Legal

Shyla Walker says Landon McBroom’s girlfriend spun a wildly exaggerated version of their custody showdown ... and she claims to have the receipts to prove it.

Shyla is asking a judge to deny Sophia Germano’s request for a restraining order ... claiming she never harassed, threatened or assaulted anyone during the heated April 3 incident.

As we first reported, Sophia claimed Shyla stormed into her gated community, forced her way onto the property, and tried to take Landon and Shyla’s daughter during a chaotic confrontation.

But Shyla says that version is flat-out false.

Jada Pinkett Smith is asking a court to order Will Smith's former friend to pay the $49K tab from her attorneys ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Jada believes she is owed the 5-figure sum from Bilaal Salaam, after she convinced a judge to toss the emotional distress claims from his lawsuit.

Jada said she racked up the big legal bill defending herself in the case, and now she wants Bilaal on the hook because she got some of his claims tossed.

Jason Nichols -- the guy law enforcement says is the one seen in viral Ring camera footage yelling and kicking -- has officially been charged with 4 felony counts ... and his bail has now increased to a whopping $250K ... TMZ has learned.

Fairfield PD officials say Nichols is the man in the video that went infamously viral earlier this month, with doorbell cam footage from a home in Northern California showing him kicking and screaming into the camera ... before appearing to break into the home via a sliding door.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Nichols was charged with four felonies -- first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, and vandalism. He pleaded not guilty to all counts ... his bail was increased to $250K, and he was served with a criminal protective order.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is speaking out about being muzzled for months in the Celeste Rivas murder case, TMZ has learned.

The M.E. says Celeste's cause and manner of death was determined way back on Dec. 9 but the information was only made public on Wednesday because there was a prior court order initiated by the LAPD that had been preventing them from releasing their findings.

In a statement, Dr. Odey Ukpo, says ... "After several months, I am grateful this information can now be released, not only to the public, but also to the grieving family enduring loss. It is unfathomable they have had to wait this long to learn what happened to their daughter."

"The transparency of the information contained in our findings and reports is essential for empowering the community to make informed changes to affectively reduce fear and allowing the community to take informed action," he added. "Making the Department’s information publicly available is not just about accountability, it is about social justice and prevention."

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" alum Kim Zolciak’s estranged husband, Kroy Biermann, is accusing her of neglecting their children, as part of his renewed plea for primary custody, TMZ has learned. Kim’s legal team adamantly denied the claims. 

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Kroy is asking the judge presiding over their never-ending divorce to grant him permanent physical and legal custody of their 4 minor children. 

The current custody agreement allows 2 kids to be with Kim and 2 to be with Kroy – and then they swap and spend time with the other 2. “The children were rarely together as a group under this parenting plan,” Kroy said. 

He claimed Kim “acts in ways that are harmful to the children and contrary to their best interests.” 

Prosecutors say Jonathan Rinderknecht -- the man who allegedly started the horrific Pacific Palisades Fire -- shouldn't be allowed to introduce evidence and argue about the Los Angeles Fire Department's response to the wildfires to get himself out of trouble.

Here's the deal ... prosecutors say Rinderknecht's attorneys are trying to bring up alleged incidents of the department's supposed ineptitude to protect their client and reframe the case around the response to the January 2025 fire to distract from his alleged role in starting it.

One example Rinderknecht is arguing is that one member of the fire department apparently wasn't alarmed by seeing smoke. But prosecutors say brush fires commonly smolder after firefighters put them out ... something they say this particular firefighter knew, and explains the lack of concern.

Prosecutors list a series of examples they say are just like this ... insisting Rinderknecht's attorneys are grasping at straws and attempting to "transform his trial into a misguided and much lengthier trial about the LAFD."

"Unexpected" star Bella Vaughn's mom Falen has broken her silence after being arrested this week in Arkansas ... and it sounds like she's ready to fight the charges.

Kevin Hickey, Falen's lawyer, tells TMZ ... his client denies any wrongdoing ... and she plans to plead not guilty when she is scheduled to appear in court.

As we reported, FV was arrested on Monday for disorderly conduct and disrupting governmental operations. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Brian McKnight says his ex-wife, one of his sons, some bloggers, and a newspaper rolled out a coordinated assault on his reputation to make money from "malicious character assassination" ... at least according to a new lawsuit.

The legendary singer filed a lawsuit claiming he's the victim of a "shockingly dishonest" and "sensational but false narrative" alleging he abandoned his kids and refused to tell his dying son Niko he loved him.

In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Brian says the false narrative was cooked up by his ex-wife, Julie McKnight, and he says it's been peddled by his son Brian Jr., bloggers Marc Lamont Hill and Tasha K, and the New York Post.

MrBeast enabled a sexist culture at his company ... this according to a new lawsuit filed by an ex-staffer on Wednesday. A rep for MrBeast's company adamantly denied the claims.

According to court docs obtained by Bloomberg, Lorrayne Mavromatis -- who says she was hired by Beast Industries in 2022 -- is suing the content creator’s company for wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and more … saying she was let go shortly after returning from maternity leave.

Mavromatis claims the company expected her to work through her parental leave … and even felt pressured to join a call from the delivery room.

The company strongly denied she was pressured to work while on maternity leave. 

TMZ has obtained an alleged Slack message sent to her by a coworker on March 31, 2015, stating, "Amazing! I've moved our meeting 30min as it coincided with our team meeting. But let's connect to discuss the idea you had as well." Lorrayne responded, "Hey Frank, I'll need to cancel and postpone. I'm actually in labor at the hospital as we speak." Her coworker replied, "You shouldn't even be checking Slack now LOL. Sending a big hug and lots of success! Enjoy the most amazing experience of our life." 

In another message, dated May 15, 2025, Lorrayne wrote, "Despite being on maternity leave, I feel like it would be extremely valuable to go with you to make sure everything works out smoothly and to have a Brazilian citizen on the ground with yall for any last-minute things that may arise -- specifically with his team. How would the logistics work through? Would there be a seat available on the jet for me?" 

In her suit, the former staffer also alleges in the complaint that she told her manager she was pregnant and needed to go on leave … but claims the company had no parental leave policy and her supervisor never told her about her FLMA rights.

Russell Brand says he did sleep with a 16-year-old ... but, he's clear that's the age of consent in the United Kingdom -- and he never sexually assaulted anyone.

The actor opened up about the charges he's facing in his home country during an interview with Megyn Kelly published Wednesday ... claiming he had consensual sex with the teen when he was 30 years old.

Brand admits he wasn't kind to women back in the day ... using fame, money and charisma to have sex with a ton of ladies -- and not applying any consideration to their feelings.

Bill Cosby isn't backing down from his bid to erase his massive civil court loss ... but accuser Donna Motsinger's legal team says his latest Hail Mary should get laughed out of court.

Motsinger -- who alleges the comedian drugged and raped her in 1972 -- and her attorneys are urging the judge to reject Cosby's request to throw out the jury's verdict in her favor, or grant him a new trial.

According to new court docs obtained by TMZ, Motsinger's lawyers say his motion to throw out the verdict should be dead on arrival because it was filed seven days late.

Even if the judge considers it, her lawyers say Cosby is trying to relitigate issues he's already lost ... including constitutional arguments over California's sexual abuse revival law that were rejected earlier in the case.

"American Girls" rejoice ... Ticketmaster stopped some scalpers who were trying to resell Harry Styles tickets for his Madison Square Garden shows.

TM President Saumil Mehta posted an open letter to the public Wednesday, letting Harry fans know they caught some grifters who were using "multiple accounts and fake identities" to sidestep ticket caps and flip them to fans at astronomical prices.

Mehta says they were able to cancel those tickets before any fans were conned out of some serious coin ... and are planning to re-list them at their original prices.

Ticketmaster says that the new tickets -- at most -- will go for under $130 ... including fees. Let's just say now you can again score a ticket for ... "as it was."

Prosecutors trying "American Idol" alum Caleb Flynn for murder say they expect to put his daughters on the witness stand to ask them about the night their father allegedly shot their mother to death inside their home.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, prosecutors in Ohio say they anticipate multiple children testifying in Caleb's upcoming murder trial. We've also seen the witness list, and there are some redacted names.

As we previously reported, Caleb's two daughters were home the night their mother was murdered ... and prosecutors say Caleb pulled the trigger while his kids were in the other room.

D4vd is living a far different life than he was a week ago ... trading his $15,000 a month L.A. rental for a cold jail cell with strict rules.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the musician, charged with murdering Celeste Rivas, is being held in a segregated single cell. 

D4vd is escorted from his cell to the shower, which he is allowed every other day. The singer is only allowed to make phone calls on the days he is allowed a shower.

Sources tell TMZ that D4vd is allowed recreation time with fresh air, but only 3 hours per week. He has no contact with other inmates during rec time. 

Bryton James’ divorce may be officially over ... but the financial drama from it remains ongoing -- because his ex-wife is now asking the court to make him cut her checks for spousal support.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, the "Family Matters" star's ex, Jahaira James, filed a request for spousal support less than a month after their divorce was finalized.

The former couple's divorce judgment was entered on March 24, and their marital status was officially terminated on Sunday -- restoring both parties to single status. The final judgment also show the court's jurisdiction to order spousal support to either party was terminated as part of the split.

But now Jahaira apparently wants that revisited.