Celebrity Rehab

The upcoming "Celebrity Rehab" star just filed a lawsuit against the director of Oceanside Transitional Living in Malibu -- claiming she was forced to hand over her Cartier Santos watch when she checked into the place back in August ... but when she checked out, they "refused" to give it back.

According to the lawsuit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Rachel wants her case tried in small claims court -- where she's demanding a $7,500 payout ... the most one can get in small claims.

Uchitel is due in court in November -- almost one year from the time Elin and the world found out about her affair with Tiger Woods.

Calls to Oceanside have not been returned.

We're told Michael headed for the desert last Thursday ... to Rancho Mirage, home of the Betty Ford Center and temporary digs of Lindsay Lohan.

Michael was turned away by security. He was told visiting hours were over. Michael tells us he asked if he was on a "no contact" list and they told him no. But we're guessing his name is right under Osama's.

Lindsay checked in Monday -- and as we previously reported, the plan is for her to stay put in rehab at least until her probation violation hearing on October 22.

It's gonna run Lindsay a pretty penny too -- according to their website, 30 days of inpatient care at BF runs $26,000.

Sources tell TMZ Lindsay was surprisingly self-aware that she made a big mistake by falling off the wagon and testing positive for cocaine -- and that she couldn't fight her disease alone.

We're told Lindsay was also aware that her relapse had "ruined a lot" in connection to the revival of her career.

The man who lost father of the year by a mile tells TMZ ... he wants to make a case that Lindsay should go to rehab, not jail. He also wants the judge to issue an order prohibiting doctors from letting Lindsay out early.

Here's the reality.

A rep for Peniche tells us the former model decided to bail on a high-end rehab clinic -- where she was being treated for an addiction to meth.

We're told Kari Ann claims when she checked in -- her boyfriend promised to follow suit soon thereafter. But after day three -- the BF was a no-show ... so Kari Ann left the clinic in search of her guy.

We're told the couple is now working on their relationship -- and Kari Ann does plan to seek further treatment for her meth problem.

Lindsay hasn't seen her sister Ali, mother Dina or brother Cody since she's been a free woman. We're told Lindsay is in town for Dina's birthday, which is next Wednesday.

She posed for this pic -- which we got -- on Friday after she arrived from Los Angeles.

Sources close to Peniche -- who you may also remember from the Eric Dane/Rebecca Gayheart "naked tape" -- tell us she checked into an expensive, high-end rehab clinic late last night .. and plans to stay for 30 days.

Cameras were rolling last Thursday as Uchitel -- who is starring in the upcoming season of "Celebrity Rehab" -- sat down near a plaque dedicated to Andy O'Grady in New York's Central Park and read a letter she had written to honor his memory.

Lindsay was released after 23 days at the Hospital. Lindsay will receive outpatient care for the foreseeable future.

We're told the doctors at UCLA were very clear with Judge Elden Fox ... they felt Lindsay should be released from the facility immediately, and the judge saw it their way.

Judge Marsha Revel had previously ordered Lindsay to spend 90 days at UCLA.
A court hearing is scheduled tomorrow, although we've learned Lindsay will not be there.

Despite recent reports, sources close to Rachel tell us she and Tiger are not getting married, and Rachel is not pregnant with a little Tiger cub. We're told they haven't spoken to each other in months.

But according to our sources, Rachel recently heard from Tiger's attorneys because they were concerned about her doing "Celebrity Rehab." We're told they called to make sure Tiger was not on the tip of Rachel's tongue -- she's not allowed to mention him publicly under the terms of that $10 million deal she got.

According to a source familiar with Lindsay's case, methamphetamine and opiates are her "drugs of choice".

Methamphetamine -- also known as crystal meth or simply meth -- is a highly addictive stimulant and opiates, generally, have more of a downer effect.

Morningside Recovery -- the Orange County, CA rehab LiLo is scheduled to enter -- lists opiate and methamphetamine detoxification among its specialties. As TMZ first reported, sources say Morningside was not on the list of facilities recommended by court appointed psychiatrists.

We're told Lindsay will begin her rehab stint almost immediately after getting out of Lynwood Correctional Facility.

UPDATE: Lindsay's attorney Shawn Chapman Holley says, "I have never seen any psych report concerning Ms. Lohan which references a 'bi-polar' diagnosis or an addiction to 'methamphetamine.' I think this is a total fabrication."

One important note ... it has been widely reported that Lindsay takes the prescription drug Adderall, which is an amphetamine. Experts in the field of rehab and addiction tell TMZ there is a difference between amphetamine and methamphetamine.

Sources closely connected to the production of "Celebrity Rehab" tell TMZ that Rachel's breaking point came during a recent one-on-one therapy session where the main topic was her dad.

We're told Rachel's father died of a cocaine overdose in his 40s, and Rachel was 15 at the time.

TMZ spoke with Claudia Jordan on her way out of Rihanna's blowout after party at Drai's in Hollywood last night ... and she was pretty blunt about Uchitel's decision to join "Celebrity Rehab" over "Apprentice" -- telling us, Rachel "messed up."

But all's not lost -- in Claudia's opinion, Rachel can still "call up Donald and beg him to hire you."

Rachel started taping "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" this week, and sources close to the production say she never really had a pill popping problem -- instead, we're told, Rachel is getting "genuine treatment for emotional issues."

It's unclear what's at the root of those "issues," but it doesn't take a PhD to make a diagnosis.

One source adds Rachel isn't just collecting a paycheck -- "She's taking it seriously, and getting as much out of this as the cast members who are dealing with drugs or booze."

Good luck Dr. Drew.