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A jury couldn't reach a decision in the federal arson trial against Jonathan Rinderknecht -- the man accused of starting the Palisades fire in L.A. last year -- and the judge declared a mistrial.

It was 10-2 vote in favor of a not guilty verdict, but the 2 outliers weren't budging.

The jury started deliberations on Wednesday after about a 2-week trial, and initially indicated they'd unanimously reached verdicts in Rinderknecht's 3 arson charges before changing course.

Brad Pitt scored another legal victory ... because an appeals court just ruled the head of the Stoli Group isn't allowed to walk away from a lawsuit involving Brad and Angelina Jolie.

Here's the deal ... documents filed earlier this week reversed a decision made by a lower court in which Yuri Shefler -- the head of the alcohol and spirits conglomerate -- would not be dragged into the winery case that's still raging between Brad and Angelina after Shefler claimed he had very little direct involvement in his company purchasing Angelina's stake in Château Miraval.

The court decided it "defies credulity that Shefler, a sophisticated businessman, would risk almost $40 million on a transaction about which he knew nothing and with which he had no involvement." As such, the court ruled that Shefler couldn't get out of the case on jurisdictional grounds.

LaVar Ball is being dragged off one court and into another ... because a contractor who built him an at-home basketball court is now saying he was stiffed on the $200K bill.

The father of basketball stars Lonzo and LaMelo Ball is getting sued by MD Steel Inc. for unpaid labor expenses for the installation of a basketball court and subsequent home renovations.

TMZ obtained docs that detail the various work expenses MD says amounted to roughly $970K ... and in the filing, the company claims LaVar paid roughly $750K but never paid off the balance! He's now asking the court to help him collect the remaining $221,928!

Taylor Parker -- the Texas woman convicted in the shocking "Maternal Instincts" murder case -- is heard claiming to cops she just gave birth to her child, moments before officers realize the darker story.

Parker's chilling encounter with law enforcement is back in the spotlight ... and in the complete, uncut 911 audio obtained by TMZ from Bowie County court, the convicted killer is heard insisting she's going into labor on the side of the road.

Parker told officers and the dispatcher she had delivered a baby in her car, and was desperately trying to get medical help. At the time, cops had no idea they were stepping into one of the most disturbing murder cases in recent memory.

Two of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victims believe he had help pulling off his horrific sex trafficking ring … and are pointing fingers at former Victoria’s Secret CEO Les Wexner … TMZ has learned.

In new court documents, obtained by TMZ, 2 Jane Does are suing Wexner for allegedly enabling Epstein’s crimes by giving him resources, access to his mansion, and the appearance of legitimacy.

According to the docs, which were filed Thursday, the girls say they were 17 -- and therefore minors -- when they were sexually assaulted at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion on East 71st Street … which they claimed Wexner had bought in 1989 before he "transferred it to Epstein for a fraction of its value."

Cops have a woman in custody for the L.A. street vendor attack that's going viral, and she's getting booked for a felony ... TMZ has learned.

The shocking video of Arabelia Martinez fighting off another woman has been all over social media this week, and on Thursday, LAPD tracked down the alleged attacker ... 19-year-old Harmunie Heaven Church.

After her arrest for felony battery, she's being held on $50,000 bail.

Arabelia's family says they're "relieved" the suspect's in custody and thanked the LAPD for their help. They added, "We also want to thank the people of Los Angeles, and everyone around the world, for the incredible outpouring of love, prayers, and support."

Tom Sandoval can breathe a little easier after he allegedly got attacked in his own home by his ex-girlfriend and her dad ... because a judge just told them to hit the road.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ ... Tom's request for a temporary restraining order against Victoria Lee Robinson and her father was just granted ... and the judge ordered her and her dad to move out ASAP.

TMZ broke the story ... Tom claims he's been mistreated by Victoria for a while now ... and it all came to a head on the evening of June 3 when she allegedly roughed him up after a night of drinking.

4:05 PM PT -- Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ there have been no plea bargain negotiations between prosecutors and the defense team.

Luigi Mangione may be mulling over a guilty plea, because a new report states his lawyers have discussed a deal with prosecutors ... but Luigi's team calls the report an intentional attempt to prejudice their client.

According to ABC News ... the alleged murderer's legal team and federal prosecutors have discussed a possible plea ahead of a court hearing scheduled for Monday.

Sources told the outlet it's unclear how close the two sides got to getting a deal done, but they discussed it.

6:58 PM PT -- Newly surfaced video appears to show Tom Sandoval shoving ex-girlfriend Victoria Lee Robinson's dad, Will Robinson, into a lit fire pit during a heated confrontation.

3:34 PM PT -- According to court docs obtained by TMZ ... Tom Sandoval's request for a temporary restraining order against Victoria Lee Robinson and her father was just granted ... and the judge ordered her and her dad to move out ASAP.

Tom Sandoval and his girlfriend Victoria Lee Robinson are clearly not in a good place ... because the reality star just filed for a restraining order against the model after she was arrested ... TMZ has learned.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Tom claims he was verbally and physically abused by Victoria after a night of drinking ... the final straw in their rocky relationship in which he says he was often mistreated.

He claims he was having a verbal argument with Victoria when he noticed she was filming him. He said this led to her dad becoming aggressive ... and Tom says he locked himself in a guest bedroom for protection, but her dad "punched a large hole" and then put his face in the hole, smiled -- a la "The Shining" -- and said he'd f**k up Tom.

If that wasn't enough, Tom claims Victoria followed up by hitting him in the face and head so hard his vision blurred.

Trevor Ariza’s ex-wife, Bree Anderson, slammed the former NBA star for failing to pay child support while his new girlfriend flaunts their lavish lifestyle ... TMZ has learned.

Bree filed court docs claiming she believes Trevor pulls in over $50K per month, despite his claims that he only makes around $6K a month. She said she makes around $11K per month but lists monthly expenses totaling $29K.

In her filing, Bree claimed Trevor has failed to pay support owed in their divorce deal.  She also alleged he failed to provide his updated financial docs.

Taylor Parker -- the Texas woman convicted in the shocking "Maternal Instinct" murder case -- appeared to express remorse in a handwritten letter sent to her former boyfriend's father from prison ... TMZ has learned.

In the emotional note, obtained by TMZ from the Bowie County court, Parker directly addresses the father, Jimmy Griffin, of her boyfriend at the time, Wade Griffin, and asked for forgiveness while acknowledging she may not deserve it ... adding "I've asked God for forgiveness and I believe He has showed me it."

Read the letter ... as it offers a glimpse into Parker's state of mind following her arrest in 2020 and prior to her murder conviction in 2022 ... with much of the message focused on faith, family, and her relationship with Jimmy and Wade.

Bode Miller just skied right past a criminal case ... because prosecutors are dumping all charges against him.

Attorney Jeromy Stafford tells TMZ that Fremont County Prosecutor Lindsey Blake has agreed to dismiss the misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia charges that stemmed from Miller's June 6 arrest following a traffic stop in Idaho.

Prosecutor Blake tells TMZ ... "I can confirm our office is dismissing the misdemeanor charges against Mr. Miller. Although the deputy had sufficient probable cause to arrest Mr. Miller at the beginning of June, we recently received information which resulted in our office determining it is in the interest of justice to dismiss Mr. Miller's misdemeanor charges. I will not be discussing the specifics of this recent information due to it being related to another active case." 

The amount that Nicki Minaj’s mom is set to receive as a settlement of the wrongful death lawsuit over her late husband’s death was revealed in court.

TMZ obtained court docs in which the rapper’s mom, Carol Maraj, broke down the settlement between her and the man who fatally struck Nicki’s dad, Robert Maraj, in 2021.

Carol says she agreed to $400K ... $300K from Charles Polevich -- the driver who struck Robert -- and another $100K from an insurance company. In her paperwork, Carol said she agreed to pay her legal team around $133K in fees and another $9800 in reimbursements ... leaving his estate with the remaining $234K.

"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" alum Kim Zolciak is asking a court to set an emergency hearing in her bitter divorce from Kroy Biermann ... claiming she has serious concerns about the current custody arrangement and her ex's alleged anger issues.

Kim filed new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, claiming the guardian put in place by the court for their four minor kids recommended Kroy undergo anger management therapy.

She also objects to Kroy continuing to have primary custody ... claiming severe issues continue to arise on Kroy’s watch.

A dead toddler's father says he wishes he were the one who'd died, after being sentenced in the negligent death of his daughter last year.

New York man Matthew Dylewski was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to the criminally negligent homicide of his young child, Joycelynn, ... who'd been struggling to breathe, covered in lice and living in horrific conditions.

Authorities found she had black, rotted teeth and Clonidine -- a blood pressure medication -- in her system, multiple outlets report ... and the sheriff's office ruled Joycelynn's death a homicide due to "acute and chronic neglect."

Prosecutors have decided not to retry Harvey Weinstein for allegedly raping Jessica Mann ... this after a jury was deadlocked for the second time.

The third-degree rape charge was dropped Thursday because prosecutors say Jessica doesn't want to testify in a fourth trial ... multiple outlets report.

As you know, she accused the producer of raping her in a hotel room in 2013 when she was an aspiring actress.

The prosecution made it clear that they believe Weinstein's accuser and the dismissal is not a question of her credibility ... but they also respect her decision not to want to continue going to court.