Legal

July 8, 2 PM PT -- Sony Music tells TMZ ... "This matter concerns a royalty accounting dispute the parties were actively engaged in attempting to resolve. We are disappointed that So-So Def elected to pursue litigation rather than continue that dialogue."

Jermaine Dupri wants Sony to face the music ... filing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over royalties he says never made it into his record label's pockets.

According to a newly filed lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Jermaine and his record label So So Def Recordings claim Sony underpaid and withheld royalties tied to a long list of hit albums -- including projects involving Mariah Carey, Usher, Kris Kross, Jagged Edge, Bow Wow, and more.

Jermaine claims the issues didn't come to light until 2023 ... when he says Sony began issuing new and amended royalty statements. The suit says a 2025 audit uncovered years of alleged accounting errors, missing royalties, and previously unreported earnings ... prompting So So Def to demand roughly $18 million.

Prince Harry's war with the British tabloids just hit another roadblock ... because he and a group of celebrity pals struck out in court against the publisher of the Daily Mail.

Harry and the other high-profile claimants accused Associated Newspapers Limited of illegally digging up information for stories about them ... but after an 11-week trial, the High Court ruled they simply didn't prove it.

In a 436-page judgment, the judge found the claimants failed to show the reporting stemmed from unlawful information gathering ... saying there were legitimate explanations for how the information could have been obtained -- so, the case was dismissed.

7:36 PM PT -- A rep for Nipsey Hussle's estate tells TMZ ... “The estate has been finalized, and Nipsey’s assets have been distributed to their rightful beneficiaries, his children. We are grateful to have reached this milestone and remain committed to honoring Nipsey’s legacy while protecting the privacy of his loved ones. Thank you to everyone who continues to support that legacy.”

Nipsey Hussle’s children finally received their cut of the late rapper’s estate ... TMZ has learned.

Per court docs obtained by TMZ, Nipsey’s children, 17-year-old Emani and 9-year-old Kross, have been paid out in cash and other assets.

The estate, which was reportedly worth an estimated $11 million, is run by Nipsey’s brother Blacc Sam. For years … Blacc fought with Emani’s mom, Tanisha Foster, for years over the inheritance. The parties resolved their differences last year.

Prior to his tragic passing, Claude Lemieux picked his wife to run his estate … this according to the late hockey star’s will.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, the late NHL star said in his will that he wanted to have his wife, Deborah Lemieux, appointed as the administrator of his estate.

The legal papers say everything will be distributed pursuant to the terms of a separate trust … and the beneficiaries include Deborah, their son Brendan, their daughter Claudia, his grandson Luc and his granddaughter Sutton.

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his pregnant cousin and another woman in a Virginia residence ... TMZ has learned.

According to multiple reports, Edward Jackson Bland will serve two life terms without the possibility of parole for shooting and killing Leann Harris and Asia Payne in April 2024.

Harris’ dad, James Caison, told WUSA9 at the time that Bland was Harris’ cousin and they were "the best of friends," telling the outlet … "That was her best friend."

Coolio left behind a massive amount of debt when he died … including more than six figures owed to Uncle Sam ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, the estate for Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., is being run by a man named Jarel Posey, who reports that the estate has $24,385.60 in a bank account.

However, Posey lists around $140K owed in state and federal taxes, was hit with a $173K creditor claim by a woman named Randa Davis, and owes another approximately $1,400 in medical bills.

Erika Jayne is firing back at claims she conspired with the Secret Service to bring down a fashion designer ... TMZ has learned.

The 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star, whose real name is Erika Girardi, filed court docs, obtained by TMZ, responding to the $18 Million lawsuit fashion designer Chris Psaila filed against her in late 2023. Erika denies any wrongdoing and says she was never part of a scheme to target Chris.

Chris, who runs the fashion brand Marco Marco, alleges Erika falsely told law enforcement he misused her credit card and rang up roughly $800,000 in fraudulent charges in 2015 and 2016.

2:13 PM PT -- A rep for Tom Sandoval tells TMZ ... "It’s no surprise that Victoria’s request for a restraining order was immediately denied. The court granted Tom a restraining order and an immediate move-out order against both Victoria and her father after police reviewed all the video evidence from that night."

11:36 AM PT -- Victoria Lee Robinson's request for a temporary restraining order has been denied.

Tom Sandoval's situation with his ex is getting even messier ... 'cause she just filed for a restraining order against him, claiming he's been physically violent with her in the past.

Victoria Lee Robinson filed for a restraining order against Tom on Thursday, claiming Tom has been physical on multiple occasions, including the brutal June 3 fight at the Hollywood Hills rental home where all three of them had been living.

In addition to that altercation, Victoria says that Tom shoved her down hardwood stairs on August 30, 2025 … which she claims caused “visible injuries” to her knees.

Erika Kirk and Charlie Kirk's parents walked out of court as a police officer described the moment Charlie was fatally shot ... an emotional scene as prosecutors began laying out their case against his accused killer.

Erika -- along with Robert and Kathryn Kirk -- left the courtroom Monday before former Utah Valley University police officer Chris Bagley testified about the September 2025 shooting ... though they later returned following a break.

The testimony kicked off Tyler Robinson's five-day preliminary hearing ... where prosecutors are presenting witnesses and 40 to 50 exhibits as they try to convince the judge there's enough evidence to send the case to trial.

If you wanted to do a check-in with 'Real Housewives of New York' star Dorinda Medley ... her response might be 'not well, b****!" ... because she is taking her neighbor to court for alleging building on a shed that touches her property!

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ ... Dorinda is asking the judge to find that her neighbor's new shed, fence, and driveway encroach on her fancy property in Massachusetts.  She wants the judge to order the immediate removal of the neighbor's stuff on her property.

Dorinda claims the neighbor constructed a shed and expanded their driveway onto her property ... which the New York housewife eventually noticed and hired a land surveyor in May to complete a survey of the two properties that determined the encroachments were, in fact, on her turf.

"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum Annemarie Wiley’s husband, Marcellus Wiley, was ordered not to come near her after he was arrested for domestic violence ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, a Florida judge entered a no-contact order barring Marcellus from contacting Annemarie or coming within 500 feet of her or the home.

The order also instructs Marcellus not to reach out to his wife on social media or have any third party send her messages.

Erika Kirk arrived at a Provo, Utah, courthouse Monday morning for the preliminary hearing of Tyler Robinson ... stepping out of a black SUV and making her way inside ahead of the high-stakes proceeding.

Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in September 2025. He's facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder, and prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if he's convicted.

Erika has attended several court proceedings in the case ... and Monday's hearing could determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to move forward with a trial.

New video shows cleanup crews all over the Reflecting Pool after America's 250th birthday celebration ... and it's clear they've got their work cut out for them. Crews are putting in some serious elbow grease to get the Reflecting Pool and the surrounding park looking presentable AGAIN.

Check it out ... workers are getting in the water with nets and other cleaning materials to pluck out all the crap that's now littering the pool.

This cleanup goes way beyond fireworks ash and debris ... there are trash bags scattered all around the Reflecting Pool, and a few bags even took an unplanned dip in the still algae-filled water.

The National Guard was nice enough to let cleanup crews through the fence, with forklifts full of supplies, so they could start making the Reflecting Pool great again. Now let's just hope nobody mistakes the workers for swimmers and slaps cuffs on them when it's time to jump in the water and finish the job!

As you know ... the Reflecting Pool has been having "fireworks" over the last couple months ... with alleged vandals being arrested and prosecuted for tampering with the pool's water -- like ex-Olympian David Hearn who was indicted on Thursday.

This all started because of the Trump administration's botched $16 Million renovation project ... which it looks like now they've added a layer of trash to the mix.

The legal fallout from Big Tigger's domestic violence case is growing ... his radio co-host, Francesca Amiker, is now suing his estranged wife.

According to court documents, obtained by TMZ, Amiker filed a defamation suit against Alicia Brown ... claiming she lied about her on social media by posting the Emmy Award-winning journalist had an affair with Big Tigger and helped destroy their marriage.

Amiker insists her relationship with the radio host has always been strictly professional and claims Brown's posts labeling her a "homewrecker" unleashed a wave of online hate, which damaged her reputation, cost her business opportunities, and forced her to hire a crisis management team. She's seeking unspecified damages.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna doesn't believe in sending Olympic canoeist David Hearn up you-know-what creek without a paddle for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ... advocating for community service instead.

Our TMZDC team caught up with the congresswoman from Florida on Friday ... and had to ask her about a judge's decision to indict Hearn on the felony charge of destruction of federal property worth $1,000 or more.

Rep. Luna says the punishment -- if Hearn's found guilty -- shouldn't be too severe ... arguing that he should just do a few hours of community service.

A Houston man allegedly thought soaking strangers would make good content ... now cops say it's evidence.

Christopher Cayce was arrested after Houston police say the 34-year-old allegedly targeted homeless and disabled people with a high-powered, motorized water gun -- recording the encounters and posting the videos to social media.

According to HPD, investigators linked Cayce to multiple incidents in which victims were allegedly sprayed with enough force to cause bodily injuries. Authorities also claim he taunted the victims during the encounters before uploading the clips online.