Mark Ballas -- Dance Your Ass to Small Claims Court!
Defendant: "Dancing" pro Mark Ballas -- accused of firing his ex-publicist and NOT paying.
Plaintiff: Ace PR -- accused of doing a CRAPPY job.
Strap on your rhinestone pants ... 'cause this one's about to get NASTY!!!
Ballas has just been hit with a summons to appear in L.A. County Small Claims Court -- because Ace PR claims the "Dancing with the Stars" pro never forked over $2,637.75 he owed the company after he fired them back in September.
According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Ace claims Ballas agreed to pay them a "30 day termination fee" when he signed his contract ... which is basically severance pay.
But sources close to Ballas tell us ... the dancer believes he doesn't owe Ace a dime, because they breached the contract by doing such a terrible job.
Ballas and Ace PR are set to face off in small claims court on July 8.
Stay tuned ...
UPDATE: A rep for Ace tells TMZ, "After patiently waiting for this issue to be resolved, for close to a year, we hope that this can get settled and we can move on."
See also
Mark Ballas & Cheryl Burke -- Nightclub DOMINATION
"Dancing With the Stars" pros Mark Ballas and Cheryl Burke went to a nightclub at Harrah's in Jersey this weekend ... and destroyed it with an impromptu salsa dance. Showoffs ...
See also
Mark Ballas SCHOOLS Kim Kardashian Pre-Wedding
"Dancing with the Stars" pro Mark Ballas is getting Kim Kardashian to step it up BIG TIME before her wedding -- claiming he personally taught her and Kris Humphries some new moves for their big day.
Hopefully the marriage lasts longer than Kim's stint on "Dancing with the Stars."
Hey look! What's Pia Toscano doing there?
More Kim & Kris
Mark & Maksim Dancing with the Abs
"Dancing with the Stars" booty shakers Mark Ballas, 25, and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 31, both showed off their smooth, ripped & tatted core moves in Vegas this weekend.
They both scored a perfect 10.
See also
'Dancing' Pro 911 -- She 'Hurt Her Neck Pretty Badly'
TMZ has obtained the 911 call placed moments before "Dancing with the Stars" pro Kym Johnson was rushed to the hospital two weeks ago ... after seriously injuring her neck during rehearsal.
According to her rep, Kym -- who was paired with Pittsburgh Steelers great Hines Ward on the show -- got checked out by doctors for "precautionary reasons."
Thankfully, she returned to the set just two days later ... with a giant neck brace.
See also
Kym Johnson -- Dancing with Pain
Proving to be quite the trooper, Kym Johnson showed up for "Dancing With the Stars" practice today sporting a HUGE neck brace after her injury on Friday.
Who says dancers aren't tough?
See also
Mark Ballas: Kym Is Gonna Be 'Okay'
Take a deep breath, "Dancing with the Stars" fans -- Mark Ballas said he got some face time with injured dancer Kym Johnson today ... and he said that she's "gonna be okay."
As we previously reported, Kym was taken to an L.A. area hospital earlier today after taking a nasty spill while rehearsing with her partner/Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward.
See also
'Dancing with the Stars' Pro Rushed to Hospital
"Dancing with the Stars" pro Kym Johnson was rushed to the hospital moments ago -- after sustaining an injury during rehearsals for the show ... TMZ has learned.
Johnson -- who's paired up with Pittsburgh Steelers great Hines Ward -- took a nasty spill while rehearsing with the NFLer for an upcoming show.
According to her rep, Johnson was taken to an L.A. area hospital for "precautionary measures to assure she is OK."
Story developing...
See also
Hines Ward -- I Thought I Was Being Punk'd!
Hines Ward isn't upset with the LAPD for mistaking him for a car thief -- in fact, he thought the whole thing was a joke when it was going down!
As TMZ first reported, Hines had a run-in with cops early Thursday morning after a mix-up with a car being reported stolen. Hines released a statement after the incident saying things were all good -- and when we spotted him out last night with "Dancing" partner Kym Johnson, he told our guy, "I actually thought I was on 'Punk'd' ... Something about guns pointed at me wasn't very fun."
If Hines wants to check out the video ... we got it for him right here.
See also
Hines Ward 'Cuffed At Gunpoint The VIDEO
TMZ has obtained surveillance footage showing NFL superstar Hines Ward being taken into police custody around 1:30 AM Thursday morning ... while police had their GUNS DRAWN.
The video clearly shows the female driver of a Honda Civic pulling into a gas station in Studio City, CA followed by a police car. The woman emerges from the vehicle and complies with the cops ...laying face first on the ground as officers ordered Ward out of the car.
Ward -- who was described as "cooperative" -- kept his hands in the air during the incident and followed orders until cops placed him in handcuffs.
After Hines was taken into custody, two cops approached the passenger side of the car with their guns drawn and took a closer look inside the vehicle. But they both quickly holstered their weapons once they realized nobody else was inside.
TMZ broke the story ... cops pulled the car over because it had recently been reported stolen. But it was all a mistake and Hines and the driver were released after cops discovered the stolen vehicle report was way outdated.
Hines eventually released a statement saying, "The police were just doing their job. Apologies were made, and it's now in the past. Moving forward."
See also
NFL Star Hines Ward -- Handcuffed at GUNPOINT
Pittsburgh Steelers superstar Hines Ward was removed from a vehicle at gunpoint by LAPD officers and placed in handcuffs this morning in L.A. -- but he was NOT arrested ... TMZ has learned.
The "Dancing with the Stars" contestant was a passenger in a Honda Civic around 2 AM ... when LAPD officers flipped on their lights and sirens and pulled the car over.
Law enforcement sources tell us cops had run the license plate and noticed the car had been reported stolen. We're told police drew their weapons ... and ordered both Hines and the female driver out of the car and placed them both in handcuffs.
The female driver then explained ... SHE was the person who reported the car stolen in the first place after an incident involving a valet. But she got her car back ... and forgot to tell cops to call off the alert.
We're told the officers verified her story -- and eventually let both Hines and the driver leave without further incident. Law enforcement sources tell us Hines was VERY cooperative and understanding about the situation.
See also
Kendra on 'Dancing' Booted 'Cause She Tooted?
Kendra Wilkinson was eliminated from "Dancing with the Stars" last night ... 24 hours after she broke some wind on her competitors during rehearsals. Coincidence? We think not...
We gotta ask...
See also
'Dancing' Stars Try to Sing That 'Friday' Song
One month later ... and that "Friday" song refuses to wither and die -- but now the gang from "Dancing with the Stars" are trying their best to beat it to death with their own beatbox remix.
In order of appearance -- Chelsea Kane, Mark "The Beatmaster" Ballas, Lil Romeo, Chelsea Hightower ... and "Idol" castoff Pia Toscano.
Side note -- for the love of all that's holy, please turn your iPhones to the SIDE when recording videos.
See also
Pia Toscano Will Sing on 'Dancing' ... For Mark
He's doing her, and now ... she's doing his show -- TMZ has learned, Pia Toscano will be performing on "Dancing with the Stars" next week ... and get this, her new BF Mark Ballas will dance to her music.
It's been in the works for a while -- and an hour ago, the deal was sealed.
Pia's performance signifies a borderline incestuous cross-pollination between the two biggest shows on TV ... "American Idol" and "Dancing."
And if that's not enough -- Pia will be back on "Idol" tomorrow for a special cast-off reunion.
Kirstie Alley The French Fry Connection
Kirstie Alley has TWO strange connections to a certain frosty-tipped TMZ staffer -- because as they say ... one woman's trash is another man's dust-collecting treasure.
Check out TMZ on TV -- click here to see your local listings!
More TMZ on TV!
Pia Toscano -- Here I Come, Mark Ballas!!!
"American Idol" cast-off Pia Toscano just boarded a plane at JFK airport in New York City -- she's coming back to L.A. for another date with Mark Ballas.
Pia says she thinks we gave her good advice when she was in our office last week -- stand next to someone famous to fuel the rumor mill.
Pia and Mark hit it off so well during their date in L.A. on Friday, that Mark invited Pia back to the West Coast for another round of tonsil hockey ... and TO MEET HIS MOTHER.
No pressure.