Legal

Vanessa Bryant has just sued the company that owned the doomed helicopter that crashed, killing Kobe, Gigi and 7 others ... claiming the aircraft should never have been placed in the peril it was in before the Jan. 26 accident.

The lawsuit alleges Island Express was only allowed to fly under visual flight rules, and the conditions the day of the crash were not conducive for such flying. As we reported, the fog was extremely low and the pilot was in blinding conditions before the mishap.

The lawsuit also says the pilot was going 180 miles per hour in the heavy fog in a steep decline in the moments before it crashed in Calabasas, CA.

The lawsuit claims the pilot failed to properly monitor and assess the weather prior to takeoff, failed to obtain proper weather data prior to the flight, failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy condition, failed to maintain control of the helicopter and failed to avoid "natural obstacles" in the flight path.

The suit says Island Express engaged in unnecessary and needlessly risky means of transportation under the circumstances.

The suit also asks for damages for "pre-impact" terror -- damages for the emotional trauma Kobe and Gigi suffered as the pilot struggled to get out of the clouds before the crash.

The lawsuit also says the pilot, Ara George Zobayan, was disciplined in 2015 for violating the visual flight rule minimums by flying into an airspace of reduced visibility.

The lawsuit also claims the helicopter was not safe, although it doesn't say what was unsafe. It could be the basis for the claim is that the helicopter was not certified to fly in bad weather.

The lawsuit does not list an amount of damages sought, but Vanessa is asking for punitive damages, claiming the pilot and Island Express were reckless, and the damages could be untold millions.

The suit seeks damages for loss of love, affection, care, society, service, comfort, support, right to support, companionship, solace or moral support and expectations of future support and counseling. The suit also seeks money for loss of financial support and for burial and funeral expenses.

The Weekend and Kendrick Lamar might want people to say some prayers for them ... they're being sued for allegedly jacking music for their hit song, "Pray for Me."

A Brooklyn-based rock band called Yeasayer claims the duo lifted material from its 2007 song, "Sunrise," slightly altered it ... and inserted it into their 'Pray' single, which was featured on the "Black Panther" soundtrack.

According to the legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- the part allegedly stolen from "Sunrise" is a "distinctive choral performance" the band recorded using their own voices. Yeasayer describes it as "comprised of male voices singing in their highest registers, with animated, pulsing vibrato."

The band claims Weeknd and Kendrick slightly modified a recording of its song with "intent to conceal the infringement" ... and used it in "Pray for Me" up to 8 different times throughout the track.

Yeasayer claims the allegedly stolen material is "immediately recognizable" as theirs. The band is asking for all the "Pray for Me" profits and damages. It also wants an injunction blocking further sales and airplay of 'Pray.'

Harvey Weinstein is guilty of 2 of the 5 charges he faced in his NYC criminal trial -- but he was found not guilty on the charges that could have put him in prison for life.

The jury found Weinstein guilty of 1st-degree criminal sexual act and 3rd-degree rape. He could get up to 25 years in prison just for the criminal sexual act. However, the jury found him not guilty on 2 counts of predatory sexual assault charges. Those carried a possible life sentence. He was also acquitted of 1st-degree rape.

A jury of 12 people -- 7 men and 5 women -- finally reached their verdict after 5 days and about 22 hours of deliberations. This comes after an interesting turn on Friday ... when the jurors sent a note to the judge asking if they could be hung on 2 counts of predatory sexual assault and unanimous on the others.

The judge told them to go back deliberations, and they worked it out by Monday morning.

As we reported ... Weinstein pled not guilty to 5 felony charges relating to sexual misconduct. The charges were based on the accounts of 2 women ... Miriam Haley, a TV and film production assistant who worked on "Project Runway," and former actress Jessica Mann.

The prosecution rested its case 2 weeks ago after 12 days of witness testimony. In total, 6 women testified against Weinstein, including Haley and Mann. Last Tuesday marked the start of jury deliberations.

As we reported ... Mann testified under oath that Weinstein began manipulating her as soon as he met her, allegedly forcing himself on her multiple times and raping her at a hotel in Manhattan.

Weinstein's defense argued he had a consensual relationship with Mann lasting for years after the alleged sexual assault. He maintained all sexual conduct was consensual.

During closing arguments, Weinstein's lawyer, Donna Rotunno, ripped into the prosecution, saying prosecutors, "created a universe that strips adult women of common sense, autonomy and responsibility," arguing Weinstein's accusers acquiesced to sex because they thought it would advance their careers.

However, Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon countered in her closing argument, saying Weinstein's accusers “were merely ants that he could step on without consequences.”

The disgraced Hollywood mogul felt he couldn't get a fair trial in New York, claiming the jury pool was tainted ... but the case proceeded.

Jussie Smollett is back in a Chicago courtroom, and you've gotta see the ruckus his arrival created outside ... as his supporters made sure they were heard.

Jussie was flanked Monday morning by an entourage of about 10 people -- some of them family members -- as he made his way into his arraignment on 6 new felony counts of lying to cops. At least one photog went down in a heap at Jussie's feet while he tried to get into the courthouse.

In the video, you can hear Jussie's backers chanting, "What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!!!"

We're expecting the ex-"Empire" star to enter not guilty pleas to all 6 charges in the new indictment, which calls the 6 charges "disorderly conduct," but all involve allegations of lying to cops.

Interestingly, Abel and Ola Osundairo also showed up at court this morning. There's no reason for them to be at his arraignment -- we know they'll be testifying against Jussie, but that's weeks down the road.

As we reported ... the special prosecutor, Dan Webb, said Jussie "planned and participated in a staged hate crime attack, and thereafter made numerous false statements to Chicago Police Dept. officers."

You'll recall, Jussie claimed he was attacked in Chicago by 2 white men ... alleging the men put a rope around his neck and doused him with bleach. He claimed they also yelled racial and homophobic slurs. As the investigation unfolded, 2 black men -- brothers Abel and Ola Osundario -- were detained and they told police Jussie paid them to stage the attack.

The special prosecutor effectively re-opened the controversial case nearly a year after Cook County prosecutors dropped all 16 felony counts against Smollett in March 2019. At the time, they called it a "just disposition and appropriate resolution," but not an exoneration.

Jussie's attorney, Tina Glandian, questioned the timing of the indictment. State Attorney Kim Foxx also questioned the timing. Jussie maintains he's innocent. If convicted, he faces up to 3 years in state prison.

Hilary Duff got in the face of a photographer whom she felt was invading her privacy by snapping pics of her kids during a soccer game -- but he didn't back down on video.

The 'Lizzie McGuire' actress posted the confrontation on Instagram Saturday, showing her walk up to a guy on the sideline of her one of her kids' soccer game and ask him who he's there with ... and what exactly he's doing taking pictures of the children.

It's pretty tense ... the man says he's not there with anyone but himself, and HD demands to know why -- if he isn't with anyone or isn't affiliated with anyone on the team -- he's out there taking pictures of 7-year-olds. His smug answer ... 'cause it's legal, lady.

The implication here is that this dude may be a paparazzi photog, and was only out to snap pics of Hilary and her children ... something she's dealt with before in similar fashion.

Something Hilary might wanna take into account the next time she encounters one of these photog hounds trying to get photos of her and/or her kids ... it actually ain't legal like the man claimed -- at least according to California law, where this appears to have happened.

In 2013, Gov. Brown signed SB 606 into law, which made the photographing of minors because of a parent's "employment" (AKA celebs) illegal if it falls into the area of harassment, annoyance, alarm, or torment without legitimate purpose ... punishable by up to a year in jail.

Adrien Broner was just arrested and taken away by cops at the Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury weigh-in ... and TMZ Sports has the video.

30-year-old Broner -- who is no stranger to run-ins with the law -- was cuffed and hauled away by Las Vegas Metro police officers on Friday after Broner refused to leave the MGM Grand Garden.

Here's the deal ... back in November, AB was twice told he was NOT allowed to visit the property (it's unclear exactly why). Regardless of the warning, Broner showed up at the weigh-in.

We're told AB was asked to leave, but he ignored the request ... so hotel security detained him until police took over.

We're told Broner is being taken to the county jail ... where he will be processed ... before being released with a misdemeanor trespassing citation.

Broner (33-4-1) -- once considered one of the best boxers in the world.-- hasn't fought since losing to Manny Pacquiao in January 2019 and has been in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Chris Tavarez, the actor from the Disney Channel hit "K.C. Undercover," is going to jail for several months for an alleged domestic violence incident, and that's after striking a plea deal.

According to the LA Superior Court ... the 27-year-old pled no contest to 1 count of felony domestic violence with a prior conviction. He's been sentenced to a suspended 5-year prison sentence but will only serve 300 days in county jail. He's also getting credit for 153 days already served.

That leaves him with a little less than 150 days behind bars. Tavares will also have to take a 52-week class on domestic violence awareness, and complete one year of an outpatient alcohol program.

TMZ broke the story ... Tavarez was busted back in November after allegedly flying into a rage during a fight with his GF, who suffered a concussion. As we reported, he had a prior conviction for a June 2017 spousal battery case .... so, it was a near certainty he'd get a jail sentence this time around.

Tavarez is best known for playing Darien on 'K.C.' ... which starred Zendaya.

Cardi B is getting sued for allegedly assaulting, striking and spitting on a female security guard, but witnesses saw it differently and feel Cardi was the one wronged.

The woman, named Emani Ellis, filed the lawsuit against Cardi Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. According to the suit, Ellis was at work in Bev Hills on Feb. 24, 2018, when the encounter with Cardi happened.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Ellis alleges Cardi maliciously struck her in the head, face and body. Ellis, who says she's African-American, also claims Cardi spit on her and used profanities and racial slurs.

This all went down in a medical building, and eyewitnesses tell us Cardi had just left an appointment -- and the security guard approached Cardi trying to record video or take photos of her. We're told Cardi asked her to stop because she didn't want to be recorded in the doctor's office.

It's also worth noting ... Cardi had not revealed her pregnancy yet. The date of the incident indicates she would've been about 4 months pregnant with Kulture.

The witnesses tell us the security guard got upset and she and Cardi -- who didn't have security with her at the time -- did get into argument. We're told a building staffer ran out and got in between the guard and Cardi, and things never got physical, and there were no racial slurs.

According to the lawsuit, Cardi "then used her celebrity status to get [Ellis] fired from her job as a security guard." However, a rep for the medical building tells TMZ, Cardi's doctor and patient coordinator were the ones who got the guard fired because they both felt the guard had violated Cardi's privacy. The rep says Cardi gave them permission to release that information.

Bad news for Charles Oakley -- the ex-NBA star just lost his perfect excuse for skipping the lousy Knicks games ... 'cause Oak's getting welcomed back to Madison Square Garden!!

As we previously reported, the Knicks legend's lawsuit against his old team and James Dolan was dismissed earlier this week ... which initially stemmed from his public ejection from a game in 2017.

Of course, Oak was literally dragged out of the arena by several guards ... and hasn't stepped foot in MSG since.

After the legal victory, it seemed like Dolan was ready to put all the drama in the past ... saying, "Maybe now there can be peace between us."

First step in mending the relationship?? Getting Oakley back at Knicks games ... which became more of a possibility now that their legal battle is a thing of the past.

"Mob Wives" star Drita D'Avanzo isn't losing sleep over her gun and drugs case anymore, but her husband -- he's still sweating it out.

According to the DA's Office in Staten Island ... prosecutors have dropped all charges against Drita, 2 months after cops raided the house where she and Lee D'Avanzo live. The announcement was made in court Thursday morning with Drita present.

The DA now says Drita was NOT the target of the search warrant. As for Lee, the feds are now taking over -- he's been indicted for possession of firearms and weed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Outside of court, Drita told reporters, "I have no time to celebrate because my husband is not home, but I am very happy with the outcome. All I'm focusing on right now is the fact that this turned out good."

Kevin Hart wants the judge to throw out his sex tape lawsuit ... just like he says the legal papers were thrown out of a car window and left on his driveway.

According to new legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- the actor claims he was not properly served in the case filed against him by Montia Sabbag ... Hart's alleged sex tape partner who sued him for $60 million, claiming he and his friend conspired to tape their encounter.

Hart wants the suit dismissed because he claims the process server "simply threw a set of papers out of a car window in view of a security guard" outside the gate of his home.

The security guard's photos of the drive-by drop-off appear to show the legal papers lying on the ground outside the server's car. The security guard claims he doesn't live at Hart's residence, and wasn't authorized to accept service of a legal complaint.

Due to the improper service ... Hart wants the judge to dismiss the case.

We broke the story ... Sabbag sued Kevin back in September, alleging her 2017 encounter with him in a Vegas hotel room was all planned by Hart and J.T. Jackson -- his friend who was later charged for extortion.

Gareth Pursehouse -- the man accused of murdering Drew Carey's ex fiancee, Dr. Amie Harwick -- has been arrested again and charged with her murder.

Pursehouse was re-arrested Wednesday on a no bail warrant and was charged with one count each of murder and first-degree residential burglary with the special circumstance allegation of lying in wait ... according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Gareth is facing the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole, if convicted. The D.A. says no decision has been made on whether to seek capital punishment.

We broke the story ... Amie was murdered this weekend after cops say Pursehouse attacked her, causing her to fall from a third-story balcony in the Hollywood Hills.

Amie and Gareth dated years ago and as we reported ... Harwick filed for 2 restraining orders against him in 2011 and 2012, claiming he attacked her multiple times and even threw her out of a vehicle on the side of the freeway.

Pursehouse was initially arrested for murder Saturday afternoon, but he bonded out of jail Tuesday night after being held on a $2 million bail.

Now, Pursehouse is back in custody and the D.A. says on Thursday he will be arraigned.

It was apparently "Trademark Day" on Valentine's Day for 2 big stars in Hollywood ... 'cause Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber put love aside and got down to business.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Kylie filed to trademark "Kylie Body" and "Kylie Body by Kylie Jenner" and the hope's to slap those names on tons of products including hair and beauty products, creams and perfumes.

This, of course, is nothing new with Kylie. She's filed docs to register trademarks for just about everything under the sun ... including her famous wake-up call "Rise and Shine." Her expanding empire also includes "Kylie Baby" and "Kylie Hair."

As for Hailey ... docs show she's looking to register the trademark "HB Beauty by Hailey Bieber." Seems she's ripping a page out of Kylie's playbook cause she wants to slap those names on beauty and wellness products.

She's no stranger to the trademark game. She filed docs back in October 2018 to lock down her own name, Hailey Bieber, which she wants to use on a possible clothing project.

Rapper Obie Trice is going 1 for 2 in his Michigan gun case -- avoiding a more serious charge for shooting a guy, but the D.A.'s Office isn't letting him off the hook completely.

The former Shady Records MC will NOT be charged with felony aggravated assault after a gun went off and struck his girlfriend's 18-year-old son during a brouhaha they all got into back in December.

Oakland County Chief Assistant D.A. Paul T. Walton tells TMZ there wasn't enough evidence to bring that specific charge against Obie -- who insists the gun went off by accident, and he only had it out while acting in self-defense.

He is, however, going to be charged with misdemeanor possession of an unregistered firearm -- which could land him in jail for 90 days, if convicted.

TMZ broke the story ... Obie -- forever remembered for his opening line to Eminem's "Without Me" -- was arrested after getting into a physical altercation with his girlfriend, which allegedly turned into a tussle with her son.

At some point, cops say Obie went to his car to retrieve a pistol, and while the kid tried to get it away from him -- a bullet was fired and went through the kid's groin. Sounds like he's gonna be okay ... he drove himself to the hospital that night.

Dr. Amie Harwick -- Drew Carey's ex-fiancee who cops say was murdered by her ex-boyfriend -- was also attacked multiple times by the ex, almost a decade ago ... according to 2 restraining orders.

Amie filed for the first restraining order in June 2011 against Gareth Pursehouse, the man accused of murdering her. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, she claimed he once pushed her out of a car after they had an argument, leaving her on the side of a freeway.

She also alleged Pursehouse physically assaulted her about a month before the car incident. Amie claimed he "choked me, suffocated me, pushed me against walls, kicked me, dropped me to the ground with force ... slammed my head into the ground, and punched me with a closed fist."

Her injuries included bruising to her neck, back, legs and arms ... according to the docs. Although she was granted a temporary restraining order, the case was dismissed after she failed to appear for a court hearing.

However, about a year later in April 2012, she again filed for a restraining order claiming Pursehouse broke into her apartment and smashed 10 picture frames and texted her, "things will get worse."

The next day, Pursehouse allegedly broke into her building to leave flowers on her door -- and again the next day to wait outside her door playing music ... according to the docs.  He also allegedly sent threatening emails to her friends.

This time around, the restraining order was granted for 3 years. It expired in April 2015.

We broke the story ... Amie was murdered this weekend after cops say Pursehouse attacked her and caused her to fall from a third-story balcony. Cops say there's evidence of forced entry and a struggle inside the home.

Steve Madden unleashed a profanity-laced tirade on the founder of a clothing company who's accused him of stealing her design ... after accusing her of being rude to him.

Alice + Olivia CEO and creative director Stacey Bendet posted her tense exchange Monday with Madden, saying the famed shoe god launched "a verbal assault on me in a hotel lobby."

She called it an "example of bullying, copying, and overall disrespect toward creativity and women," and claims Madden lost his temper after she called him out for allegedly copying her trademarked designs.

In the vid, Madden's heard telling Bendet ... "Honey, if you're going to be rude, you can go f*** yourself." He repeats it after she says he once told her if she's not copying people she's not doing a good job ... and then he accuses her of copying people.

Bendet and Madden have history -- her company sued one of his companies, Betsey Johnson, back in 2018 for allegedly ripping off Alice + Olivia's "StaceFace" design, which consists of a stylized woman's face featuring large black framed sunglasses appearing above red lips.

Madden's company was accused of using a face design similar to Bendet's StaceFace on its products, and it appears the 2 sides reached a confidential settlement in June 2019.

Clearly, Bendet's not over it ... and neither is Madden. Making his outburst even worse -- Bendet says her 4-year-old daughter was present and can be heard yelling in the background.