Kat Von D foolishly set her own house ablaze in 2010, killing her cat in the process -- this according to a new lawsuit -- and now, she's being sued for nearly a MILLION bucks in damages.

State Farm Insurance filed the lawsuit against Kat today in L.A. County Superior Court, claiming the 2010 fire that ripped through the reality star's Hollywood Hills home was her own fault ... and she should foot the bill.

According to the lawsuit, Kat foolishly placed several lit candles in the house -- and the candles then set the house on fire (a fire that killed Kat's feline friend named Valentine).

It was no small blaze either -- State Farm claims the fire caused $909,199 in damages.

State Farm dutifully covered the bill -- but now the insurance company is suing, demanding Kat pay it back for her own carelessness.

Calls to Kat's people were not returned.

Police officers rushed to Kat Von D's L.A. home Monday night -- even dispatching a HELICOPTER to search her neighborhood -- after she received an extremely unsettling phone call ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement tells us, Kat received the call from an unknown number on her home phone -- asking if it was Kat. The caller also asked Kat several personal questions before hanging up.

We're told Kat then received an unwanted text -- from the same person.

Kat -- believing the caller was on her property and fearing for her safety -- called police around 10:45pm ... and officers rolled up soon after in full force, sirens blaring.

We're told police even dispatched a helicopter to sweep the surrounding area. Nobody was found.

Police spoke to Kat and took an annoying persons report -- yeah, those exist -- and that was that. The LAPD is currently investigating.

Michelle "Bombshell" McGee unloaded on Kat Von D -- hours after Kat claimed Jesse James cheated on her with 19 women -- telling TMZ, she warned Kat days after her engagement ... the relationship would never last.

She's right too -- we shot McGee back in January, days after Jesse proposed to Kat ... and Bombshell told us, "I would be surprised if they made it to the altar."

Watch the clip -- you can cut the schadenfreude with a knife.

Kat Von D claims Jesse James cheated on her with 19 women during their "toxic relationship" ... this according to a rambling confessional she just posted to her Facebook page.

Kat never mentions specifically if that's why their relationship ended, but she does say she deserves a big fat, "I told you so," from everyone:  "You all were more right than you'll ever know."

Jesse's not talking, but we're told the two of them have been broken up for months, which makes the new "revelation" a little weird.

Don't know if it's just coincidental ... but her show was also given the axe a few months ago, so it could be a grab for attention.

TLC has had enough of Kat Von D -- the network has announced her reality show "LA Ink" has officially been canceled.

A rep for TLC just released a statement, claiming, the network "has decided that the current season of LA Ink will be its last." The final episode will air next month.

The rep adds, "The network is proud of what the series has accomplished in its four seasons, following Kat Von D's journey as an artist from Miami to Los Angeles."

The show originally premiered in 2007 -- and got a small ratings boost last month, after Kat split from Jesse James. But apparently it wasn't enough.


1:55 PM: Kat posted a statement on Twitter claiming SHE made the decision to end "L.A. Ink" ... not TLC ... and insinuates the network is spinning the truth to make her look bad.

Kat writes, "I love how me deciding to not continue doing LA Ink, turns into being 'cancelled.' Thanks @TLC."

Kat Von D lives her life with "no regrets" -- which is exactly why she's NOT removing a big ass tattoo of Jesse James' face from her ribcage ... DESPITE the end of their relationship.

Kat tells TMZ, "I love my tattoo" -- adding, "It's more than just a portrait, it has a lot of meaning."
FYI -- the tat is a school picture of Jesse ... from when he was in the FIFTH GRADE.
Kat -- whose show "L.A. Ink" premieres tonight on TLC -- also has a tattoo of another ex-BF somewhere on her body ... and she tells us, that's not going anywhere either.
Dedication.

Kat Von D says she had a DAMN good reason for walking off "Good Day L.A." this morning -- telling TMZ, she made one reasonable request ... and producers repeatedly BLEW HER OFF.

Kat tells us, she agreed to answer a question about her breakup from Jesse James on one condition -- that the anchor didn't mention the split in his introduction.

But according to Kat, that request was IGNORED -- and as we previously reported, anchor Jeff Michael read out an introduction that highlighted Kat and Jesse's breakup.

Kat says she saw what was on the teleprompter long before Jeff read it -- and even pulled a producer aside to have someone change the script ... but nothing happened.
According to Kat, she "very politely" informed them ... if it wasn't changed, she wouldn't be able to go on. But no one changed squat, so Kat beat it.
Later, during the show, the executive producer went on the air -- explaining Kat's only prior request was not to bring up Sandra Bullock or Michelle McGee ... a request "Good Day" honored.
Nevertheless, Kat adds, "I have no interest in going back on, but I wish them all the best."

Kat Von D walked off the set of "Good Day L.A." this morning ... minutes before she was set to give an interview -- and we're told, it was all because the anchor mentioned her breakup with Jesse James.

Sources on set tell TMZ, Kat was all set to give the interview -- but flipped out when she heard how she was introduced on the show ... and walked out of the building before the interview even started.

During the introduction, "Good Day" aired a clip from Kat's show "L.A. Ink" -- showing Kat getting a tattoo of Jesse James on her side -- and anchor Jeff Michael mentioned she got the tattoo before she and Jesse called it quits.

According to sources, Kat was pissed Michael even brought up her relationship with Jesse ... and stormed out of the building.
 We're told Kat approved the Jesse James tattoo clip from her show -- and even got a heads up from "Good Day" producers that she would be asked about the breakup during the interview.
 It's unclear what exactly went wrong -- but Kat just tweeted, "Dear GoodDayLA, thanks for the waste of a perfectly good morning. Lack of compassion n respect for each other never fails to disappoint me."
 UPDATE: "Good Day" host Jillian Reynolds just went OFF on Kat for ditching the interview ... you gotta watch this clip!

Kat Von D's ex-husband is launching a not-so-secret plot to defeat her tattoo parlor -- in fact, he tells TMZ, he just opened his own tat shop nearby ... and he's determined to beat her at her own game.



TMZ spoke with Oliver Peck -- who worked alongside Kat for years -- and he BLASTS his ex, telling us, they "make real tattoos" at his new place ... unlike Kat's "gimmicky tourist tattoos" a few blocks away at High Voltage.

Peck doesn't stop there, insisting, "Nobody gets a good tattoo [at High Voltage]" -- and urges ink enthusiasts to stop by his place instead ... "We're a real tattoo shop."

Oliver took over ownership of True Tattoo in Hollywood this January -- where they also filmed a handful of scenes for"Miami Ink" -- but the shop didn't open 'til this week because of remodeling.

This is what happens when you look like a cartoon super villain.

Michelle "Bombshell" McGee is an expert on marriage (or ruining them, anyway) and she doesn't think her former lover Jesse James and his bride-to-be Kat Von D are going to last.


We caught with Bombshell last night outside of Pure Platinum in San Diego where she told us she doesn't talk to Jesse anymore, but she did hear about his engagement. She told us, "I would be surprised if they made it to the altar. But hey, I thrown divorce parties too, right?"

Stay classy.

Kat Von D is walking on sunshine now that she's engaged to Jesse James -- shouting it from the rooftops in L.A. today ... "I'm the happiest girl on the planet!!!"