Legal

Lil Tay could be returning to the limelight soon, but her future career hinges on a custody battle between her parents that's about to come to a head.

Sources close to Lil Tay tell TMZ ... the foul-mouthed kid rapper is home in Vancouver where her parents, Angela Tian and Christopher Hope, are locked in a court battle for custody of Lil Tay and full control over her life and career.

We're told Lil Tay's parents have been duking it out in court since late 2018, and they're expecting the judge to make some big custody rulings in the coming weeks. We're told they currently share custody.

Lil Tay's future will be heavily impacted by the judge's decision ... our sources say her parents both want her in entertainment, but they have very different plans for her to stay relevant.

We're told Lil Tay's mom wants to let her do whatever she wants to do -- even if that means dropping lots of trash-talking videos on social media.

Perhaps not surprising ... remember, Mom used her boss' Mercedes as a prop in one of Lil Tay's infamous trash-talking videos, and quit her job when her boss caught on and got pissed.

On the other hand, we're told Lil Tay's father prefers the more traditional career path of acting and singing.

In the past, Lil Tay's father has expressed concern about her social media antics and felt others were taking advantage of her just to profit for themselves.

As you know ... Lil Tay has been absent from social media since way back in June 2018, after her father got a court order requiring her to return to Vancouver and stop posting on her Instagram account, which has 1.8 million followers.

Sounds like she could be coming back soon ... so stay tuned.

Kodak Black is digging his new digs ... he's been moved out of the Kentucky prison where he claimed he was being tortured.

The rapper's attorney, Bradford Cohen, tells TMZ ... Kodak was recently transferred to USP Thomson, a high-security prison in Illinois, where KB says the guards are treating him better than in Kentucky.

Kodak's change of scenery comes after we first reported on his lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons for alleged torture ... he claimed his life was a living hell at Big Sandy maximum security prison.

The BOP tells us Kodak was transferred from Big Sandy to FTC Oklahoma City on Oct. 5 --- just 2 weeks after Kodak filed his lawsuit -- and a few days later, Kodak was transferred to Thomson.

BTW ... the BOP tells us FTC Oklahoma City acts as a transfer center, which is why the feds moved Kodak again shortly after his arrival.

Kodak's attorney says he spoke with KB on the phone Wednesday, and KB told him he was glad to be out of Big Sandy. One reason -- Cohen says Kodak told him the guards at Thomson are more professional.

We contacted prison officials to find out the reason for the transfer, but they would not comment.

While Kodak's attorney says the rapper is in a better situation than before, it's still not ideal ... he's now 1,500 miles away from his family in Florida, which will make it harder for them to visit, should they ever get the chance.

We're told Kodak's still not happy about his visitation and commissary situation, claiming he's only been able to speak to his legal team after last year's fight with guards in a Miami prison.

Kodak's attorney tells us he hopes to get the rapper's privileges fully reinstated within the next several months.

Lil Yachty ruined a man's chances to watch a Juice WRLD tribute when the rapper and his boys beat the crap out of him ... according to a new lawsuit.

Jimmy Quivac is suing Yachty claiming he and his crew pummeled him as he was heading inside the Rolling Loud Festival last December to watch a tribute to the late Juice WRLD.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ, Jimmy claims he was walking alone and heading into the L.A. Coliseum when he noticed Yachty and a large crowd standing near the entrance. As he tried weaving through the crowd, Jimmy claims someone yelled at him for bumping into them, and then all hell broke loose ... and Yachty allegedly punched him in the melee.

Jimmy claims Yachty's crew joined in on the action ... striking, stomping and kicking him while he was on the ground. When the dust settled, he says he suffered injuries to his wrist, hand and arm.

He's suing for assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

TMZ broke the story ... the alleged incident was caught on video. You can see in the video Yachty's part of a group that appears to be attacking a man, who eventually is seen getting up and running away. Yachty, at the time, claimed he and his friends were leaving the festival, and the guy in the video, Jimmy, had shoved him for no reason. Yachty said he and his friends confronted the guy and asked what his beef was with them.

A Holocaust survivor speaking with Sacha Baron Cohen for his new 'Borat' movie was callously duped, because she thought he was making a legit documentary ... so claims her estate in a new lawsuit.

The estate of Judith Dim Evans -- who, according to the legal docs, is a "well-known speaker and expert regarding the Holocaust" -- is going after the makers of the upcoming 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm' for allegedly tricking her into doing an interview around the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020.

According to the suit ... Evans was contacted by producers under false pretenses and believed she was participating in a documentary about the Holocaust and Jewish culture.

Her estate says she traveled to Atlanta with a friend to be interviewed by Cohen and was never informed the movie was a comedy  -- a 'Borat' sequel -- and when she found out she was "horrified and upset."

Evans' estate alleges she never would have agreed to the interview if she knew the true nature of the film was to mock the Holocaust and Jewish culture, and she never consented for her name and likeness to be in such a movie.

The estate also claims the producers offered to pay Evans and her friend for their participation, but she turned them down flat.

Evans died this past summer, so her daughter -- the executrix of her estate -- filed the suit against Amazon and Oak Springs Productions ... seeking to have her mother's clips yanked from the final cut of the movie and other damages.

The 'Borat' sequel is set to release on Amazon Prime next week. Though Cohen is not named as a defendant in this suit, he's no stranger to being sued over his projects ... he's still in a legal battle with Roy Moore.

'Botched' Doc Terry Dubrow is sick and tired of a former patient's attorney running his medical name through the mud ... so he's suing for defamation.

Dubrow just filed the docs against Texas lawyer Stephen Le Brocq who's representing Sandy Scoggins, a patient of Dubrow's back in 2019. Le Brocq sued Dubrow on behalf of Scoggins earlier this week, claiming she almost died after her butt lift procedure.

In the defamation suit, Dubrow's attorney, Larry Stein, says Scoggins kept in touch with Dubrow after her surgery and he claims she even admitted in writing that her "complications resulted from 'nothing ... anyone did wrong.'"

Stein says those communications are a far cry from what Le Brocq then did ... filing a lawsuit and making statements against Terry. Stein says Le Brocq accused Terry of leaving "medical equipment" inside Scoggins, which she claimed was a piece of mesh. Stein says Dubrow doesn't even use mesh in cosmetic procedures on the "abdomen, back or trunk."

The defamation docs also say Le Brocq included graphic images of Scoggins' "early stage post-operative wounds" in his legal filing for shock value.

Lil Xan's gas station blow-up -- after a guy apparently called him out for disrespecting Tupac -- might cost him ... 'cause the rapper's being sued for pulling a gun.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ -- Anthony Sanchez is going after Lil Xan for their June 7, 2019 altercation at an L.A. 7-Eleven ... the tail end of which Sanchez recorded video.

Sanchez claims he asked the rapper about a controversial comment he'd made, calling Tupac's music "boring" -- and says Xan pulled a gun out and pointed it at him.

In the lawsuit, Sanchez says he backed away and began recording the incident, and says the rapper continued to wave the gun around ... taking his finger on and off the trigger. Sanchez says he feared for his life.

The video shows Sanchez called Lil Xan a "bitch" a few times before Xan brandished what at least looks very much like a gun. According to the suit, Xan also threw his cup out of the window as he drove away and hit Sanchez ... which seems pretty trivial after the whole gun stuff.

Sanchez claims he suffered severe emotional distress, and he's suing for assault and battery as well.

Jerry Harris wouldn't be able to hurt people or pose a threat if he was released pending trial in his child porn case ... at least according to his defense team, which says he'd be cut off from the digital world.

The disgraced star of Netflix's cheerleading docuseries, "Cheer," had a bond hearing Wednesday in Texas, where a judge heard arguments for and against cutting him loose before he stands trial. Currently, he's in custody at MCC Chicago.

Prosecutors have already made it clear they believe Jerry could prey on minors if he bonds out of jail -- they claim he has multiple underage victims thus far, and will likely fall into the same alleged behavior. As we reported, the feds claim he continued targeting minors even after he'd been tipped off about their investigation.

His defense team had a different perspective ... telling the court Jerry wouldn't have access to a phone or the Internet, if released, and he'd have regular check-ins with a psychiatrist.

On that last part ... Jerry's team says he does not possess the mental development of an average 20-year-old but understands the severity of the charges he's facing.

The judge postponed a decision on bond, and, for now, he'll remain in custody.

As we reported ... Harris was arrested last month in Illinois. The feds claim he admitted to many of the allegations against him ... including sexually assaulting at least one minor boy in an unlocked public bathroom during a cheer event.

Two of his alleged victims have also sued him.

Jesse Williams' 3-year bitter divorce drama has officially come to an end ... on paper, at least.

The judge just signed off to finalize the "Grey's Anatomy" star's divorce settlement with Aryn Drake-Lee -- and it means they're both officially single as of August 7, 2020.

According to the legal docs, obtained by TMZ ... they will share joint legal and physical custody of their 2 young children -- son Maceo and daughter Sadie. However, they have to meet and confer with each other about posting images of the kids on social media.

As for major financial business ... Aryn gets to keep the former family house in L.A., along with places in Brooklyn and Oakland. She's also keeping a leased 2017 Audi Q7 SUV and 2018 Q5 SUV, while Jesse gets to keep his leased 2018 Porsche Cayenne SUV. They really dig SUVs.

The good news for Jesse -- he's also keeping the $936,810 he made in profits from "Grey's Anatomy" since their 2017 separation.

Other accounts and royalties accumulated during their marriage will be split up, and of course ... Jesse's still on the hook for child support. According to the docs, he owes $50,629 per month for the 2 kids up until October 2019, and then $40k per month after that.

He also has to fork over 2 more spousal support payments of $50,695 for August 2019 and September 2019 to Aryn ... but then no more.

According to the docs ... Jesse and Aryn actually reached the settlement in Sept. 2019, but now it's officially a done deal with the judge's signoff.

TMZ broke the story ... Jesse filed to end his 5-year marriage to Aryn in 2017. They'd actually been together for 13 years.

When Jesse filed, it initially seemed like the proceedings would be amicable. Remember, they were even committed to co-parenting despite the divorce. But, it didn't take long for things to take a nasty turn when they beefed over child custody.

It was around that time that Jesse also responded to stories about dating Minka Kelly on Jay-Z's "Footnotes from 4:44" video release.

Then there were all the financial battles -- after he was ordered to fork over $100k per month in support payments for Aryn and the kids. She wanted more child support money and Jesse wasn't buying it.

Denver Broncos star Melvin Gordon was busted for driving under the influence and speeding ... TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Records show the case was filed at 1:55 AM on Wednesday morning. The exact time of the bust is still unclear. We're working on it.

According to court records, the running back is facing 3 violations -- speeding at least 25 MPH over the limit, and 2 DUI charges.

Records show Gordon is listed as 6'1", 213 lbs. He is set to be arraigned on November 13.

27-year-old Gordon is fresh off the best game of his Broncos career -- rushing for 107 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown run against the New York Jets.

The Broncos released a statement on the incident ... saying, "We are aware of the situation involving Melvin Gordon."

"Our organization has been in communication with him and is in the process of gathering more details."

Gordon was a 1st round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and played with the Chargers until the end of the 2019 season.

The former Wisconsin star -- a Heisman finalist in 2014 -- made the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2018.

In March 2020, he signed a 2-year, $16 million contract with the Broncos.

The State of New York just dropped the hammer on the folks who organized the now-infamous Chainsmokers concert in the Hamptons this summer ... fining them, and making it harder for them to do it again.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday the promoters who put on the sold-out drive-in charity event in July are gonna be getting a bill soon to the tune of $20,000 ... this after the NY Department of Health conducted an investigation, and found wrongdoing.

Cuomo adds, "The Town of Southampton cannot approve permits for group gatherings without State approval." Southampton officials signed off on the concert ... supposedly, with coronavirus-safe regulations in mind, according to sources connected to the event.

The Gov. didn't see it as a safe environment at all, and after seeing video from the concert, said he was "appalled" at the "egregious" violations in social distancing. While we've been told the promoters feel the clips in question distorted things -- insisting it was, by and large, a safe gathering -- the State has spoken.

Perhaps the most famous meat corporation in the land has serious beef with a New York City eatery, and what you smell cooking ain't a sizzling grill ... it's an all out legal war!!!

Here's the deal ... Certified Angus Beef is going after Beetle House NYC for allegedly using the CAB label, without permission, to promote items on their menus.

The corporation fired off a legal threat, obtained by TMZ, claiming Beetle House is using the CAB's good name to hawk the Edward Burger Hand burger. Clever. Ya get it?

Anyway, the restaurant's online menu says the burger comes with a "cab 1/2 patty" ... and that's the burning issue. Certified Angus Beef says Beetle House didn't buy its product, and even if it had, Beetle wasn't allowed to use the trademarked name.

The company says it wants Beetle House to remove any references to its products from their menus.

Beetle House owner Zach Neil says he initially thought the legal threat was a joke. He claims his restaurant bought real CAB products, but will stop doing so in the future.

Zach calls the CAB's beef "part of what’s wrong with America right now. People are dying, restaurants are failing, these guys are threatening the very people that buy their products. It’s really sad.”

A rep for CAB tells TMZ ... "We take the Certified part of our name to heart and have a system in place to track our beef so those known to be purchasing our beef are truly promoting it. Our system does not show NYC Beetle House is purchasing product, though we fully recognize we may be missing that important information.

"Cheer" star Jerry Harris should remain behind bars until his trial because he's "a clear and present danger to the community and most notably defenseless children" ... so claim the feds.

Harris has a bond hearing scheduled for Wednesday, and federal prosecutors filed legal docs asking the judge to deny his release on bond as he awaits his trial for child pornography.

According to the new docs, obtained by TMZ, the feds claim Harris exploited and violated at least 5 to 10 minors for more than 2 years ... requesting they send him sexually explicit images of themselves.

Prosecutors also allege his criminal conduct includes sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy ... and repeatedly targeting young boys by reaching out to them via his phone and persuading them to engage in sexually explicit activity.

In the docs, the feds claim Harris fessed up to sexually assaulting at least one minor boy in an unlocked public bathroom during a cheer event.

To make their point about him remaining a danger to the public ... prosecutors claim even when Harris was tipped off to a possible investigation into his crimes, he was not able to control his impulses and continued to victimize multiple other minors.

Somebody sent notorious prisoner Erik Menendez some herb from the outside -- and now, officials are trying to figure out if he was in on it ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell us ... Menendez was moved into isolation Monday at the R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego -- where he's currently incarcerated -- after some mail arrived for him ... a package containing a bunch of weed. The area where he's being housed is called the Administrative Segregation Unit.

We're told the package of marijuana was intercepted by prison personnel. Prison officials have launched an investigation ... and we're told one of the things they want to know is whether Erik planned on either distributing the weed or using it as currency, or whether it was just for his personal use.

Our sources say Menendez was siloed away in a separate wing, away from other inmates. Prior to the incident, he could interact with fellow prisoners in the yard, but for now, pending the investigation, he's all by his lonesome.

If prison officials conclude Erik had someone from the outside send him the weed, the matter would be referred to the D.A. for prosecution.

San Diego Padres star Tommy Pham was stabbed outside of a strip club Sunday night ... but, fortunately, both he and the team say he's expected to recover fully.

S.D. police say the outfielder was slashed outside Pacers Showgirls International at around 10:35 p.m.

Two people close to the situation told the San Diego Union-Tribune ... the whole incident started when Pham confronted people who were arguing near his car.

According to the report, when Pham asked the people -- whom cops say it appeared he did NOT know -- to get away from his vehicle ... he was attacked and stabbed in the lower back.

Pham went to the hospital and required stitches ... though, thankfully, the 32-year-old did not have any organ or other internal damage from the blade.

"I'd like to thank the incredible medical staff at UC San Diego Health for taking such great care of me last night," Pham said in a statement Monday. "I truly appreciate the hard work of the [San Diego Police Department] as well as they continue their search for the suspects."

"While it was a very traumatic and eye-opening experience for me, I’m on the road to recovery and I know I’ll be back to my offseason training routine in no time."

Cops say they've launched an investigation into the attack ... and are now trying to review any surveillance video that might help them track down the alleged suspects.

The Padres, meanwhile, say they expect Pham to make a "full recovery" from here.

Tommy is a monster on the baseball diamond ... despite battling injuries this season, he still helped lead the Pads to a deep run in the postseason.

In his 7-year MLB career, Pham has hit 82 home runs and stolen 75 bases. He has a career batting average of .273.

Nipsey Hussle's estate is taking a Crips company to court ... the late rapper's relatives are suing over his famous slogan.

Nipsey's brother, Samiel Asghedom, just filed suit against Crips LLC -- you read that right, the gang's gone corporate -- over the rights to Hussle's "The Marathon Continues" slogan.

According to the new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, the estate claims the Crips organization filed a couple trademarks for the phrase last year -- one for various services and another for clothing -- despite Hussle's family owning several 'Marathon' trademarks of their own related to Nip's well-known clothing store.

It's pretty shocking ... the estate claims the Crips organization filed a trademark application less than 2 months after Nipsey was murdered outside his Marathon Clothing Store.

As we first reported ... Nipsey's fam grew frustrated with the Crips org this summer, fearing something shady was going on with the trademarks ... and Crips LLC claimed it would abandon its applications.

Tory Lanez has just been ordered to stay the hell away from Megan Thee Stallion after a hearing for his felony assault charge.

Tory appeared by phone for Tuesday's hearing in L.A. County court for what was supposed to be his arraignment ... but his attorney, Shawn Holley, requested a continuance. It was granted so he did not enter a plea. The judge, however, issued a protective order against Tory ... and now he's gotta stay at least 100 yards away from MTS, and not contact her.

His bail was set at $190k ... which he'll be posting via a bondsman present at the hearing. The hearing comes on the same day MTS wrote an op-ed for The New York Times on why she speaks up for Black women, saying she's not afraid of criticism and being adamant that saying "protect Black women" should NOT be a controversial topic.

She also addressed the Tory Lanez case, saying, "I was recently the victim of an act of violence by a man. After a party, I was shot twice as I walked away from him. We were not in a relationship. Truthfully, I was shocked that I ended up in that place."

Meg added, "My initial silence about what happened was out of fear for myself and my friends. Even as a victim, I have been met with skepticism and judgment. The way people have publicly questioned and debated whether I played a role in my own violent assault proves that my fears about discussing what happened were, unfortunately, warranted."

As we reported ... The L.A. County D.A.'s Office slapped him with 1 count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and 1 count of carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle. The D.A. also alleges Tory inflicted great bodily injury on Megan.

If convicted, the rapper/singer faces up to 22 years and 8 months in prison.

Tory defended himself publicly last week and said he deserves his day in court. As we told you ... the rapper broke his silence Friday morning and reminded fans the "charge is not a conviction."