Legal

Christa Pike raised serious concerns about the doctor who was assigned to give her a lethal injection, asking tough questions weeks before he botched her execution ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ obtained court docs filed by Christa in August … a short time before her scheduled execution on September 30 ... and she claims prosecutors went to "great lengths to protect and conceal the identity of the physician that the State of Tennessee uses in its executions.”

She said the government objected to any questions about the qualifications of the doctor scheduled. Christa's legal team claimed the physician made a statement to a news outlet about his intention to participate in her execution.

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York is breaking his silence over his August arrest in Ohio ... after the NFL suspended him for six games and fined him $500,000 for violating its Personal Conduct Policy.

York tells TMZ he accepts the league's decision in full ... calling what happened an "inexcusable mistake" and apologizing to his family, the 49ers organization, fans and partners.

He says ... "What I did does not reflect my values or the man I strive to be for my family."

"Alaskan Bush People" star Gabriel Brown is being accused of physically, mentally, and emotionally abusing his estranged wife, Raquell Brown ... with her claiming she even felt "forced" into marrying him.

According to an affidavit Raquell filed Sept. 22, obtained by People, she claims the alleged abuse began early in their relationship and escalated over the years.

Raquell alleges Gabe would yell at her and their children, hit the kids, and intimidate them ... and claims he once punched, kicked, and choked her while asleep during what she described as his night terrors.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is blasting Cornell University Police and the local D.A. over their handling of the alleged Cornell gang rape ... saying somebody knew more than they were letting on.

Hochul -- speaking Friday morning alongside Attorney General Letitia James -- said she was "deeply disturbed" that campus police sent prosecutors only a partial record after interviewing the woman ... adding the case hit home for her as a mother who once dropped her own daughter off at college.

She also ripped Tompkins County D.A. Matthew Van Houten for not interviewing her himself ... saying the conflicting information now emerging is why she appointed James as special prosecutor.

Hochul said ... "We don't know enough ... and I want the truth."

4:20 PM PT -- The court granted the temporary restraining order for Olivier ... requiring Halle to stay away 100 yards from him. She will be allowed to see their kid but only during court-ordered visitation which is two days a week and every other weekend ... until a hearing on October 16.

3:05 PM PT -- Halle Berry and her ex-husband Olivier Martinez have been ordered to participate in confidential mediation to discuss custody, according to new legal docs obtained by TMZ.

Halle Berry's ex Olivier Martinez has filed a temporary restraining order against her ... alleging child abuse against the 12-year-old son they share ... TMZ has learned.

Olivier alleges Halle physically abused their son, Maceo, by jumping on him, putting her hands around his neck, and choking him last Saturday.

He claims Maceo called him and claimed Halle had physically attacked him and put him in a chokehold. He says it's not an isolated incident and there have been previous attacks.

Halle Berry is firing back at her ex-husband Olivier Martinez after he accused her of abusing their 12-year-old son, and filed for a restraining order ... and she's raising Olivier's own history of violence.

Halle's attorney Marina Beck tells TMZ ... “To say this filing is entirely meritless and deliberately misleading would be an understatement. There is voluminous evidence, including numerous judicial rulings, that Olivier Martinez repeatedly violated court orders and interfered with necessary therapeutic and educational interventions to the detriment of his and Halle Berry's minor son Maceo - misconduct for which Mr. Martinez has already been legally sanctioned."

Beck adds, "In a way, today’s filing is not entirely unexpected from an individual with a well-documented history of erratic, possessive and violent behavior. Fortunately, Halle is used to this kind of outrageous conduct from Mr. Martinez and, while she is deeply saddened, she will not allow it to deter her from fighting for Maceo’s best interests and providing him with the love and support he needs.” 

Pittsburgh Steelers co-owner Robert Citrone’s attempt to stop his alleged baby mama from publicly discussing their contentious child support case has been denied by a Pennsylvania judge ... TMZ has learned.

According to a court order, obtained by TMZ, Citrone’s motion for an emergency order was denied at the end of last week ... but the judge reminded the parties the case itself is sealed and neither party can disclose filings to third parties who are not engaged in the ongoing litigation.

The order specifically states there is no gag order preventing either Citrone or his baby mom Amy Blunt from speaking about the case -- unless the two sides agree otherwise.

The fraternity brothers accused of gang raping a woman at a 2024 party not only exchanged graphic messages about her ... they also allegedly sent around a photo ... according to a new report.

CNN obtained images of the Snapchat chain, titled "Chi Phi Actives," which allegedly show a photo of Jane Doe in a room at the fraternity house while messages were being exchanged.

Additional messages reportedly include one member writing "laying rn," while others asked, "are you guys at least naked?" and said, "Like you can walk in and whip it out rn."

The Game's company says his record label promised a half-million bucks to push his album "Drillmatic -- Heart vs. Mind" ... but claims it left most of that money on the table and the album sales suffered as a result ... TMZ has learned.

In a new lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, The Game's company, 100 Entertainment Inc., says UMG and Virgin Music agreed to put $500,000 behind marketing and promotion for the 2022 album.

The suit says both sides signed off on a detailed budget allocation just days before release ... with money set aside for videos, digital ads, overseas promotion, and $125,000 for radio.

Chris Harrison's new dating show is sparking a nasty back-and-forth between Fox Nation and Warner Bros. TV ... with Fox firing back after 'Bachelor' producers took issue with "The Vow."

Here's the deal ... Warner Bros. lawyers sent Fox Nation a cease-and-desist, claiming Chris' new show is trying to ride on the coattails of "The Bachelor" ... taking issue with some visuals in a new promo for "The Vow."

In their response, obtained by TMZ, Fox Nation says ... "While FOX Nation respects the intellectual property rights of others, you wrongly assume that Warner Bros. holds any rights whatsoever in a falling roses motif or in the words 'The Bachelor' when used colloquially to describe a single man.”

Christa Pike claimed she was the victim of horrific childhood abuse at the hands of relatives as she fought to get taken off death row ... and her allegations are horrifying.

TMZ obtained court docs from previous appeals in her murder case in which the convicted murderer laid out the abuse she claims to have suffered in her childhood ... and it's a lot to take in.

Christa, who was fighting to be taken off death row at the time based on ineffective assistance of counsel, claimed the court had not considered the abuse and neglect she suffered ... including sexual abuse from multiple abusers and her placement in juvenile facilities where she said the "semblance of continuity and stability actually caused her to sabotage her own chances of going home."

Gillio Lopes -- one of the 7 Chi Phi brothers named in Jane Doe's explosive lawsuit -- got into a heated confrontation with a female student on the Cornell campus, and his attorney tells TMZ ... Doe's lawyer is to blame.

Check out the clip going around on social media ... a woman walks up to Lopes Thursday morning, asking him if he's embarrassed to still be at the school.

She asks what he has to say for himself, and it sounds like he's saying he doesn't want to respond ... though she doesn't let up.

One of the 7 Cornell frat bros named as a defendant in a sexual assault lawsuit filed by a Jane Doe says he has no issue with her continuing to use the moniker as civil proceedings continue.

Scott Kretzschmar filed a letter to the judge Thursday ... stating he "does not object" to the plaintiff continuing the lawsuit as Jane Doe.

This may seem small, but it's actually quite uncommon for the defendant not to object in these situations.

Many defendants file documents asking for a judge to lift the plaintiff's anonymity.

Lindsay Clancy just lost her recent bid to have the murder case against her thrown out ... TMZ has confirmed.

New court docs, obtained by TMZ, show Judge William Sullivan denied Clancy's motion to find her not guilty of murder after the trial resulted in a hung jury. 

Her attorney, Kevin Reddington, argued in court earlier this week that the prosecution failed to prove she murdered her kids.

However, the judge found prosecutors presented enough evidence for a "rational" jury to "find beyond a reasonable doubt the elements of the charge of murder."

Christa Pike made some horrific noises for nearly an hour during her botched execution ... and one local TV news anchor who was there is describing it for us ... and it sounds unpleasant.

Tori Gessner -- an anchor for WKRN news in Tennessee -- joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday to discuss what she saw and heard during Wednesday night's execution attempt ... which she says got off to a weird start when they didn't open the curtain for nearly an hour.

Tori says it's normal for the curtain to be closed at first ... and that during this time, it's generally assumed IVs are being attached to the inmate.

However, Tori says this usually takes 10 to 15 minutes ... but this time it took about an hour. During this time, she says she could hear some moaning, whimpering, and crying.

Chris Brown's former housekeeper has agreed to accept a lower damages award in her dog bite case against the singer after a judge gave her a choice -- accept the reduced amount or take the risk of a new trial on damages.

In court docs obtained by TMZ ... Maria Avila -- who claimed she was viciously attacked by Brown's dog in his Tarzana home in 2020 -- agreed to the new $9.5 million in damages.

Avila initially won a $12.9 million judgment ... but a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge said not so fast.