Posted Nov 10th 2009 5:19PM by TMZ Staff
Joe Jackson's lawyer just made it clear to the judge -- if Michael Jackson's dad doesn't get an allowance, he'll file a creditor's claim against his son's estate.
Brian Oxman, Joe's lawyer, just said out loud he thinks Katherine has "struck a deal with the estate" rather than staying committed to challenging the will, John Branca, and on and on. Branca's lawyer, Howard Weitzman, said there has never been a "deal" with Katherine.
Oxman said if Joe doesn't get the allowance he's after, Michael would have breached a contract he had with daddy and that's why he'd then file a creditor's claim. Oxman didn't elaborate on what kind of contract MJ made with Joe.
And then there's this. Katherine Jackson's lawyer said Katherine doesn't object to Joe getting an allowance, but was quick to add that Joe has no legal standing to appear in probate court.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Posted Nov 10th 2009 4:00PM by TMZ Staff
The only thing more ridiculous than Wendy Williams' pit stains on her show this morning: The war Shanna Moakler ignited with the Kardashians by calling Khloe a "donkey."
After Shanna talked about not being invited to "the donkey's wedding" on Wendy's show, the Twitter-verse exploded -- with Khloe's friend Jonathan Cheban Tweeting Shanna was a "dirty whore" and Khloe chiming "I have no idea who this girl is but I guess she is talking about me. Talk on honey... I can care less LOL."
Like any dependable celebrity these days, Shanna also said sorry via Tweet, saying "you are right. We don't know each other personally and I apologize for my comment this morning."
What a bunch of twits.
Filed under: TV, Celebrity Feuds, Shanna Moakler, The Kardashians, Khloe Kardashian
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:45PM by TMZ Staff
What a turn! Katherine and Joe Jackson are fighting each other in court ... right now.
Katherine's new lawyer, Adam Streisand, is arguing to the judge that Joe has no legal standing to object to John Branca and John McClain as executors, nor does he have any standing to object to the validity of the will.
Streisand is arguing since Michael Jackson cut Joe out of the will, he has no dog in this fight.
During the fight, Billie Jean Jackson -- you know -- just stood up and said that she's an heir so she'll object ... so Joe's got that going for him.
Stay tuned...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:44PM by TMZ Staff
Harvey and Mike answered all your questions today on everything -- including Dr. Murray's phone call while Michael Jackson was dying and MJ's parents facing off over his will in court.
Also -- the latest on the Letterman alleged extortionist and the vegan food face-off rages on.
Plus: Is Harvey's tan a fake?
Filed under: TMZ Live
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:44PM by TMZ Staff
It was a fantasstic evening in NYC -- as curvaceous tennis pro Serena Williams and petite Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks showed off their bangin' behinds.
In hindsight, we have just one question ...
Filed under: Hot Bodies, Talk Sports
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:43PM by TMZ Staff
The never-ending auction for the badass DWI recliner-mobile has failed miserably for the second time -- and now the guy who says his winning bid was just a mistake has the Proctor City Attorney after his trigger-happy mouse finger.
Since the chair was being auctioned off by the Proctor Police Department to benefit taxpayers, the police chief emailed the winning bidder to let the guy know a $2,000 deposit on the chair was due ... but all the chief got back was this note:
"I did not mean to bid this amount, as well as I cannot afford this. I am truly sorry for the mix up and the wasted time."
The chief got pissed and called Proctor City Attorney John Bray to check it out. Bray tells us he's looking at the City of Proctor's "legal remedies" about the failed eBay bid ... but says the ideal situation would be for the bidder to cough up the dough.
Stay tuned for more DWI chair drama!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:42PM by TMZ Staff
Sure, Lady Gaga dons a bunch of crazy outfits and dances her ass off in the new video for "Bad Romance," but what we really care about: The return of Lava, the Great Dane whose son was found dead last month.
As TMZ previously reported, Lava and son Rumpus were featured in Gaga's videos for "Paparazzi," "Love Game" and "Poker Face," but Rumpus died unexpectedly in October after a hike in Los Angeles.
Like a true professional, Lava carried on without her pup ... and managed to pull it together for the 8 second appearance above.
Filed under: Music, Critters, Lady Gaga
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:40PM by TMZ Staff
Katherine Jackson has just drawn a line in the sand with her husband Joe. Her lawyer just announced in court Katherine has no problem with John Branca and John McClain as executors of Michael Jackson's estate.
Joe just filed legal papers yesterday trying to boot Branca and McClain from the case ... and he claims the will is a forgery.
Story developing...
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:38PM by TMZ Staff
The tribe has spoken -- and the Band-Aid Boo Boo tattoo destroyed the competition in our bi-annual Incredible Ink Contest!
This week's contest is Late Night Party Contest -- so email in your most smashed snapshots for a chance at the $250 prize and some extra secret gifts from TMZ!
**CLICK HERE for contest rules and regulations!**
Filed under: Photo Galleries
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:37PM by TMZ Staff
David Letterman was having an affair with his former personal assistant way more recently than David's rep had us believing -- according to documents filed by the alleged extortionist's lawyer.
According to legal papers filed today by the defense, Robert Halderman confronted Stephanie Birkitt in December 2008 with evidence of the affair and she promised to end it. But Gerald Shargel, Halderman's lawyer, claims the relationship continued "unabated" into this past summer.
Letterman's rep has said the affair ended before Letterman's marriage in March. Dave blew the whistle on the alleged extortion plot in early September.
Today Letterman's lawyer refused to say when the talk show host broke off his affair with Birkitt. Halderman's lawyer was coy outside court about the Letterman/Birkitt relationship and said we'll be hearing a lot more about this.
In court papers filed today, Halderman's lawyer asked the judge to dismiss the extortion case, on grounds authorities were swept up in "the sensationalism surrounding the indictment" and the grand jury didn't have enough evidence to target Halderman.
The lawyer claims the $2 million demand was "a pure commercial transaction" over a screenplay.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, David Letterman
Posted Nov 10th 2009 12:40PM by TMZ Staff
Shaquille O'Neal's wife Shaunie has abruptly flown to Los Angeles and filed a petition for legal separation in Los Angeles County Superior Court ... and Shaq's people think it's all about money.
TMZ has learned Shaunie filed legal papers yesterday in L.A., even though the couple lives in Florida. The petition says although Shaunie is filing for legal separation, she intends to file for divorce. She lists "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for separation.
We're told Shaunie pulled her kids out of school in Florida several days ago and they are with her now in L.A.
Why, you ask, would Shaunie cross the country to file in L.A.? Well, a spouse generally does a lot better in the spousal support department here in California. Shaunie is asking for both spousal and child support -- though she did not specify an amount for either.
Shaunie claims in her papers to be a resident of L.A. since November 8, 2009 -- 2 days ago.
The date of separation is listed as 11-9-09. The couple has 4 minor children. Shaunie wants legal and physical custody of all the kids.
They have been married for 6 years, 11 months.
Stay tuned ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Shaq Attack, Dirty Divorces, Exclusives
Posted Nov 10th 2009 10:03AM by TMZ Staff
David Letterman's accused extortionist, Robert Halderman, is asking the judge to dismiss the extortion case against him.
In papers filed with the court, Halderman's lawyer wrote, "The sensationalism surrounding this indictment, fueled by the celebrity of the purported victim and the deference paid to that celebrity by the District Attorney's Office, has swallowed the only pertinent issue ...."
The issue: Whether the grand jury had sufficient facts to support the extortion case.
The lawyer, Gerald Shargel, also states Halderman "discovered evidence that Letterman had created and fostered an environment of workplace sexual misconduct that under any definition, amounted to actionable sexual harassment."
The lawyer says this was not extortion, calling it "a pure commercial transaction." The lawyer says Halderman was merely trying to sell the exclusive screenplay rights to Letterman.
The lawyer says Halderman even insisted on getting a written agreement -- something extortionists generally don't do.
In addition to the motion for dismissal, Halderman's lawyer is asking to inspect the grand jury minutes. And, he wants the items seized from Halderman to be suppressed as evidence.
And there's this ... Attorney Shargel claims the relationship between Letterman and Stephanie Birkitt continued through at least last summer.
Filed under: Exclusives, David Letterman
Posted Nov 10th 2009 9:00AM by TMZ Staff
While his shirt was being taken off, "Gossip Girl" bad boy Ed Westwick got a mouthful on his nipple from some guy at a wedding.
The striptease went down at Ed's girlfriend's and fellow cast mate Jessic Szohr's friend's wedding reception in Milwaukee recently.
What would Chuck Bass do?
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Hot Bodies, Gossip Girl
