Legal

Nick Hogan has scored a small win against Bubba The Love Sponge in his civil case against the radio host ... as a judge just ruled Bubba cannot -- at least temporarily -- use images from Hulk Hogan's sex tape in his upcoming documentary.

Nick, as you know, sued Bubba earlier this week ... in an effort to block Hulk's former pal from dropping "Video Killed The Radio Star: The Untold Story Of The Hulk Hogan Sex Tape Scandal."

Nick -- acting as a rep for Hulk's estate -- argued the work infringes on his dad's copyrights and trademarks. He also claimed if it was released, it would violate a settlement agreement Bubba and Hulk previously entered into.

The autopsy report for the University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling's infant has been completed ... but investigators are still left with questions about how the baby died.

A report from the Fayette County Coroner's office obtained by TMZ reveals the cause of death of the baby boy -- who died on August 27 -- is inconclusive and that "extensive microscopic analyses are essential to determine the cause and manner of death."

Coroner Gary W. Ginn confirms the investigation remains open and his office is "conducting a thorough and methodical death investigation to ensure all facts are carefully considered."

Diddy is firing back at federal prosecutors who are opposed to throwing out his conviction on Mann Act charges in his criminal case ... he says Uncle Sam is using the wrong definition of prostitution to prosecute him under the Mann Act, and says he deserves, at minimum, a new trial.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy's legal team take shots at the feds as they try to make the case for Judge Arun Subramanian to change Diddy's Mann Act conviction to an acquittal or give him a new trial.

Diddy says prosecutors are using the modern definition of "prostitution" to apply the Mann Act, a federal law that was enacted way back in 1910 ... when it was also known as the White Slave Traffic Act.

Jay Cutler's legal troubles are piling up because the ex-NFL quarterback has been hit with a lawsuit over his 2024 DUI crash ... days after a judge sentenced him to four days behind bars.

According to court documents, obtained by TMZ, Perry Lee -- the driver Cutler rear-ended last October -- filed suit in Tennessee on Tuesday, claiming the former Chicago Bears star was "at fault for the collision." Lee's filing claims Cutler was tailgating, not paying attention, and failed to use "reasonable and due care" while allegedly intoxicated.

Lee says the wreck left him with mounting medical bills, physical and mental suffering, and a diminished quality of life. Lee's attorneys John Morgan and Sydney Pierce tell TMZ, "Our client is a veteran who was injured in a car crash due to the alleged negligence of another driver ... His injuries cause him daily pain and have eroded his quality of life. We are seeking justice so he can get the care he needs."

Denise Richards is planning to have her estranged husband Aaron Phypers and his mother grilled in court ... she wants them to testify about her allegations that he physically abused her.

There's a hearing coming up where Denise will argue why her temporary restraining order against Aaron should be turned into a permanent one ... and she just submitted her witness list.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Denise will call Aaron and his mother, Patricia Phypers, as witnesses.

Cardi B made sure her time wasn't completely wasted during her civil trial ... her infamous courtroom looks are now her new album cover!!!

On Tuesday, Cardi unveiled "The Courtroom Edition" of her upcoming "Am I The Drama?" album, featuring snapshots of the funny faces she made when she took the stand last week.

Cardi was 100% unfiltered on the stand ... admitting she called the security guard -- who was suing her for $24 million -- all sorts of obscenities ... but only because she was standing her ground. The jury sided with her story.

11:20 AM PT -- Just hours after Virginia's brother spoke out and called for Congress to release the files, the House of Representatives approved a resolution formally authorizing the Oversight Committee's ongoing investigation.

The House also authorized the release of "all unclassified committee records received from the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Epstein estate, and any other custodians related to the investigation described in this resolution, as well as any written declarations, or other evidence that relates to the investigation described in this resolution."

Virginia Giuffre's brother is drawing a clear line in the sand as members of Congress try to force a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files ... he says anyone who opposes the effort is on the side of rich and powerful abusers.

Sky Roberts made an emotional plea to lawmakers Wednesday during a press conference on Capitol Hill, where Epstein survivors called on Congress to make the files public.

Sky's sister Virginia is the most famous victim of Epstein's sex-trafficking ring ... and she died in April at 41 in what police in Australia said was suicide, though her family doubts she took her own life.

Hours after he was sued by Nick Hogan, Bubba The Love Sponge went off on Hulk Hogan's son ... straight up calling the wrestling legend's spawn a "dumbass."

The popular radio host didn't hold back when he addressed Nick's lawsuit for the first time on Wednesday ... devoting a significant portion of his "Bubba The Love Sponge Show" to grilling Nick.

Bubba -- real name Todd Alan Clem -- said he doesn't understand why he's even a defendant in the federal suit ... claiming he doesn't have ownership of the upcoming Hulk documentary that Nick's going after.

The mystery of the "missing minute" from outside Jeffrey Epstein's detention cell has been solved ... but the answer probably won't stop the conspiracy theorists.

As you know ... The U.S. Department of Justice dumped an avalanche of new Epstein case documents on the public Tuesday night, including an 11-hour-long surveillance video recorded outside the notorious pedophile's cell at NYC's Metropolitan Correctional Center in August 2019. Epstein was awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking minors.

In the camera footage ... you see the timestamp make a smooth transition from 23:59:59 on August 9, 2019, to 00:00:00 on August 10, 2019. And everything appears to be normal during the minute before the midnight switch-over that was previously missing from the security video.

Cardi B is dancing the stress away -- with no pants on -- as she celebrates being cleared of all allegations in the assault and battery case against her.

Check out her latest social media video ... the "WAP" hitmaker is shaking what her mama gave her while teasing a new song, "Bodega Baddie." She starts the video by unbuttoning her polka dot blazer ... and even strips down to her thong to twerk for fans.

She finishes off the celebratory clip in true Cardi style -- by slapping her famous rear end and flipping off the camera with a huge smile across her face!

Luigi Mangione has some people really confused right now ... 'cause it sure appears SHEIN is using the accused killer's face to help sell clothes!

Ya gotta see this model in the photographs for a button down shirt for sale on the fast fashion website ... the guy's mug looks an awful lot like Luigi.

Unclear if this is a photoshopped Luigi or the product of some generative artificial intelligence ... but it seems like the model here is helping SHEIN ... the shirt is mostly sold out, with only one size available.

Cardi B can breathe easy now that she's just been found not liable of assault and battery in a civil case by a unanimous jury, and won't have to pay any damages -- and she plans to countersue anyone in the future who drop a "nefarious" lawsuit against her.

Plaintiff Emani Ellis spoke to the media afterwards and said she's not disappointed by the decision, but happy she got to have her day in court. Her lawyer says they plan to file an appeal.

Emani Ellis -- a former security guard -- sued Cardi for $24 million and alleged the "Bodak Yellow" rapper hit her, cut her face, spit on her and hurled racial slurs during a 2018 spat.

Travis Kelce popped the question to Taylor Swift last week -- instantly becoming the engagement of the year -- but now fans are wondering if the other big question has been asked yet ... yep, we’re talking about a prenup!!!

TMZ spoke exclusively with top divorce attorney Jonathan Levin to get insight into what a prenuptial agreement between one of music’s biggest stars and one of the NFL’s most marketable athletes would actually look like ... and he says he doesn't see a world where those papers go unsigned.

Attorney Levin (no relation to Harvey Levin)  tells us ... for people like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, there’s a number of things they’re going to want to cover -- a big one being the privacy factor.

Hulk Hogan's son, Nick Hogan, is suing Bubba The Love Sponge ... alleging the popular radio host's unreleased documentary about the WWE legend infringes on his dad's copyrights and trademarks.

Nick -- acting as a rep for Hulk's estate -- filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in a federal court in Florida ... after Bubba revealed he's going to drop "Video Killed The Radio Star: The Untold Story Of The Hulk Hogan Sex Tape Scandal" later this month.

Nick states the doc -- which promises to tell the real story of how Hulk's romp with Bubba's then-wife, Heather Clem, got leaked to the media -- includes unauthorized images from the sex tape.

1:24 PM PT -- Jon Jones addressed the news in a statement on Tuesday ... thanking the district attorney's office for "ultimately vindicating me completely."

"I have always believed in the importance of truth and fairness, and I am grateful that the evidence spoke for itself. The simple fact is this: I was never there. I never even left my house that night, and all the evidence proved that."

Jones went on to say there was a "rush to judgment" before all the real evidence was presented ... and once the allegations went public, his retirement announcement moment was "stolen from me by someone who made false accusations to avoid a DWI and any real accountability."

"I sincerely hope that this individual is held responsible by Albuquerque’s law enforcement," Jones continued. "They not only disrupted my retirement but also made our police department appear negligent in the process. It is deeply troubling that, in today’s world, a single false accusation can take so much away from someone before any evidence is even considered."

Jon Jones is officially in the clear in his leaving the scene of an accident case ... prosecutors have dismissed all charges against the UFC superstar.

Court documents TMZ Sports has obtained show New Mexico officials dropped the matter after they found "reason to believe [Jones'] alibi defense is credible."

Jones, as you know, was hit with two charges -- one count of leaving the scene of an accident, and one count of use of telephone to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend -- after he allegedly bolted from the scene of a wreck on Feb. 21 in Albuquerque.

2:53 PM PT -- Cardi B is pissed and she's letting the world know it, writing on X that she had to miss her kids first day of school to attend her civil trial.

Cardi B went from glowing to growling after leaving court on Tuesday after someone dared to ask if she was pregnant!!!

TMZ caught the wild exchange earlier today ... someone off camera asked if she would predict any paternity drama with Stefon Diggs -- in light of Offset apparently bragging he banged her up with Baby No. 4!!! 😬

Cardi didn't take kindly to the question coming from a guy outside the Alhambra, CA courthouse, and threw a pen in a fit of rage ... causing her bodyguard to call her back.