Developing Stories

Lindsay Lohan's car struck a photog this morning, and her driver is now a person of interest in a criminal assault with a deadly weapon investigation.

The incident occurred at 12:30 AM in front The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. Lindsay's driver was behind the wheel of her BMW when it made contact with the paparazzo.

The photog was not taken to the hospital

Lindsay is not a suspect -- though she was reportedly inside the car during the incident.

Ironically, it was Lindsay's assistant that reported the incident.

We broke the story that Jay Leno will be reclaiming his old time slot. There has been speculation that NBC exercised a loophole, which would allow the network to give Conan a portion of his time slot back (12:05-12:35) without having to pay Conan a penalty -- but sources tell us that is not the case.

We're told NBC is in breach of it's agreement with Conan by moving the start time of his show. As a result, Conan now has three options.

Option 1: Quit the show and spend the next four years at the beach. If Conan does this, our sources say NBC would have to pay him the value of his contract. We're told it's a five-year deal, worth as much as $20 million a year. With four years to go, Conan could conceivably get $80 million. But given his skin pigmentation and, possibly, his ego, the beach is unlikely.

Option 2: Go to either FOX or ABC. This is where it gets complicated. If Conan were to strike a deal with either network to do a competing show, any salary Conan pulls in would offset the obligation owed by NBC. So, for example, if Conan made $20 million a year at NBC and ABC were to pay him $15 million a year, NBC would only owe Conan $5 mil a year for the four years remaining in his contract.

Option 3: Eat crow and take the 12:05-1:05 time slot. If Conan takes this option, our sources say it's likely NBC would negotiate a new contract with the same salary Conan was getting before. Even though the salary isn't supported by the time period, it's cheaper than paying him off. NBC, we're told, prefers this option, because Conan would not be splintering Leno's rating by going to another network.

So, Conan, will it be door #1, 2 or 3?

Stay tuned ...

The frozen yogurt ain't the only thing served cold by the people who created Pinkberry -- they also specialize in icy divorce papers.

The two co-founders of the legendarily successful dessert shop are calling off their marriage -- and judging by the court docs, they've got millions of dollars of assets to unswirl ... including 14,000,000 shares of the company's stock.

According to the docs, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Hyekyung "Shelly" Hwang claims she has rightful claims to several tasty items including an L.A. Pinkberry location, a 2008 Bentley, a $30,000 bank account, $300,000 in treasury bills, furniture, artwork, and jewelry.

It's unclear how much the couple is worth -- but judging by the 73 locations that sprang up in 5 years, we're guessing there's a ton of yogurt money up for grabs.

Casey Johnson's family is headed to Cincinnati today to gather around patriarch Woody Johnson and root on the New York Jets in their playoff game.

The Jets play the Cincinnati Bengals at 4:30 PM ET. The Johnson family bought the Jets from former owner Leon Hess back in 2000.

Johnson's body, meanwhile, has been released to the family and is being flown back to the east coast where a funeral service will be held in the next few days.

UPDATE -- TMZ has learned Woody Johnson, the whole Johnson family, coaches and team employees are wearing a blue bracelet in Casey's honor to represent the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which was founded by the Johnson family. Since her passing, a memorial fund was set up in Casey's honor.

This week in L.A., Freddie Roach slammed Floyd for "pulling out" of the proposed Vegas showdown -- adding "Mayweather doesn't make the rules" when it comes to blood tests.

Mayweather sees things differently -- he thinks Manny's just a "punk ass."

The mother of Suge Knight's four-and-a-half year-old child is gunning for cash -- but she won't be getting much, and Suge's paltry "presumed income" is to blame.

According to papers filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Tammie Renell Hawkins is seeking child support for Taz Maree Knight, who was born in May 2005.

Here's the catch: By California law, support is based on the presumed income of the person coughing up the dough -- and according to the docs, Suge's net income is only $1,207 a month!

Because of his haul, the most Tammie can request monthly is $302.

Suge recently tried unloading a $1,495,000 mansion -- looks like that money could really come in handy.

The LAPD investigation into Michael Jackson's death has been completed and the case will go to the D.A. within weeks, law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... and, we're told, it's all but certain Dr. Conrad Murray will be criminally charged in MJ's death.

Our sources say detectives completed their investigation late last month and the case will be formally presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney as soon as scheduling allows. Turns out ... the presentation will draw quite the crowd. A number of members of the LAPD and the D.A.'s office will be present, and finding a date when everyone can show is a little tricky ... but we're told it will happen in a matter of weeks.

One very informed source says the LAPD investigation was "exhaustive" and "extremely thorough" and the D.A. has enough evidence to pull the trigger on a criminal case against Dr. Murray. That said, we're told the case is complicated, in part because Dr. Murray did not break any laws in administering Propofol to Jackson.

One law enforcement source connected with the case notes the D.A. has been actively working with the LAPD and it's all but certain the case will be filed. As for the charge -- a decision has not been made, but our sources say the likelihood is involuntary manslaughter, which requires a showing of gross negligence.

As TMZ first reported, after the Olympics, Jay Leno will get his 11:30 PM time period back. We're told network execs have told Conan they will let him decide if he wants the midnight to 1:00 AM time slot. If he does, Leno's show will only be a half hour. If Conan walks, Leno will get a full hour, informed sources tell TMZ.

Our sources say Conan has not decided what he wants. We do know he's pissed, because he was given no advanced warning this was coming. Conan's people told NBC they are considering the offer. Translation: Mr. O'Brien -- I have Rupert Murdoch on line one, Stephen McPherson on line two, John Landgraf on line three, Jeff Wachtel on line four ...

We're told if Conan gets another offer, even though NBC could block the move, they will let him go and give Leno the full hour.

Stay tuned ...

The couple, who had a volatile marriage from 1985-1989, hit up the Alain Ducasse restaurant at the St Regis Hotel where they spent more than three hours dining together.

FYI -- Madonna went home alone.

We've learned Jay's 10:00 PM show will go on hiatus February 1. After the Olympics, Jay will take back his 11:30 PM time slot. What has not been decided -- whether Jay's show will be a half hour, followed by Conan, or whether Jay's show will be an hour and NBC says sayonara to Mr. O'Brien.

We're told Jay and Conan have both been told of the changes. As for Jay, interestingly, he'll get what he always wanted -- his 11:30 PM time slot.

Tila took to her blog this morning to tear the English model to shreds in the wake of Casey's death -- claiming Jasmine ruined their lives when she reported Casey's alleged burglary last year.

Tila's tirade includes a list of insults that would shock Ozzy Osbourne -- calling Jasmine a "prostitute," "b*tch," "c*nt," "drug addict," "con artist," and ... well, the list goes on.

Jasmine's lawyers are threatening suit if the post is not taken down ... STAT.

The warrants were executed on December 11, three weeks before Johnson was found dead.

The warrants were issued in the wake of Johnson's arrest for grand theft -- she allegedly stole clothing and jewelry from ex-GF Jasmine Lennard.

Cops searched both the home of Tequila and Johnson, looking for various items, including "a Louis Vuitton gold envelope clutch, 'Trashy Lingerie' black and cream, Bright pink dress, sparkly gold 'Kitson' dress, modeling photographs and portfolio books, brown antique mink fur, single crystal earring, ring with pink stone and two clear stones on each side, and a white Herve Leger dress."

According to the police affidavit, cops went to Johnson's house and saw a pink purse that matched the descriptions of one of the stolen items. Johnson agreed to return that item but would not let cops in the house. So they got warrants.

Cops found a photo and a ring at Tila's house, and 2 blouses and 2 dresses at Casey's.

And there's this ... the day before the warrants were executed, Jasmine Lennard called cops and said she saw Casey wearing her gold dress on a red carpet. The cop Googled Casey's name and saw numerous photos of Casey wearing a gold dress -- which appeared too big for her -- with Tila next to her on the red carpet.

According to several police reports, Vanessa Lopez has had serious legal run-ins with Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West -- during the same time period she claims she was secretly hooking up with Shaq.

Back in 2006, Delonte West -- then with the Boston Celtics -- called security on Lopez, claiming she refused to leave his Orlando hotel room.

Police were called to the room -- where Lopez, according to the police report, then accused West of making unwanted sexual advances toward her.

West acknowledged that he had slept with Lopez in the past -- but claimed he never hit on her that night. West said Lopez tried to seduce him -- but he rejected her because he had another woman coming over.

Terrell Owens is being accused of dropping the ball on a pre-season bet he lost to a fan -- a bet involving a $200,000 Bentley.

The fan claims the Buffalo Bills receiver owes him the car -- because before the season started, Owens made a "deal" (through his Twitter page) to catch 10 TDs this year ... or he would fork over the keys to his prized ride.

The season came and went -- and T.O. didn't even come close to the TD mark. Now, the fan is trying to collect -- but claims Owens is completely blowing him off.

T.O.'s rep tells us the whole thing was "all in good nature" and there was "no reality" to the bet.

Woulda been nice though...

According to new court documents, Erin's work schedule will take her near Michael David Barrett's Illinois home 7 times in January -- and she wants to make sure the creeper doesn't get within peeping distance while she's in town.

Now, a judge has ordered MDB to keep his eyes, hands, feet and every other body part inside of his home on the dates Andrews rolls in -- except when he needs to go to work, seek medical treatment, meet with lawyers or travel to L.A. for court appearances.

FYI -- his next court appearance is February 22, when he'll be sentenced.

Hayden Christensen's film producer brother Tove will be cleaning up the streets of Hollywood in the near future -- but not out of the kindness of his heart ... because he allegedly dragged his GF through the street.

Tove was sentenced this week to a 20-day "Hollywood Beautification" community service program after he pled "no contest" to a charge of misdemeanor battery.

It's all over an incident last September: witnesses claim Tove shoved his GF to the ground during an argument, hopped in his car, and drove off right when she was reaching inside for her purse ... dragging her about 30 feet.

In addition to the community service, Tove was also sentenced to three years probation and a year of domestic violence counseling. The case was filed by the L.A. City Attorney.