Posted Feb 9th 2010 7:00AM by TMZ Staff
Find a successful movie and TMZ will find a corresponding lawsuit alleging a shameless ripoff. Case in point - "Twilight."
Summit Entertainment, which owns the trademark to the stylized TWILIGHT trademark, is suing a company that is selling a "Twilight" DVD.
Here's the short story. Summit is releasing a "Twilight" documentary on DVD next month to correspond with the DVD release of "New Moon." The documentary cover features the title, "Twilight in Forks: The Saga of the Real Town," along with an image of a moonlit forest of trees. The back cover features photos of Bella's truck and the "Welcome" sign in Forks, Washington.
Summit claims the defendant, Topics Entertainment, sent copies of a flyer to Best Buy, Sam's Club and Target, advertising its own documentary titled, "Forks: Bitten by Twilight." Summit claims the art on the cover is very similar to the trademarked art and therefore deceptive.
Summit wants to put a quick end to the Topics documentary, asking a judge for an injunction and all sorts of damages.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Twilight
Tags: copyright, copyright infringement, CopyrightInfringement, lawsuit, likeness, summit entertainment, SummitEntertainment, topics entertainment, TopicsEntertainment, twilight
Posted Feb 9th 2010 6:05AM by TMZ Staff
Comedian Gabriel Iglesias -- a former finalist on "Last Comic Standing" -- had to call in extra security to his stand-up show in L.A. this weekend after receiving 2 threats on his safety.
The comic claims someone fired off an email and a voicemail warning the Fluffy Man to "be careful" while in town.
Gabriel instantly beefed up the security for his show -- and demanded that everyone who stepped into the theater had to be wanded down by officials.
We're told Gabriel joked about the situation during his performance.
Fortunately, nothing happened, but even if something did go down, TMZ has learned Erik Estrada -- a reserve officer in the Muncie Police Department -- was in the house that night.
Nobody messes with the Estrada.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: comedy, comic, death threat, DeathThreat, gabriel iglesias, GabrielIglesias, last comic standing, LastComicStanding, threat
Posted Feb 8th 2010 7:50PM by TMZ Staff
Hugh Hefner has been sued for living the good life and refusing to give it up for the sake of his company.
We've obtained a class action lawsuit filed by a Playboy shareholder who claims the company is falling apart and Hugh has intentionally sabotaged two potential deals in the last 6 months to sell the company at a decent price.
In the lawsuit, an investment company that analyzed Playboy's business sent a note stating "we think the wildcard here is Hugh Hefner." The note continues, "If you were Hugh Hefner, 81, would you give up the parade of busty blonds, the fancy mansion and the reality TV show for a payout?"
The suit goes on ... "Hefner has continued to live the good life and make sure everyone knows it. Hefner remains in the limelight, showing up at media events and at the Playboy mansion ... with his girlfriends by his side."
The suit laments, "Today, the price of a Playboy magazine is far higher than the price of Playboy common stock." In 1999, the stock sold for $36 a share. Today Playboy closed at $3.14. The magazine sells for $5.99 ... because of the articles.
The plaintiffs say Hefner runs roughshod over the shareholders and they want unspecified damages.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Playboy, Exclusives
Tags: class action, class action lawsuit, ClassAction, ClassActionLawsuit, hugh hefner, HughHefner, lawsuit, playboy, sell
Posted Feb 8th 2010 6:18PM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Conrad Murray is a "danger to the public" -- according to the medical board that licensed him to practice medicine in California.
According to documents filed with the court, the Medical Board of California believes Murray showed, "utter disregard for the care and well-being of the persons entrusted to his care" -- namely, Michael Jackson.
The Board wants the judge to step in because it takes the Medical Board a long time to yank a doctor's license.
In the end, the judge ordered Dr. Murray not to administer anesthetics, including Propofol.
The judge will hear the Medical Board's request to suspend Dr. Murray's license as a bail condition in a few weeks.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: dr conrad murray, DrConradMurray, medical board of california, medical license, MedicalBoardOfCalifornia, MedicalLicense, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Feb 8th 2010 6:04PM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Conrad Murray was arraigned today and pled not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Michael Jackson. He was taken into custody for booking and bail was set at $75,000.
Jackson's parents and several of his siblings were front and center for the 25-minute hearing. The judge ruled as a condition to bail, Murray cannot be in possession of (or prescribe) anesthetics and specifically mentioned Propofol. At one point the judge said, "I do not want you sedating people."
Murray had to surrender his passport.
Murray will be in court again on April 5.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: bail, dr.conradmurray, manslaughter, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Feb 8th 2010 5:55PM by TMZ Staff
Take a look at the L.A. County Sheriff's official website -- it shows that Dr. Conrad Murray was officially booked moments ago at 2:38 PM PST.
The Doc is no small potato -- dude was listed at 6'5" and 220 lbs.
We're told the bail bondsman has already posted Murray's $75,000 bail -- so he should be walking out of court shortly.
UPDATE: Murray has posted bail and has been released.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: dr conrad murray, DrConradMurray, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Feb 8th 2010 3:27PM by TMZ Staff
Charlie Sheen was officially charged with three crimes today in court in Aspen, Colorado: felony menacing, misdemeanor 3rd degree assault and misdemeanor criminal mischief -- but Charlie did not enter a plea.
Sheen and his wife Brooke Mueller were at the courthouse in Aspen. The judge also relaxed the protective order that has been in place since Sheen's Christmas Day arrest -- so Sheen can now have communication and contact with Brooke.
Sheen is still not allowed to drink alcohol, harass Brooke or possess firearms. Charlie and Brooke hugged each other at the end of the hearing. 
He's due back in court in March.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Charlie Sheen, Brooke Mueller
Tags: arrest, aspen, assault, brooke mueller, BrookeMueller, charged, charlie sheen, CharlieSheen, christmas day, ChristmasDay, crimes, criminal mishief, CriminalMishief, menacing, wife
Posted Feb 8th 2010 3:15PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has just obtained a copy of the full L.A. County Coroner's report in the death of Michael Jackson -- which until now was under seal. The conclusion is clear ... Propofol killed the singer.
According to the report, the manner of death is homicide and the conclusion is based on the following 4 items:
1. Circumstances indicate the Propofol and the benzodiazepines were administered by another.
2. Propofol was administered in a non-hospital setting without any appropriate medical indication.
3. The standard of care for administering Propofol was not met. Recommended equipment for patient monitoring, precision dosing and resuscitation was not present.
4. The circumstances do not support self-administration of Propofol.
The Coroner's report was under wraps until the criminal complaint was filed and it will be a centerpiece in the prosecution of Dr. Conrad Murray on charges of involuntary manslaughter.
UPDATE: In the Coroner's report, the scene at Jackson's house is described in detail, and the bedroom sounds like a hospital. There was a chair next to the bed -- "reportedly the decedent's doctor sat here." Also there -- a green oxygen tank, prescription meds, medical supplies, a box of catheters, disposable needles and alcohol pads. Also found -- near the foot of the bed ... a closed bottle of urine.
As we first reported, authorities found 11 bottles of Propofol in the house -- 3 100 ml vials and 8 20 ml vials.
Also, there was talk about Jackson's hair and reports he was bald. In fact, the Coroner's report says, "The decedent's head hair is sparse and is connected to a wig."
UPDATE: As for what drugs were found in Michael Jackson's house ... authorities found Diazepam (for anxiety) prescribed by Dr. Murray, Lorazepam (for anxiety) prescribed by Dr. Murray and Temazepam (for insomnia) prescribed by Dr. Murray. Authorities also found Clonazepam (for panic disorders) prescribed by Dr. Allan Metzger, Trazodone (an anti-depressant) prescribed by Dr. Metzger. And they found Tizanidine (a muscle relaxer) prescribed to Omar Arnold (a Jackson alias) prescribed by Dr. Arnold Klein. There was also an empty vial of Propofol injectable emulsion and an empty glass vial of a Flumazenil injection (which reverses effects of sedation) and a broken syringe.
As we first reported, authorities found 11 vials of Propofol ... 3 100 ml vials and 8 20 ml vials. None of the bottles had prescription directions, patient or doctor names.
They also found liquid Midazolam (anti-anxiety), Lorazepam liquid (injectable) and 14 capsules of ephedrine (for narcolepsy and depression), caffeine aspirin, Zanaflex (a muscle relaxer) and Prednisone (for skin conditions). There was also Azithromycin (an antibiotic), prescribed by Dwight James/Cherilyn Lee and the patient name was Kathlyn Hursey.
UPDATE: An anesthesiologist who consulted with the Coroner said there are "NO reports of its use (Propofol) for insomnia relief, to my knowledge. The only reports of its use in homes are cases of fatal abuse."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: autopsy, body, coroners report, CoronersReport, death, dr. conrad murray, Dr.ConradMurray, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, propofol
Posted Feb 8th 2010 2:31PM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Conrad Murray has just been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.
According to the criminal complaint, the D.A. alleges Dr. Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson ... in the commission of an unlawful act, not a felony; and in the commission of a lawful act which might have produced death, in an unlawful manner, and without due caution and circumspection."
Dr. Murray will be arraigned today at 1:30 PM. As we first reported, he will plead not guilty.
Dr. Murray is expected to show up at around 1:00 PM, accompanied by his lawyers and a bail bondsman. Bail should be set at $25,000.
Dr. Murray administered Propofol to Jackson just before he died, and the L.A. County Coroner's Office has determined Jackson died as a result of acute Propofol intoxication.
If convicted, Dr. Murray faces a maximum of four years in prison.
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Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: charged, death, demerol, dr. conrad murray, Dr.ConradMurray, injections, investigation, iv, lapd, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, propofol
Posted Feb 8th 2010 2:18PM by TMZ Staff
Gary Coleman was hit with a small fine today after pleading guilty to one count of domestic violence criminal mischief in Utah -- and will avoid jail time if he follows a short list of rules.
As part of the deal, Coleman -- who was arrested in April after an alleged altercation with his wife -- was sentenced to 31 1/2 days in jail, but will avoid going to the pokey if he pays a $595 fine and completes a domestic violence course.
Coleman -- who turned 42 today -- had his domestic violence assault charge dismissed.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Gary Coleman
Posted Feb 8th 2010 2:15PM by TMZ Staff
Joe Jackson, Katherine Jackson, and members of their family will attend Dr. Conrad Murray's arraignment today at Airport Court in Los Angeles ... Joe's publicist tells TMZ.
Two black Escalades and two other vehicles have just left the Jackson family home in Encino.
Joe Jackson was in one of the Escalades. We're told Tito, Jermaine, Randy and La Toya will also attend the arraignment.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: arraignment, dr conrad murray, DrConradMurray, jackson family, JacksonFamily, joe jackson, JoeJackson, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Feb 8th 2010 1:30PM by TMZ Staff
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will sue News of the World for reporting the couple was splitting up.
It's pretty clear News of the World was wrong. Exhibit A: This pic of the couple making out at the Super Bowl.
The tabloid published a report January 24 that Pitt and Jolie had called it quits and agreed to custody and property division.
The London lawyers for Pitt and Jolie, Keith Schillings, called the report a "false and intrusive allegation."
Schillings said News of the World refused to retract the story.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Brad & Angelina
Tags: angeline jolie, AngelineJolie, brad and angelina, brad and angie, brad pitt, BradAndAngelina, BradAndAngie, BradPitt, brangelina, custody, divorce, split, sue
Posted Feb 8th 2010 10:05AM by TMZ Staff
Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, will plead not guilty Monday morning when he is arraigned on involuntary manslaughter charges ... sources tell TMZ.
We're told the plan is for Dr. Murray to arrive at the courthouse 20 - 30 minutes before the arraignment -- which sources tell us will be at 1:30 PM PT. He will surrender voluntarily.
Law enforcement sources tell us 20 L.A. County Sheriff's deputies will be at the courthouse, some of whom will be evident and some who will not. We're told the Sheriff's Department has had its security plan in place for a while, in part because of crowd control concerns and partly because of security issues surrounding Dr. Murray.
We're told there is a concern about Dr. Murray's safety because of intense feeling on the part of some Michael Jackson fans that Dr. Murray killed the singer.
As we first reported, Dr. Murray will be accompanied by a bail bondsman who will post bail -- expected to be $25,000.
Our sources say Dr. Murray will not waive his right to a preliminary hearing.
Following arraignment and booking, we're told Dr. Murray will leave L.A. and go either to Las Vegas or Houston.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: arraignment, court, courthouse, dr. conrad murray, Dr.ConradMurray, involuntary manslaughter, InvoluntaryManslaughter, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, not guilty, NotGuilty, plea, plead, preliminary hearing, PreliminaryHearing, security, surrender
