Khloe Kardashian is makin’ it legal in your living room. [Amy Grindhouse]

Jessica Alba is lawyering up for negotiations. Oh, Focker! [Celebuzz]

[Bauer Griffin Online]

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John Travolta returned to court this morning in the Bahamas and provided additional testimony in the extortion case arising out of his son Jett’s death.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Although last week’s testimony focused on finding his son after a seizure, today’s testimony was all about the alleged extortion plot.

Travolta explained in court today that he never had any direct contact with the defendants, but that he understood through an employee and his lawyer that the defendants threatened to release information claiming he was at fault for his son’s death.  Specifically, if he didn’t pay them, they would “imply that the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable in some way.”

If the defense attorneys are smart, they will persuade the jury that Travolta’s testimony is hearsay and irrelevant.  If he didn’t have any direct contact with the defendants, then he really does not have any direct evidence of their illegal conduct.

Don’t fret, though.

Travolta’s lawyer, who did have contact with the defendants, testified yesterday that the defendants wanted Travolta to pay them in exchange for the return of certain documents — ambulance dispatch reports and the refusal to transport form.  The defendants allegedly communicated that Travolta should pay because  “he would not want his name tarnished in media.”

Warning: This video constitutes an assault on your ears.

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Roman Polanski’s former sister-in-law, Debra Tate, says he should stay in France both because the American justice system is broken and the alleged “rape” was consensual.  Watch!

Technorati Tags: american justice system broken, debra tate, legal expert, pop culture law, rape, roman polanski, sharon tate

If you missed Popsquire’s Russell Wetanson on yesterday’s HLN “Prime News,” don’t fret.  Here’s an encore presentation of the discussion surrounding Roman Polanksi.

Technorati Tags: judicial abuse, judicial misconduct, legal expert, pop culture law, rape, roman polanski, statutory rape

The King of Pop continues to reign supreme over legal drama.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

In addition to ongoing issues surrounding his death (attn: LAPD, when will you arrest Dr. Murray?) and control over his estate, Michael Jackson continues to be involved litigation.  The trustees of the MJ estate filed a lawsuit against the Heal The World Foundation for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and infringement of the right to publicity.

Click here to read the lawsuit.

The trustees claim that this foundation has nothing to do with MJ’s former Heal The World Foundation and that the defendants intend “to solicit and collect money from the public who, as a result of Defendants’ misleading conduct, erroneously believe that they are making charitable donations to a charity sponsored by Mr. Jackson.”

Of course, this is not the only piece of litigation looming large over the MJ estate.  His former lawyers, security guards, and hairstylist have filed separate lawsuits, alleging that MJ owed them a combined total of more than $800,000 in unpaid fees.

His hairstylist’s claim accounts for approximately $200,000 of this total.  Seriously.

Popsquire’s entertainment reporter / legal expert, Russell Wetanson, will be LIVE on HLN’s “Prime News” at 2:45 pm PST.

We’re talkin’ Roman Polanski.  Watch!

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Jon Gosselin might need a new j-o-b or spousal support from his soon-to-be ex, Kate Gosselin.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

TLC announced today that the network is revamping “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ to focus more on Kate, and the show is being renamed “Kate Plus 8.”  In addition, the network confirmed that although it maintains an exclusive relationship with Jon, he will appear on “a less regular basis.”

Entertainment talent contracts often require payment only for “episodes in which you recognizably appear,” so Jon could see his paychecks decrease significantly if his on-screen time is cut back.

Perhaps this is why In Touch Weekly reports that Jon filed papers today asking to delay his divorce from Kate.  Jon tells the magazine: “I regret my conduct since Kate and I separated…I used poor judgment in publicly socializing with other women so soon.”

Yeah, of course he does…especially now that it could affect his recent jet-setting lifestyle!

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Roman Polanski’s attorneys want the Swiss to let him go.  Duh.

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Like a typical lawyer, Popsquire enjoys a good slip and fall…

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Like a typical lawyer, Popsquire enjoys a helpful timeline.  So, while we await next steps in the Roman Polanski extradition process, take some time to review history.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

1967: Polanski directs “The Fearless Vampire Killers,” starring his future wife and Charles Manson victim, Sharon Tate.

1968: Polanski and Tate get married in London.

1968: “Rosemary’s Baby,” written by Polanski, premieres.

1969: Polanski’s wife is murdered while eight months pregnant.

1971: “The Tragedy of MacBeth,” Polanski’s first film after Tate’s death, premieres.

1974: Polanski’s “Chinatown” is released and receives critical acclaim.

1977: (a) Polanski is indicted on six felony counts for allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old girl in Jack Nicholson’s house; (b) Polanski is released from jail after a 42-day psychiatric evaluation and enters a guilty plea on one count of unlawful sex with a minor in exchange for “time served” as a sentence; (c) the judge rejects the plea bargain agreement and issues a 50-year prison sentence; (d) Polanski flees to France.

1978: An arrest warrant is issued for Polanski.

1979: Polanski releases his next film, “Tess,” which he dedicates to his deceased wife.

If you watched Popsquire on TV Guide Network last week, then you know the John Travolta extortion trial is focused on a “Refusal of Treatment / Transportation” form signed on the day of Jett Travolta’s death.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Well, that form may no longer exist.  According to People.com, former Bahamian senator and defendant, Pleasant Bridgewater, may have burned it just as the investigation into her and paramedic Tarino Lightbourn’s conduct was heating up.

It’s likely not a major detriment to the prosecution’s case, though.  So long as witnesses testify that the extortion plot occurred, the existence of the document may not matter.  This extortion case is more about the defendants’ conduct relating to coercing money out of Travolta than it is about the whereabouts of the actual document.

Indeed, even if the document never existed, the defendants still could be found guilty of extortion.  They’d be guilty of fraud, too!

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This Yom Kippur will go down in history as the date of Khloe Kardashian’s wedding, and Ryan Seacrest was in attendance.

[Pacific Coast News]

As the Executive Producer of the Kardashian reality shows on E!, he likely will remember it as a time of feast, not famine.

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Well, she did it.  Khloe Kardashian married a $33-million contract Lakers star, Lamar Odon.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Among the non-Kardashian attendees were Kobe Bryant, Ryan Seacrest, and Lara Spencer.  But, one thing may have been missing — a prenup.

That’s ok, though, because they can enter a post-nuptial agreement.  It’s the same thing as a prenup, except that they sign it after getting married.

Of course, that means Khloe has more bargaining power now.  If she doesn’t sign, she’s already got her hands on half of Lamar’s fortune!

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