Legal

Harvey Weinstein's lawyers are asking the highest court in California to look into whether his Constitutional rights were violated by prosecutors using pre-recorded video testimony as evidence at his trial.

The disgraced producer's legal team filed a petition with the California Supreme Court earlier this week, asking the court to consider whether testimony provided by Pascal Vicedomini via a pre-recorded Zoom call violated Weinstein's right to confront witnesses against him under the 6th Amendment to the Constitution.

Weinstein's side claims face-to-face confrontation allows the jury to base the reliability of the witness on body language and other factors ... which can't really be replicated in a pre-recorded video.

James Harden's Texas gun case has been dismissed ... after the NBA star was arrested in Houston and charged with the unlawful carrying of a weapon.

The Harris County District Attorney submitted the dismissal request Thursday -- which was obtained by TMZ -- after prosecutors say Harden completed an "alternative resolution agreement." The California Post was the first to report.

It's unclear what the agreement is ... but a judge signed off on the motion and dismissed the case on Thursday ... meaning the case won't be hanging over Harden's head by the time the NBA season rolls around in the fall.

Toni Braxton says she settled a debt with the IRS … over a decade after she finalized her second bankruptcy.

According to official records, the singer was hit with a federal tax lien on June 22 ... and Uncle Sam said she owed A LOT of money.

The breakdown of the debt is $69,390 for 2022, $278,876 for 2023, and $250,358 for 2024 ... totaling around $598K.

A rep for Toni tells TMZ the singer resolved the bill.  

Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are being called out for allegedly downplaying their role in a Kansas City steakhouse, after being hit with a federal lawsuit ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, the company 1587 Sneakers, which is suing Travis and Patrick for trademark infringement, scoffed at the NFL stars' claim that they were not official members of the LLC used to launch their steakhouse, 1587 Steakhouse.

Travis and Patrick claimed evidence will show they hold no direct interest in, and are not authorized to exert control over, the restaurant.

Ben Crump isn't sweating Nolan Wells' friends turning to Trump's lawyer for help.

We caught up with the prominent civil rights attorney in NYC Thursday ... and he says the boys' choice of attorney is just a distraction.

Crump tells us the only thing that matters to him and Nolan's family is getting to the truth about what happened.

"Love After Lockup" stars LaTisha Collier and Keith Collier might be trading places ... but they're going to stick together no matter what.

Keith tells TMZ ... the two are very much a couple -- and he's not going anywhere because LaTisha stood by him when he was behind bars ... and now she might be headed to the slammer.

Important to note -- we caught up with Keith before LaTisha got out of the joint on Thursday while a judge looks over her appeal after she was sentenced to 15 years behind bars for allegedly scamming clients of her financial firm.

The legal battle surrounding the estate of the late Jeremiah "Shawn" Duffy is heating up ... but his ex-wife says their children aren't interested in anyone else's assets -- they just want the keepsakes their father intended for them.

Stephanie Ramsay tells TMZ she's aware of the recent court filing by Sara Gilson's ex-husband -- Lyle Landers -- but says her priority remains protecting her children during an already difficult time.

The mother of Jeremiah's children tells us, "We are aware of Lyle's filing. However, I'm focused on our kids during this time. My children don't want anything of Sara's, haven't asked for anything of hers and never expected anything."

Nolan Wells' friends are launching an investigation of their own ... with their attorneys heading to Horn Island to get a firsthand look at where the 18-year-old disappeared, and where he was found dead.

Attorneys J. Tyler Cox and Edward Andrew Paltzik tell TMZ in a joint statement ... they, along with their clients, plan to inspect the Mississippi barrier island Friday as they begin investigating Nolan's death on behalf of their clients -- Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour.

They stress they won't be gathering evidence during the visit ... saying the purpose is to understand the island's "layout and dynamics." Paltzik "needs to lay eyes on the island himself."

Kevin Hart's company was shut down in its effort to keep a legal battle with two former employees out of the public eye and handled in private arbitration ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, a Los Angeles Superior County Court judge denied Kevin's request to move his case against Eric Eddings and Lesley Gwam to arbitration, which would keep it out of the public court system.

The court found the agreements Eric and Lesley signed with Kevin's company, Hartbeat, had arbitration provisions but found that the ex-employees made a "persuasive showing" that the arbitration agreements were unconscionable and could not be enforced against them. As such, the judge denied Hartbeat's motion to move the case to arbitration.

LaTisha Collier didn't love being locked up ... and she's already back on the streets after filing an appeal in her forgery case, TMZ has learned.

According to Scott County Jail's inmate records, LaTisha was released from prison Wednesday morning ... and she'll be out until a decision's made about her appeal.

As we previously reported, LaTisha was sentenced to 15 years behind bars for allegedly scamming clients of her financial firm.

Blake Lively wants Jed Wallace to pay her legal bills after getting his defamation lawsuit tossed ... but he wants her to answer some questions under oath before she gets a dime.

Wallace -- a crisis PR specialist who worked with Justin Baldoni's team during his battle with Blake -- filed new docs, obtained by TMZ, asking a Texas judge to force the actress to sit for a deposition.

According to the docs, the questioning would be limited to Blake's request for attorneys' fees and damages.

Warren Hudson's family is sharing some of the threatening messages they say they've received since Nolan Wells' death ... and they certainly sound alarming.

Warren's dad, Benjamin Hudson, sent audio to the SunHerald that allegedly features the various threats people have called in, including one that says ... "Justice for Nolan Wells. Son for a son."

Another caller says Ben is the "father of a murderer."

A different voicemail, filled with profanities and vulgar insults, said ... "Don't run now." The caller also said the Hudson family is "gonna get what the (expletive) coming to you."

Luka Doncic's ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes said she wanted to settle their issues amicably ... but TMZ Sports has learned she's taken their fight to Slovenia -- and as far as she's concerned, the cost of settlement is $50 MILLION!

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Anamaria has filed a new claim in Slovenia ... and she is seeking $40 million for herself ... we assume the remaining $10 million is for their two daughters. Luka has said he'd do anything for his kids, so $10 mil may be realistic for them, but the $40 mil is a whole other story.

We're also told she wants to strip Luka of some of his custody rights. Currently, he has the kids at least 2 days a week, and she wants to reduce it to one day a week.

As we reported, Anamaria filed docs in Los Angeles this week asking to withdraw her child support petition ... saying she wanted to resolve the matter "amicably and by a mutual agreement" in the best interests of their children. But apparently, that will come at a steep price.

"Vanderpump Villa" star Marciano Brunette reached a settlement in his defamation case against 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' producers and Demi Engemann ... after claiming she falsely labeled him a sexual predator.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, Marciano informed the court the parties reached a settlement, which will end with them stipulating to dismiss the entire case with prejudice -- meaning it can't be refiled.

As TMZ first reported ... Marciano sued 'SLOMW' producers and Demi after she claimed he sexually assaulted her -- the claim was referenced on the show.

Marciano has been adamant the hookup was consensual and insists Demi only changed her story to control the narrative.

Dr. Anthony Fauci's Capitol Hill headaches are piling up ... the Senate Homeland Security Committee voted Thursday to hold him in contempt of Congress after he refused to answer questions last week -- pleading the Fifth 111 times.

The 8-5 party-line vote tees up a potential criminal referral to the DOJ for allegedly blowing off a congressional subpoena ... but it would need 60 votes in the full Senate, making that a long shot.

Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul -- who's been leading the charge against Fauci -- said Thursday the contempt vote isn't about Fauci's pandemic policies or opinions ... it's about his refusal to answer questions after Paul ordered him to do so.

Paul Pierce's alleged texts going back and forth with his ex, Princess Santiago, over their newborn child have been revealed as part of their ongoing case over custody and support.

In new court docs, obtained TMZ, Princess attached a series of texts she says were sent between her and Paul.

In one alleged text, dated February 6, Princess says ... "I just wanted to let you know that your son is here. He was born today. If you'd like to see him tomorrow, let me know."

Princess, who appears not to have received a response from Paul, says she sent another text to him on February 15, which reads, "I gave you so many chances to do the right thing and not have to go down this path … you're letting history repeat itself, acting just like your father. My son will not be ignored or treated like the black sheep."