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The families of the 4 University of Idaho students slaughtered by Bryan Kohberger in 2022 are suing the school where he was employed as a teaching assistant at -- Washington State University -- for damages, as they accuse the institution of failing to act on numerous warning signs about the murderer.

The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of Washington on Wednesday by family members of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin and is demanding Washington State be held liable for "its own decisions and actions to remain idle in the face of known extreme and repeated instances of discrimination, sexual harassment, and stalking by Kohberger occurring in its educational program."

The lawsuit argues that almost as soon as Kohberger arrived on campus in Pullman, Washington -- about 10 miles from the city of Moscow, where he murdered his victims -- he "developed a reputation for discriminatory, harassing, and stalking behavior, instilling substantial fear among young female students and fellow WSU employees, necessitating regular security escorts for multiple females."

Actor/director Timothy Busfield says he's the real victim in his child sex abuse case, claiming an actress told him the criminal accusations are part of a revenge plot.

As you know, Busfield -- best known for his roles on "West Wing" and "Thirtysomething" -- was charged in a criminal complaint filed this week in New Mexico with abusing 2 underage boys who were working with him on a TV show.

Prosecutors accuse Busfield of inappropriately touching the boys while he was directing them on the set of "The Cleaning Lady" in 2022. At the time, prosecutors say, the child actors were 7 and 8, and their parents reported the alleged crimes to the Albuquerque police two years later.

During a police interview, Busfield told detectives the show's lead actress, Elodie Yung, said the mom of the 2 boys "wanted revenge, and I'm going to get my revenge on Tim Busfield for not bringing her kids back for the final season," according to the charging documents.

Sounds like Daniel Stern didn't want to be home alone ... because cops issued him a citation for allegedly trying to hire an escort.

The "Home Alone" star got busted in Camarillo, California after cops said he was trying to bust with the aid of some hired help.

Law enforcement in Ventura County tells us Daniel was cited for soliciting prostitution on Dec. 10 ... which is smack in the middle of the Christmas season, when his 'Home Alone' movies typically doing big streaming numbers.

According to police docs obtained by TMZ, it looks like Daniel was cited at a hotel in Camarillo, California.

Actor and director Timothy Busfield, famous for his work on "The West Wing" and "Thirtysomething," is being accused of pedophilia ... prosecutors in New Mexico allege he sexually abused underage boys who were child actors on a TV production set.

According to a criminal complaint filed Friday in New Mexico, obtained by TMZ, Busfield is charged with child abuse and two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor under the age of 13.

The charges stem from allegations that he sexually abused two boys on the set of "The Cleaning Lady."

According to the complaint, one of the boys told law enforcement Busfield touched him in his "private areas" while on set after a scene had ended ... when the kid was just 7 years old. Prosecutors say the boy alleged Busfield touched him inappropriately 5 or 6 times between takes ... and they also claim the boy alleged he was inappropriately touched by Busfield multiple times when he was 8 years old.

12:24PM PT -- "Haley Kalil disclosed private and intimate details about Matt Kalil that were of no legitimate public concern and subjected Matt Kalil and his family to widespread ridicule and unwanted attention,” Matt Kalil's attorney, Ryan Saba, tells us.

“Haley Kalil shared these sensitive personal details about her ex-husband in an apparent quest to seek fortune and fame. Her actions were extreme, outrageous, beyond all possible bounds of decency, and have caused substantial harm to Matt Kalil, his family, and his business.”

Haley Kalil's well within her rights to talk about the Coke cans her ex Matt Kalil's packing in his pants, her lawyer says ... because she has erotic autonomy.

Matthew Bialick -- Haley's lawyer -- tells TMZ ... he plans to file a motion to dismiss Matt's lawsuit within three weeks of being formally served the summons or complaint, which hasn't happened yet.

Bialick says it's totally unreasonable to file a lawsuit on the basis of making someone liable for "exercising her sexual sovereignty by truthfully describing a sexual experience that left her in tears" ... adding it violates his client's right to free speech.

10:43 AM PT -- Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman says prosecutors are confident a jury will find Nick Reiner guilty of murdering his parents, no matter who he has as a defense lawyer.

10:32 AM PT -- Alan Jackson just held a brief news conference where he said there's one thing everyone can take to the bank -- "Nick Reiner is NOT guilty of murder."

Jackson said the circumstances under which he had to withdraw from the case were beyond Nick's control. TMZ broke the story ... Nick was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder and there are issues regarding his meds that could lead to a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

10:06 AM PT -- A spokesperson for the Reiner family released a statement on Nick's change of legal representation saying ... "They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings."

A source told The New York Times the change had nothing to do with Alan's "performance" and that he had been a pro.

9:52 AM PT -- Nick Reiner's new attorney is public defender Kimberly Greene, who has 19 years' experience.

The judge signed off on Nick's change of legal representation and set a new arraignment date for Feb. 23. Nick spoke up in court, saying, "Uh, yeah I agree with that."

Nick's leaving the courtroom and going back to jail -- he still has no bail -- and Alan is about to address the media ... tune into the live stream above.

Nick Reiner's lawyer is off the case, TMZ has learned, and Nick will -- at least for the time being -- be represented by a public defender.

Sources connected to the Reiner family, with direct knowledge, tell TMZ ... when attorney Alan Jackson appears in court Wednesday morning for Nick's arraignment, he will inform the judge he is no longer representing Nick.

Our sources say a public defender will step in for now, and the case will be continued. Nick will not enter a plea.

As for why Jackson is off the case, we're told the family will be releasing a statement as soon as the proceedings are over, and TMZ will post it.

Spencer Pratt has announced he's running for mayor of Los Angeles ... test your Pratt-ical knowledge about the TV star!

The reality star made the announcement Wednesday in front of a cheering crowd, saying, "This is not just a campaign. This is a mission. And we are going to expose the system!"

This mayoral bid begins on the first anniversary of the Pacific Palisades wildfire, which destroyed more than 6,000 structures -- including the house Pratt shared with wife Heidi and their two sons. Spencer has been engaged in a battle with California politicians ever since.

Spencer's ongoing war of words with California Governor Gavin Newsom escalated Tuesday in an Instagram post revealing a letter sent to him from the governor's office.

Nick Reiner had an eventful day in court ... he's now being repped by a public defender and his outgoing defense attorney made it clear he thinks Nick is NOT guilty of murdering his parents ... but the way Alan Jackson made his statement has our antennas up.

We got into every angle of Nick's appearance in a Downtown Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday on "TMZ Live" ... the change of lawyer, an interesting statement from the D.A., a possible defense strategy, and we even had a reporter inside the courthouse who told us how Nick was acting.

The big thing here is Jackson is out, and a public defender is in ... but Jackson left some breadcrumbs that seem to indicate Nick's got a strategy ready and a new defense team may be coming in to take over.

Justin Baldoni claimed Blake Lively was setting him up "for a trap" during the filming of sex scenes in their film "It Ends With Us" ... according to private messages unveiled in new court documents.

The papers, obtained by TMZ, contain a correspondence Baldoni allegedly sent to his former agent Danny Greenberg, venting about working with Lively.

In the message, Baldoni complained he just had a "really really bad week," writing, "She had the audacity to email me directly and invite me to a meeting at her house alone if I chose."

Baldoni went on to allege Lively refused to use a body double for sex scenes, writing, "Sony and [producer Todd Black] have to jump in to make sure that happens because that's just setting me up for a trap."

"M3GAN" needs a good lawyer ... not to defend her murderous rampage, but to defend her creators from allegedly ripping off another movie.

Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Pictures, James Wan and screenwriter Akela Cooper have been sued by a man named Carl Watts -- a former airline pilot and amateur filmmaker -- who claims their movie bears numerous similarities to his movie "Paranormal Adoption," released in 2012.

According to Watts, both films feature a girl orphaned at a young age who develops a strong attachment to a doll that grows violent toward other people in the girl's life when they try to get in between the doll and the girl.

Watts also points to the sequel potential of both films -- leaving the possibility of more rampage open at the end of each film -- as another defining characteristic.

Diddy's got a big payday problem, as in some of his employees are angry they're not getting paid while he's locked up in federal prison ... but his rep insists he has it under control.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Diddy's fortune is being handled by business management firm Tri Star Sports & Entertainment while he's in the clink, and we're told they're keeping a tight leash on his money -- too tight for some people on the payroll.

For instance, we're told some attorneys handling Diddy’s mountain of civil lawsuits have gone unpaid, and other staffers have been stiffed as well, and, as a result, at least one of them has quit.

Donnie McClurkin, a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer and pastor, has been sued by a man accusing him of sexually abusing him over a period of several years ... according to a report from NBC News.

Giuseppe Corletto has alleged he first met McClurkin when he joined the pastor's Perfecting Faith Church in Long Island, New York, during his early 20s. Corletto said McClurkin served as a mentor figure while he struggled with his sexuality as a young man.

Corletto claimed he eventually started working as McClurkin's personal assistant and said the singer began groping him during what were described as "pray the gay away" spiritual sessions.

1/6/26 8:45 AM PT -- The TRO was denied by the court clerk because it's not an emergency order ... the judge will rule January 23 on the issue at the hearing.

Brittany Furlan has persisted with claims she used to be in a relationship with "Falling in Reverse" frontman Ronnie Radke, but he says she got catfished ... now he's filing a temporary restraining order against her, TMZ has learned.

Documents obtained by TMZ show Ronnie filed the TRO Monday in LA Superior Court, citing Brittany harassed him by contacting him multiple times on social media.

Ronnie alleges when he ignored her messages, Brittany drove to his house and sat out front. Then, he alleges she followed him to a doctor's appointment and waited outside, just staring at him.

As a result, Ronnie is asking the court to order Brittany to stay at least 100 yards away from him.

Ten people have been found guilty of cyberbullying France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, by spreading false claims about her gender.

A Paris court found the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron had been subjected to "particularly degrading" comments by the defendants, some of whom reportedly suggested Brigitte was transgender and a pedophile, reports the Associated Press.

The defendants were accused of sharing online comments to falsely claim Brigitte was born as a male. They also reportedly compared the 24-year age gap between Brigitte and Emmanuel to pedophilia.

Several defendants claimed their comments were intended to be humorous during their two-day trial, which took place last October.

One half of the Island Boys didn't ring in the New Year on a high note ... 'cause TMZ has learned Franky Venegas was arrested again in Florida for alleged drug-related offenses and is currently behind bars.

Law enforcement tells us Franky was booked into the Collier County Jail in Naples Wednesday night on one count of drug paraphernalia, posing for a fresh mug shot ... face tattoos and all.

We're told Franky has no bond, as he's being held on a 24-hour hold because he's already out on bond from a February arrest for delivering/possessing/selling a firearm with an altered serial number.

We broke the story ... Franky was arrested in February on drug and firearm charges. The drug count was dropped, but the firearm charge stuck, and that's the case he's currently out on bond for.

Ian Ziering is facing an ugly reminder of a New Year's Eve incident from two years ago ... he's being sued for assault and battery stemming from a 2023 brawl on a Hollywood street with motorcyclists.

Jacob Hernandez, who says he was one of the bikers involved in the physical altercation, is dragging the "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum for intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress ... this according to a civil complaint filed in Los Angeles Monday and obtained by TMZ.

In the filing, Hernandez laid out his POV of what went down ... saying he and his pals were driving on their mini-motorbikes between cars on Hollywood Blvd. on December 31, 2023. At one point, he says, they waited for a safe time to change lanes and stopped in front of a Mercedes-Benz, which Ziering was driving. Hernandez claims that's when Ziering stepped out of his car and "with full force shoved" him ... which Hernandez claims caused physical injuries to him and his vehicle.

Hernandez reiterates traffic was stopped at the time and insists he was "not impeding the flow of traffic in any way" when Ziering allegedly became aggressive toward him. He also claims he did not hit the Mercedes. TMZ published video days after the altercation which does appear to show Ziering shoving the man.