Popsquire

Privacy ain’t easy to come by these days, especially for public figures seeking medical attention.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Joining the ranks of Britney Spears and Farrah Fawcett, Charlie Sheen’s wife is the latest alleged victim of a medical privacy breach.  TMZ reports that The Canyon, a rehab facility where Brooke Mueller has been staying, has “leaked Brooke’s admission form to the media, which contained very personal information about her substance abuse.”

Brooked has since left The Canyon, and her lawyer says she will sue for invasion of privacy and will “have the individual responsible for leaking the information arrested.”  And, she should!

People who work in hospitals and rehab facilities must be held accountable for their actions.  Leaking information not only harms patients, but it also could discourage people from getting the help they need.

Technorati Tags: brooke mueller, charlie sheen, legal expert, pop culture law, Privacy, rehab, substance abuse, the canyon

Law does a charity good.

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Madonna is raising money for her Raising Malawi charity through the legal system.  Really.

Madonna sued Britain’s Mail on Sunday for publishing private photos of her wedding to Guy Ritchie that her interior designer copied from the couple’s wedding album.  The Mail on Sunday bought the photos for $7,500 and published them shortly after the couple announced their split last year.

Madonna sought $8 million in damages but settled for an undisclosed sum.  Whatever the amount is will go to her Raising Malawi charity.  Excellent result.

Technorati Tags: guy ritchie, lawsuit, legal expert, madonna, mail on sunday, pop cultlure law, raising malawi, settlement, wedding photos

This may be worse than breaking up with someone on a post it…

[Bauer Griffin Online]

Two Ohio police chiefs are under investigation for allegedly scheming to break in to the home of Sarah Jessica Parker’s surrogate mother in order to sell information to a tabloid reporter.  Matthew Broderick (SJP’s hubbie) released this statement:

“Matthew and Sarah Jessica have complete faith in the legal system. But because it’s a criminal investigation — we will not be making any more comment. What I can say is the entire family looks forward to the healthy delivery of their daughters later on this summer.”

Of course, the real problem here is not the legal system.  It’s the economic incentive for selling tabloid-worthy information.  Remember, both Farrah Fawcett and Britney Spears were victimized by a hospital employee who sold their private medical information to tabloids last year.  What and who is next?!

Follow Popsquire on Twitter.

Technorati Tags: break-in, investigation, matthew broderick, police, pop culture law, sarah jessica parker, surrogate mother, tabloid

Woody Allen just scored a $5 million Match Point against American Apparel.

[Anthony G. Moore]

Popsquire followers likely remember that Allen was set to begin trial against the clothing company for $10 million, arising out of the unauthorized use of the star’s image in a billboard ad campaign.  This morning, however, the parties announced a last-minute $5 million settlement, which Allen says may be the “largest amount ever paid under the New York right to privacy law.”

That’s definitely a huge settlement, especially just before trial.  To settle for 50% of the asking price after preparing for trial shows that American Apparel was not confident in its defense.

Technorati Tags: american apparel, billboard campaign, entertainment litigation, pop culture law, settlement, woody allen

Britney Spears’ dancers must not be using Toxic drugs!

Britney Spears’ camp is requiring that all of her backup dancers submit to drug tests in order keep away negative influences.  “They all had to be drug tested and, if they didn’t pass, they were fired,” a source says.

Note to Britney: While Popsquire supports keeping out druggies and negative influences, there are numerous laws that govern drug testing of employees.  In California, for example, it may be considered an invasion of privacy to require drug testing of current employees.  Let’s hope you complied with the law!

Technorati Tags: Britney Spears, celebrities and law, drug testing backup dancers, drugs, pop culture law, Privacy

A sticky lawsuit became sweet for Madonna in a London court today!

A London High Court judge found the UK’s Mail on Sunday liable for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement after publishing stolen photos of Madonna’s 2000 wedding to Guy Ritchie.  On Oct. 19, 2008, the tabloid published an 11-photo spread of the private pics, which were stolen from M’s Beverly Hills home by an interior designer.

The designer sold the photos for $7,500, but Madonna wants $7.5 million in damages.  A decision on the amount of damages is not expected until next year, and Popsquire will keep you posted!

Technorati Tags: celebrities and law, copyright, invasion of privacy, madonna, mail on sunday, pop culture law, stolen pictures, wedding pictures

Lawanda Jackson admits to making her own documentary entitled, “Britney: For Her Records!”

The former UCLA Medical Center employee pleaded guilty yesterday to disclosing and selling confidential information about dozens of patients, including Britney Spears, Farrah Fawcett, and Maria Shriver. Technically, this could land her in jail for a maximum sentence of 10 years, followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine; however, Popsquire smells yet another plea bargain.

Sentencing has been scheduled for May.  Popsquire will keep you posted.

Technorati Tags: Britney Spears, celebrities and law, celebrity medical records, farrah fawcett, lawanda jackson, maria shriver, pop culture law, Privacy

X-Files star, David Duchovny, now has an x-lawsuit!

Following the UK Daily Mail’s apology last week for running a story claiming that David was cheating on his wife with his tennis instructor, David dropped his $1 million defamation/invasion of privacy lawsuit against the publication.  The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that he cannot re-file it.

Popsquire smells a settlement!  The timing of the dismissal so close to the apology wreaks of lawyers.  David probably got some money out of it, too.  Good for him!

Technorati Tags: david duchovny, defamation, dismissal settlement pop culture law, edit pakay, invasion of privacy, uk daily mail

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

Sienna Miller is suing to two British newspapers and a photo agency for publishing semi-nude pics of her hanging with married actor, Balthazar Getty. In London’s High Court, Sienna seeks recourse for invasion of privacy, according to People. Since the photos emerged, Balthazar has announced that his marriage is ending. Um, duh!

For some reason, Popsquire just can’t stop singing Justin Timberlake’s “What Comes Around…”

Technorati Tags: balthazar getty, invasion of privacy, lawsuit, london's high court, pop culture law, semi-nude pictures, sienna miller, the sun

Rapper 50 Cent smells something rotten at Taco Bell!

He’s suing the chalupa chain for trademark infringement and misappropriation of his right to publicity, among other claims. Click here to read the lawsuit, but here’s enough information to get you through any dinner conversation. 50 alleges:

1. Taco Bell drafted a “faux” letter purportedly addressed to 50, asking him to change his name for one day from “50 Cent” to “79 Cent,” “89 Cent,” or “99 Cent” in order to publicize the fast food chain’s value menu.
2. The letter went out to the national press, instead of to the rapper. The media then ran the letter, providing millions of dollars in free publicity without licensing the rapper’s trademarked name.
3. Taco Bell knew it may have had to pay 50 a multi-million dollar fee to get his endorsement. Instead, Taco Bell “chose to steal his endorsement and to enjoy all the publicity of being associated with a mega-star while bearing none of the costs.”

Popsquire’s perspective…

A federal court judge in Los Angeles is allowing TMZ to re-post snippets of Mini Me’s sex tape, after the court previously ordered the footage to be taken down.

This decision comes after the woman in the sex tape told the court: (1) the video was created with her camera; and (2) she gave TMZ permission to broadcast snippets of the tape.

The judge still barred TMZ’s co-defendant, Kevin Blatt, who previously distributed “One Night in Paris,” from distributing or taking orders for the 50-minute sex tape.

Technorati Tags: copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, kevin blatt, lawsuit, mini me, one night in paris, sex tape, verne troyer

Verne Troyer (aka “Mini-Me”) is suing TMZ for $20 million, alleging: (1) copyright infringement; (2) violation of privacy; (3) trademark infringement; (4) violation of right to publicity; and (5) misappropriation of name and likeness.

In short, Verne claims that TMZ violated his rights by publishing and airing portions of his sex tape.  Verne claims the tape was stolen and ended up in the hands of Kevin Blatt, who previously distributed “One Night in Paris” and now is a co-defendant alongside TMZ.  Click here to read the complaint.

Popsquire’s perspective…

Although sex tapes pop up frequently in Hollywood and don’t result in litigation, a stolen sex tape can present serious legal problems.  If the tape is not yours, then it may be stolen.  If it is stolen, then you don’t own the copyright and cannot expect to publish it without possible ramifications.

However, if you publish a newsworthy snippet, as did TMZ, then the “fair use” doctrine may provide a decent defense to some of the claims.

Although Popsquire is siding with TMZ on this one, you won’t find a link to the sex tape on this blog.  It’s just not Popsquire’s thing!  Is it yours?

Hush little store/don’t say a word/cuz Tom is gonna send you some legal words!

Attorneys for Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes recently sent this letter to Petit Tresor, a luxury baby boutique, instructing the retailer to shut up about how much the couple may have spent on Suri. According to the letter, disclosures that the couple have spent between $350,000 and $400,000 at the store in the past two years are false and invade their privacy rights.

Popsquire’s perspective…

While a retailer certainly can be held liable for disclosing false information about consumers’ spending habits for marketing purposes, TomKat’s assertion that the store has violated the couple’s right to privacy may not be so clear cut.

The California Financial Information Privacy Act (FIPA), which provides numerous privacy protections to California consumers, generally applies to “financial institutions” and not small retailers who don’t issue credit cards. Therefore, although it certainly may constitute bad business and poor public relations, Tresor may not have run afoul of the law in every way that Tom’s legal team claims.

Like a good lawyer, Popsquire always sees many sides to a story. Stick around!

Lawanda Jackson, a UCLA Medical Center administrative specialist, has been indicted in federal court for “wrongfully obtaining of individually identifiable health information for commercial advantage.”

Translation: This lady allegedly was selling celebrity medical information to an undisclosed “media outlet” for a total of $4,600.

Refresher: UCLA employees previously were disciplined and/or fired for divulging private medical information about Britney Spears and Farrah Fawcett.

Question: Is Popsquire the only one who thinks this lady deserves to go to jail both for selling info and for selling out so cheaply?!?

In honor of Lawanda, let’s sing along to Lionel Richie’s hit, “Penny Lover.” Sing!

Technorati Tags: indictment, lawanda jackson, medical information, ucla