Legal

The Menendez Brothers resentencing hearing has ended for the day ... and will not be continued on Friday, as originally scheduled.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 9, and will address the admissibility of a risk assessment report ... and the brothers' defense attorney Mark Geragos is expected to file for L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to be personally recused from the case. Hochman grew up in Beverly Hills and went to the same high school as the Menendez Bros.

In a news conference after today's hearing, Geragos repeatedly accused the D.A.'s Office -- and specifically Hochman -- of retraumatizing the Menendez family. One family member was reportedly hospitalized after crime scene photos were shown in court on April 11. Bryan Freedman, who represents members of the Menendez family, said he wants to ensure their Marsy's Law rights are respected.

Multiple videos of Diddy beating up Cassie in a hotel hallway show "significant distortion" ... this according to a forensic video technician working for the rapper's team.

Conor McCourt -- a former New York City Police officer with years of experience analyzing video footage -- says in a sworn deposition that he has reviewed the clip CNN published, as well as another video of surveillance footage that was recorded on an iPhone 6 directly.

It's a bit confusing, but basically McCourt takes issue with both versions he's seen, first claiming the CNN vid appears sped up because it was converted from one file type to another in a process called "transcoding" ... which he claims adds, subtracts and duplicates frames.

9:42 AM PT -- Nathan Hochman just held a press conference detailing the reasons behind his latest motion to delay the resentencing hearing.

Mark Geragos fired back at Nathan Hochman by calling his decision to move the resentencing appalling ... adding he's "abused the victims" both privately and publicly.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman is trying to kick the can down the road in the Menendez brothers' case ... filing a last-minute motion to push back Thursday's resentencing hearing.

Hochman filed the motion Wednesday night in L.A. County Superior Court to prevent today's much-anticipated hearing from going forward, arguing the court needs time to review the California parole board's risk assessment report for Erik and Lyle Menendez.

As you know, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the parole board back in February to conduct a risk assessment of the brothers before any clemency decision could be made.

9:54 AM PT -- A spokesperson for Universal Music Group tells TMZ ... "Drake, unquestionably one of the world's most accomplished artists and with whom we’ve enjoyed at 16-year successful relationship, is being misled by his legal representatives into taking one absurd legal step after another. In Texas last November, his counsel instituted a legal proceeding with much fanfare and bluster. On Monday, they quietly dropped the case."

They continued ... "In New York in January, Drake's counsel filed a defamation lawsuit. Fearful of being sanctioned by the court for asserting false allegations, tonight they amended the complaint to withdraw them only to add more baseless allegations. Two weeks ago, his representatives celebrated a 'win': the granting of a routine discovery motion. That 'win' will become a loss if this frivolous and reckless lawsuit is not dropped in its entirety because Drake will personally be subject to discovery as well. As the old saying goes, ‘be careful what you wish for.’

They concluded ... "Both the Texas and New York proceedings are an affront to all artists and creative expression. Should his legal representatives senselessly keep the New York lawsuit alive, we will demonstrate that all remaining claims are without merit. It is shameful that these foolish and frivolous legal theatrics continue. They are reputationally and financially costly to Drake and have no chance of success."

Drake says he has new ammo in his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group ... and it's all because of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime show.

Champagne Papi just filed an amended complaint where he specifically mentions Kendrick's performance of "Not Like Us" at Super Bowl LIX.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Drake claims the show "assassinated" his character ... and he says Kendrick excluding the word "pedophile" from the lyrics backs up his claim that the song's content is defamatory.

Haley Joel Osment's next trip to Mammoth Lakes, CA won't be for skiing -- he's potentially facing charges for an arrest at that town's ski resort ... TMZ has learned.

The veteran actor was arrested on April 8 after cops got a call just before 2 PM about an allegedly intoxicated individual at Mammoth Mountain resort.

Ski patrol -- professionals who ensure the safety of skiers and snowboarders -- were with Osment when cops arrived, according to documents obtained by TMZ.

Megan Thee Stallion wants a judge to reprimand Tory Lanez for his alleged conduct during a recent deposition ... calling it "disruptive, inflammatory, and inconsistent with the basic norms of civil litigation."

The rapper's attorney has filed a motion asking for the court to show cause why Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, shouldn't be held in contempt in the civil case Megan filed against Milagro Cooper.

If you don't know, Cooper is a blogger who MTS alleges "has used her social media accounts to spread defamatory statements, deepfake porn videos, and outright lies about [Megan] at the behest and command of Mr. Peterson."

Former NFL superstar Aaron Donald got a restraining order this week against a woman he says has been harassing, stalking and threatening him and his family for several years.

Donald filed for the TRO in Los Angeles County on Tuesday ... alleging Janelle Anwar has been terrorizing him since 2020.

The ex-Rams defensive tackle insisted in his petition he's never met the woman -- who he believes is between 30 and 40 years old -- but he stated she nonetheless has sent him packages, gifts and messages repeatedly.

Harvey Weinstein wants out of Rikers Island badly ... and into a medical center during his retrial in his New York criminal case.

The jailed movie mogul's legal team filed an emergency petition with the court to have him transferred from the notorious Rikers prison complex to Bellevue Hospital due to alleged gross mismanagement of his deteriorating health.

According to Tuesday's filing, obtained by TMZ, Weinstein accuses Rikers medical staff of failing to provide him with proper healthcare, as well as misdiagnosing at least one condition. Weinstein says this led to his health becoming wildly unstable, requiring "regular" hospitalization at Bellevue, including its ICU unit.

Weinstein says he has a laundry list of medical issues -- such as cancer, diabetes, extensive coronary artery disease, chest pain due to lowered levels of blood flowing to the heart, obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid issues, obesity, chronic lower back and leg pain, anemia, hypertension, and more.

A wild scene played out in Massachusetts on Monday when a man wearing a gas mask and carrying pepper spray went on a rampage at a courthouse ... but was eventually arrested by the authorities.

Surveillance video of the incident was released Tuesday, and it shows suspect Nicholas Akerberg climbing the steps of Woburn District Court in a helmet, gas mask and combat boots before rushing up to the front door.

Akerberg allegedly points the can of pepper spray at a guard who's trying to shut the door from inside the building.

Diddy is looking to beef up his legal defense team ... with an attorney famous for defending Young Thug in court.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Georgia attorney Brian Steel wants to be admitted to practice law in the Southern District of New York so he can help defend Diddy at trial.

Brian's known for repping Young Thug in the rapper's YSL RICO case.

"Ghost Adventures" star Aaron Goodwin's wife won't be haunting him ... in a court of law, at least -- she's struck a plea deal to avoid a lengthy murder-for-hire trial, and shorten her sentence.

Victoria Goodwin filed docs, obtained by TMZ, informing the judge in Clark County, Nevada, she intends to plead guilty to one of the 2 counts she was facing for allegedly plotting to kill her famous husband.

According to the docs, Goodwin says she's copping to conspiracy to commit murder, and in exchange prosecutors will drop the charge of solicitation to commit murder. Additionally, prosecutors have agreed to make no recommendation to the judge on Goodwin's sentence.

Diddy's legal proceedings have created a new beef within his old Bad Boy camp ... Stevie J and New Orleans rapper Chopper of Da Band fame are now in a war of words -- and it's all over rapper Eve!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Stevie J and Miala Doche, the rock artist he's currently developing, and asked him about the lingering rumor that he's selling his musical catalog.

Stevie's produced some serious money-makers in his discography -- Notorious B.I.G.'s "Mo Money, Mo Problems" and "Notorious Thugs," Mariah Carey's "Honey" and even his ex-girlfriend Eve's biggest hit, "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Gwen Stefani.

D.L. Hughley says he would have a lot to think about if he were a juror in Luigi Mangione's trial ... telling us he might even go so far as to find the accused United Healthcare CEO murderer innocent!!!

The comedian joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and we asked him about the cult-like following Luigi has, even though the feds claim Mangione gunned down Brian Thompson in cold blood in Manhattan in December.

D.L. says he absolutely understands why Luigi has a lot of supporters out there ... he feels Americans are so fed up with the health insurance agency and are so accustomed to gun violence in their everyday lives that Mangione's alleged murder isn't a big deal to many.

The judge who reduced Karmelo Anthony's bond this week is getting some added security, TMZ Sports has learned, after law enforcement said she's been the recipient of threats following her key decision in the murder case.

The Collin County Sheriff's Office told us Tuesday it's beefed up protection around Judge Angela Tucker in the wake of her Monday choice to lower the alleged H.S. track meet killer's bail from $1 million to $250,000.

The CCSO said "court staff and concerned citizens" reported the menacing remarks made against the official ... and now, its team of investigators, as well as the FBI are probing the matter.

Mickey Rourke may have gotten booted off "Celebrity Big Brother" ...  but he's not going down without a fight, as he's exploring legal action against the show for allegedly withholding money he feels entitled to, TMZ has learned.

Kimberly Hines, Rourke's rep, tells TMZ ... Mickey's team is currently speaking with lawyers in the UK and are weighing a lawsuit against ITV, the company that produces the show.

Hines says Rourke is being "unjustly" denied a major payday ... claiming 'CBB' producers deliberately removed him this past Saturday, just one day before he would have become contractually eligible to receive a lot more money.

Diddy wants a Black woman in his corner when his federal trial begins -- in less than 3 weeks -- and that's why he's searching for a new attorney to add to his defense team.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Diddy's lawyers are searching for a Black female attorney to join his current trial team of Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos.

Keep in mind, the mogul's attorneys have already raised race as a critical part of its defense ... accusing the feds of trying to take down a rich, successful Black man.