The 86-year-old homeless man Robert Novak hit with his car on Wednesday took to the radio this morning -- and he didn't sound all there.
The victim of Novak's hit and run, Don Clifford Liljenquist, told his side of the story to WMAL Radio. Even though he was the one who was hit -- and now has a dislocated shoulder -- he thinks the Novak hit-and-run is "a great story." We agree!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Finally, proof that all publicity is not good publicity -- Puck has been busted because he appeared on TMZ.
You may recall, we had video of the "Real World" faux-lebrity hosting a party at Jet Nightclub in Vegas a few days back, where he bragged about siring the children of lesbians.
Well, turns out, San Diego cops are fans, and when they saw his mug, they wanted one of their own. Puck has a three-year-old warrant for traffic violations and S.D. cops are now on the hunt.
Puck is for once a wanted man.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Big, tough-guy wrestler Sandman needed the help of Daddy's little girl to get out of his cage.
After bail was set for $10K for the rassler, Sandman -- real name James Fullington -- told the judge that his grown daughter Kelly would have to come up with the cash for him. Finally, after four days in the slammer, complicated by two former felony convictions from twenty years ago, Sandman's out.
And she's not the only little girl who helped the ex-ECW star: He asked the judge for leniency because he's about to have a baby girl.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown are used to having the book thrown at 'em -- just not actually writing them.
The two felonius rappers just got sued by Simon & Schuster, the publishing house, for failing to deliver on books they were paid to write. And it's not like they didn't have the time to write 'em -- both spent long stints in prison; Kim for perjury, Foxy for assault.
S&S wants their money back -- over $100K in total -- with interest. Neither rapper's lawyer could be immediately reached.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Two members of The Smashing Pumpkins are suing Virgin Records America, claiming the label has screwed them out of ringtone fees and other stuff.
James Yoshinobu Iha and D'Arcy Wretzky-Brown claims in 2005, five years after the band broke up, Virgin negotiated a deal solely with frontman Billy Corgan for electronic transmissions (ringtones, download computer files, etc), without ever getting the consent of Iha or Wretzky-Brown.
In the suit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, the plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music
Chris Cagle is off the hook ... in the legal sense, anyway.
The country star was found not guilty of domestic assault this morning following an incident in May where both he and his GF were arrested. According to cops, the fight took place when both were drunk and involved a purse and umbrella as weapons.
Prosecutors decided not to go forward with their case against the girlfriend.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Nick Carter's mama was arrested this morning, allegedly over a really nasty divorce hearing.
Here's how it went down. Jane Carter, aka Jane Holcomb, aka Jane Schnek, was divorced from a guy named John Holcomb. There are still some legal odds and ends to deal with, including an allegation that she trashed the house they once shared.
John filed legal papers forcing Jane into court, but she didn't appear. So the Florida judge wants her butt in jail for not appearing and he's ordered a bench warrant. She was picked up today in Sumter County at a cemetery where the construction company she works for was doing a project. Perfect.
It ain't Donna Reed, folks.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Dirty Divorces
Priscilla Presley can rest easy now.
Dr. Daniel Serrano, who injected some of the most famous people in Hollywood with a "miracle wrinkle remover" that was really just silicone used to lubricate auto parts, was granted a voluntary departure in his immigration hearing today -- meaning he should be out of the country by August 15.
He'll remain in custody until he gets the money to pay for his own ticket out of town.
Warning to Argentinian women: Be suspicious of coupons for a free oil change with your botox.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Robert Novak, the conservative columnist who hosted a CNN show on politics, is a safety risk in Washington, D.C., at least according to a lawsuit we turned up.
As you know, Novak struck a pedestrian yesterday in D.C. while driving his Corvette. By the way, apparently the guy isn't doing so well.
Back in 2004, Novak was cruising along when, according to the suit, he "failed to obey a red traffic light ... entered into the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 6th St. at a high rate of speed and violently struck the motor vehicle being operated by Plaintiff Chad Clarke."
The suit, which settled in 2006, claims Clarke suffered "severe, painful and permanent injuries of body and mind."
Clarke sued for $100,000. The terms of settlement were not disclosed.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
If you were born after 1965 -- just scroll on by this one.
If you're still with us, legendary keyboardist Leon Russell is being sued by ex-wife Mary Bridges, former member of Sly & the Family Stone's background vocal group Little Sister, for breach of contract. According to a lawsuit filed yesterday, when the couple divorced back in 1980, they were supposed to split all profits from their joint albums. But Bridges claims Russell hasn't been forking over any dough.
She's asking for damages in excess of $75,000. Attempts to contact Russell were unsuccessful.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
All-Pro NFL linebacker Shawne "Lights Out" Merriman is not a man you want to make angry.
The 24-year-old San Diego Charger superstar is suing a clothing company called Lights Out Sportswear for trademark infringement.
Merriman claims he's been using the nickname "Lights Out" since his knocked a quarterback out cold during his sophomore year in high school -- almost ten years ago. He launched an apparel line with that name back in 2002 and trademarked the name back in 2007.
Merriman is asking for damages, the "destruction or elimination" of all of Lights Out Sportswear's products and advertising, as well as the forfeiture of their website domain.
Calls to Lights Out Sportswear were not immediately returned.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
50 Cent wants dollars -- lots of 'em -- from Taco Bell for jacking his "good name" for a low-budget promo. 
Fitty claims in a Federal lawsuit that the burrito slingers stole his identity by encouraging him to change his name to 79 Cent, 89 Cent, or 99 Cent as part of a less-than-a-dollar-menu promo. While he doesn't address the total idiocy of the campaign in the suit, Mr. Cent does claim he wasn't told about the ad until he heard about it in the news -- whereupon he totally disavowed it.
Reps for Taco Bell didn't immediately comment.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Robert Novak -- the conservative dude on TV who outed Valerie Plame -- hit a pedestrian today in D.C. It was only fair for us to hit him with every possible question about his driving ... especially his driving a Corvette. 
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Wacky & Weird
Matt LeBlanc wants his former manager, who's suing him, to undergo a mental evaluation. So unfriendly!
Camille Cerio filed suit against the actor last August, claiming he owed her massive amounts of cash stemming from a little TV show he did called "Friends." Cerio says she signed an agreement parting ways with Joey 12 years ago, but now alleges that piece of paper is invalid because she was depressed at the time she signed it, and unable to enter into any agreement. Matt's camp is not buying, and now wants Cerio to put her money where her mouth is and prove she's crazazy.
A hearing is set for August 13.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV
Whoever coined the term "friendly skies" hasn't read this lawsuit.
Rande Gerber, restaurateur hubby of Cindy Crawford, is being sued by a hotel management group over use of the word "sky." According to a lawsuit filed in L.A. Superior Court yesterday, Gerber helped Delta Airlines design a signature in-flight cocktail program called "Midnight Sky." Simple enough, right?
Here's the problem: Gerber agreed back in 2002 not to incorporate the word "sky" into any of his ventures in a settlement with the Morgans Hotel Group -- the people behind Skybar and Whiskey Sky. So now they're pissed that Gerber has gone and done it with the "Midnight Sky" program. Gerber's defense: He wasn't responsible for the naming and Delta already calls its frequent flier program "SkyMiles" and its in-flight mag "Sky Magazine." He says Delta should be free to call the program whatever it wants. And hello?? It's an airline.
Morgans is asking for damages in excess of $500,000.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
You can e-mail us here or call the TMZ tip line at
1-888-847-9869
TMZ Mobile: Full video & graphics anytime & anywhere as it breaks.
TMZ Toolbar: TMZ Headlines ticker & one-click access to your favorite celebs right in your browser!
iGoogle: Get the latest celeb news on your iGoogle homepage!
TMZ Vista Gadget: The latest celeb news delivered directly to your Vista desktop
Facebook: Get the TMZ widget for your page!
MySpaceTV: Check out exclusive clips & more!
Pick up the hot scoop from the newsroom floor — as it happens — by e-mail from TMZ.com Supervising Producer Gillian Sheldon!
