A court case between two big celebrities was dismissed today because no one showed up for the hearing ...
... the case:
Merv Griffin vs
Ed McMahon.
The Griffin Group sued Ed and his wife Pamela last year -- claiming a $100,000 loan Merv gave Ed in 2005 was never repaid.
Since no one showed up to court in Santa Monica yesterday for either side, the case was tossed out ... so it looks like this one is gonna have to be settled in the Highest of Courts.
Ed McMahon has passed away at 86.
He died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in California this morning. McMahon was fighting a multitude of health problems, including cancer.
Someone connected with the family told us, "Ed was at peace because he got his business taken care of. He settled his lawsuit with Cedars and with the settlement he was able to take care of his family."
He is best known as
Johnny Carson's sidekick on "The Tonight Show" and for his infamous catchphrase, "Heeeeeeeeeeere's Johnny!"
McMahon also hosted "Star Search" and "TV Bloopers And Practical Jokes" with Dick Clark.
He was a colonel in the United States Marines and a fighter
pilot and served during the late 1940s and 1950s.
Ed was one of the good guys and a true American hero!
Story developing ...
The people who own the mansion where
Ed McMahon broke his neck are finally off the hook -- a judge dismissed the case one day before it was set to go to trial.
Ed filed the lawsuit back in 2007 when he slipped on a ramp-like staircase -- which Ed believed to be "unsafe" -- at a mansion owned by investment tycoon Robert Day and his wife Kelly.
But according to documents, filed in L.A. County Superior Court on Thursday, the Days were finally dismissed from the suit after the two parties reached a settlement -- the terms of which have not been made public.
Ed settled the other half of this lawsuit -- which was a malpractice claim against the doctors and the hospital Ed claimed failed to spot and treat his injury -- a few weeks ago.
The terms of that settlement has not been made public either.
Lawyers for
Ed McMahon say the malpractice portion of the lawsuit he filed against Cedars-Sinai Medical Facility, a doctor and two homeowners has been settled.
McMahon sued the hospital for misdiagnosing a neck fracture he suffered at Robert and Kelly Days' Bel Air home back in 2007 -- and then screwing up two spine operations that followed.
The malpractice portion of the suit was settled for an undisclosed amount -- the section of the lawsuit involving the Days is still pending.
UPDATE: A motion was just filed by Ed in the Superior Court of California, trying to ban any offering of "evidence, testimony or argument" regarding the Cedars settlement during McMahon's trial against the Days.
The reason, according to the motion, is there's a "significant danger" the jury will feel Ed has already been "sufficiently compensated."
Ed McMahon is dealing with a life and death struggle with bone cancer ... now there are new legal issues he must deal with.
Ed is suing Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. for allegedly misdiagnosing a broken neck. Cedars wants to take Ed's deposition. If Ed doesn't sit for his deposition, his case can be thrown out of court.
In legal papers filed with the court and obtained by TMZ, Ed's lawyer wrote a letter to the Cedars' lawyer saying Ed would be available for a depo, but it would have to be taken at the UCLA Medical Center because that's where he's been bedridden in ICU for three months.
The letter states, "He is not able to leave his hospital bed. Please suggest appropriate dates next week. Please be advised that Ed remains in ICU so medical precautions will be necessary at the direction of the attending UCLA staff."
Ed McMahon is in bad shape in ICU with pneumonia, bone cancer, and other medical problems. There are reports Ed only has days left. Here's a statement we just got from Ed's publicist, Howard Bragman. Take it at face value or read between the lines.
"I'm not a medical doctor, I'm a spin doctor, so I'm not able to give a diagnosis here. But, what I can tell you is this: I've seen many people come up to Ed over the years and say, 'You were a Marine.' Ed would look them in the eye and say, 'I AM a Marine.' What that means for his current medical challenges is the same thing it's meant for every challenge he's ever faced in life. It means he's a fighter -- not a quitter. It means he's confronting it head-on with strength, courage and dignity. I would ask that those who care about Ed say a prayer, remain hopeful and send their good wishes, because Colonel McMahon is still fighting the good fight. Ed, his family, and friends are looking forward to celebrating his 86th birthday Friday."
UPDATE: We've just learned Ed is in the ICU and his condition is "extremely serious." As one person close to him put it -- "It's not great, to say the least."We're told
Ed McMahon has been hospitalized for nearly a month with pneumonia, bone cancer and other medical problems.
McMahon's condition is "serious" which is pretty obvious given his age -- 85 -- and the fact he has pneumonia.
We contacted Ed's rep, Howard Bragman, who confirmed the hospitalization and added, "He's not at Cedars-Sinai" -- a dig on the hospital Ed
is suing for alleged malpractice and elder abuse.
Financially-challenged stars MC Hammer & Ed McMahon are finally making bank ... pimpin' for Cash4Gold.com during the Super Bowl.
The cash-strapped duo will appear in a Super Bowl spot showing peeps how they can make ends meet by selling some of their mama's gold, silver and platinum bling for dollas.
U can't touch this, but you can sell it!
There's a buzz that Ed McMahon had a heart attack and was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A.
Part is true and part isn't. We've learned over the weekend McMahon experienced shortness of breath and was taken to Cedars. Doctors were concerned enough to put Ed in the Cardiac Unit, where he was monitored. They determined he did not suffer heart problems.
Here's what happened. Ed, like many others in L.A., suffered from choking smoke -- the result of the multiple fires in the L.A. area. He had respiratory issues that had symptoms similar to a heart attack. But no heart attack for Ed.
He's back home.
It's just sad. Merv Griffin's company is suing Ed McMahon over a personal loan.
Apparently Ed has been having money troubles for a while now. Back in 2005, he needed money and his pal Merv Griffin fronted him $100,000. The first installment was due September, 2005, but so far nothing has been repaid.
The Griffin Group is suing both Ed and his wife, Pamela.
It's the latest in a string of lawsuits against Ed. His publicist, Howard Bragman, just gave us the best response EVER: "Anybody interested in a great house in The Summit?"
He's broke, close to losing his house and recuperating after that whole Emmy/Josh Groban/TV theme song debacle, but Ed McMahon is trying to earn his keep by working on some "secret project."
Looking lovely in a brown velour track suit, Ed was snapped resting his 85-year-old bones during a break from said "secret project" on Monday.
Can you phone home, if you don't have one?
