Christie Brinkley gets custody

Christie Brinkley and estranged husband Peter Cook reached a conclusion early Thursday morning in their nasty Long Island divorce trial.

The 6:15 a.m. out-of-court settlement followed a night of intense negotiations, People reported.

Brinkley was awarded sole custody of their 10- and 13-year-old children, and she also will retain the 18 Hamptons properties that were at dispute. She agreed to pay Cook $2.1 million, Robert Stephan Cohen, Brinkley's lawyer, told the court.

The former Sports Illustrated model and the architect had been married for a decade before Cook's 2006 affair with his teenaged assistant led to their split.

"Anyone who would run the risk of destroying this wonderful life, anybody that would chase a teenager — I mean, a young girl — where is his judgment?" Brinkley asked when on the witness stand.

Much of the trial focused on Cook's mistress and Internet sex liaisons, which reportedly cost in the thousands each month. Cook also testified that he gave then 18-year-old Diana Bianchi a $300,000 payoff after their trysts.

But the main issue regarded the custody of the couple's 10- and 13-year-old children.

Court-appointed psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Herman said that while Brinkley should have custody of the children, Cook should receive liberal access to them, as well. He added that both parents needed counseling for their personal issues, calling Cook a narcissist with a bottomless ego and Brinkley someone who should examine her choice in men.

Naomi Campbell blames air rage on racist slur

Supermodel Naomi Campbell, who pled guilty to assault in an "air rage" incident, said racist comments by British Airways crew were the impetus of her attack.

"I was called a racial name on that flight," Campbell told Sky News. "I was called a golliwog supermodel, I don't think that's really fair do you? Would you like it if someone turned round and called you a golliwog supermodel?"

She declined to state who made the alleged slur, but did say it was a British Airways worker, not another passenger.

Campbell said that she did not address the alleged comments in court or in her statement because, "...at the end of the day the real problem was, I took my upset and my, the end of my wrath came out on the police, which was wrong."

British Airways released a statement denying the accusation.

"British Airways does not accept any allegations of racism. We are proud of our diversity," the statement said. "We have strict policies concerning dignity at work and have long-standing training programs on diversity and inclusion."

Campbell was convicted Friday and sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid community service for assaulting two police officers (who were attempting to escort her off the airplane) and a public order offense. She was also ordered to pay compensations to one of the police officers and the captain of the plane, as well as a fine.

It will not be Campbell's first time performing community service for her temper. Just last year she spent five days in New York doing janitorial-type work as part of a sentence for throwing her cell phone at a housekeeper over an argument about a pair of jeans.

She also pled guilty to assault in 2000, in yet another incident involving a telephone.

R. Kelly cleared on all child-porn charges

After less than a day of deliberations, R. Kelly was found not guilty of 14 counts of videotaping himself having sex with a minor.

Although it took more than six years for the case to reach the Chicago courtroom, it only took seven hours for the jurors to conclude there was enough reasonable doubt for the R&B singer to avoid serving four to 15 years behind bars. If he was found guilty, he would have had to register as an Illinois sex offender.

The case began in February 2002 after Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis was sent a copy of the now-infamous videotape allegedly featuring Kelly engaging in sexual acts with an underaged girl. The tape was turned over to authorities, but the trial was delayed numerous times. It finally reached the courtroom last month.

One of the possible causes for the jurors skepticism was the mole on the back of the man in the video, which prosecuters used to identify Kelly. The 41-year-old singer's lawyers called on a forensic expert to prove the videotape may have been manipulated to purposely frame Kelly. They also suggested the poor quality of the video may have caused a shadow to look like a mole.

Several other people took the stand on behalf of the defense to call into question the credibility of the prosecuter's witnesses. One such woman was Lisa Van Allen, another woman in the video. After the verdict was read, Van Allen told the Chicago Sun-Times that she believed Kelly's "star power" swayed the jury.

"R. Kelly was found not guilty, because they had the best jury that Cook County could produce," Kelly's attorney, Sam Adam Jr. said outside the courtroom.

R. Kelly did not testify before the juror, nor did the now-23-year-old alleged victim, who refused to cooperate with the Cook County District Attorney's Office.

Hogan's Wife Wants Him Jailed

Hulk Hogan's estranged wife wants a Florida judge to hold the wrestler in contempt for not paying his share of a $4.2 million Las Vegas condo.

Linda Bollea is asking that the court hold Hogan in contempt of court and jailed until he pays. A court order requires them to share the purchase of the condo at The Palms hotel and spa.

Bollea asked the court that Hogan be jailed in Pinellas County, the same prison where their son is serving eight-months after pleading no contest to a crash that seriously injured his friend.

Anne Heche's divorce settlement

Anne Heche, 38, and her ex-husband Coley Laffoon, 34, finally reached a divorce settlement.

In the settlement, Laffoon will receive a lump sum of $275,000 plus $3,700 per month in child support - a marked decrease in the temporary $15,000 per month support he had been receiving.

Heche had recently stated that she was broke and out of work since her TV show "Men in Trees" was canceled. However, the actress will pay 75 percent of six-year-old son Homer's private school tuition. According to papers from L.A. Superior Court, Heche and Laffoon will split the cost of Homer's "agreed-upon extracurricular activities."

The two filed for divorce in February 2007. Their custody battle has been contentious, with both parties claiming the other was unfit to parent their son.

'Jackass' star avoids prison

'Jackass' star Stephen Glover, known as Steve-O, pled guilty to cocaine possession in a deal that will allow him to avoid time behind bars.

The 33-year-old stuntman and TV personality will instead be required to complete a two-year rehabilitation program, and according to his attorney, Barry Gerald Sands, he is already in rehab.

Sands added that Steve-O is "doing great" and has been sober for 85 days.

"He is a model individual. He has changed completely. He is a sober man," Sands said.

If Steve-O completes the rehabilitation program, the case against him will be dismissed. He returns to court for his next hearing July 8, but in the mean time will remain in rehab.

The performer was arrested March 3 for vandalism and drug possession after he had an altercation with a neighbor of his Hollywood home. He was later admitted to a hospital for psychiatric treatment. In a blog post, Steve-O said it was not until his co-star Johnny Knoxville "forced" him to seek medical help that he decided to check into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to deal with his addictions.

Brigitte Bardot convicted of racial hatred

Former sex icon Brigitte Bardot, 73, was found guilty Tuesday in an ongoing racial hatred case.

A Paris court convicted the French animal rights campaigner of provoking discrimination and racial hatred, and fined her $23,325. She was also ordered to pay $1,555 in damages to MRAP, a leading French anti-racism group.

MRAP filed a lawsuit last year after receiving a letter Bardot sent to then-Interior Minister and current President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"[France is] tired of being led by the nose by this population that is destroying us, destroying our country by imposing its acts," Bardot wrote in the letter, which was later published in MRAP's quarterly journal.

The former screen siren was reportedly referring to Aid el-Kabir, a Muslim feast that is celebrated by slaughtering sheep.

Bardot has been found guilty of four prior counts of inciting racial hatred.

"She is tired of this type of proceedings," said Francois-Xavier Kelidjian, Bardot's lawyer, noting he would ask his client about the possibility of an appeal. "She has the impression that people want to silence her. She will not be silenced in her defense of animal rights."

Lohans battle custody again

Michael Lohan told E! News that he is taking his ex-wife, Dina, to court so that he can see their mutual children, Ali, 14, and Cody, 11.

"I didn't want to do it, but I had to. She left me no choice," Michael said. "She's missed 19 out of 31 appointments I had with my kids. Now, I'm giving her one last chance to let me see them one day a week, on my own, and to go to therapy with them one day a week. If not, we'll drag this through court again."

E! News said Dina Lohan's reps did not respond to calls seeking comment.

Michael and Dina Lohan, also the parents of Lindsay Lohan, went to court last year to over custody. As per the agreement, Dina Lohan has primary custody and Michael has visitation rights.


"All I want is for her to live up to what she agreed to and stop missing our meetings," Michael Lohan said. "When the time comes, she always has an excuse, and I am tired of it. I won't put up with it any more. My kids haven't even seen my family in too long."

He also said he has asked for a hearing in a Long Island family court on Wednesday, and may ask his for a court-ordered drug test on his ex-wife. He said that ever since Dina Lohan became involved in the E! reality show 'Living Lohan,' "she's become a diva again."

Spears unfit for court

L.A. Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz has decided that Britney Spears is still unable to participate "in any meaningful way" in ongoing court proceedings regarding her conservatorship case.

Spears' court-appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham, and attorney's for her father and conservator, Jamie Spears, met with Goetz Thursday to discuss the situation.

After the private, 90-minute meeting, Goetz said Spears' doctor had made a "differential dianosis" and "wants to do additional testing in the not-too-distant future – something we will need to address in June."

Ingham called Spears' medical condition "fluid" since her treatment is changing.

For the time being, though, Spears is unable to participate in the "litigation process or in discovery proceedings," Goetz said.

Jamie Spears and another lawyer have been the singer's conservators for four months.

In other news about the popwreck, several sources have said that Spears is in talks to star in the Broadway musical 'Grease' following the success of her stint on 'How I Met Your Mother.'

"The producers were bouncing around the idea of casting Britney in the role of Sandy," a source told the British newspaper Metro. "They're recasting the roles in July and they thought that Britney looked like a Sandy. She would be terrific."

Hulk Hogan's son sentenced to 8 months in jail

Nick Bollea, the 17-year-old son of pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, entered a no contest plea and was sentenced for charges of felony reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. The charges stem from an August 2007 car crash where Bollea's excessive speed led to critical, permanent injuries for his friend and passenger John Graziano.

Bollea had received numerous prior speeding tickets, and in court today it was revealed that his license plate, COEHSP, stands for "Capable of Eluding High Speed Pursuit."

Bollea faced up to five years in state prison if he did not take the plea agreement. Instead, the reality star of VH1's "Hogan Knows Best" was sentenced today to eight months in Pinellas County Jail, effective immediately.

During the sentencing part of the hearing, 12 witnesses said they saw Bollea drag racing at the time of the accident.

Graziano's father Ed also made an emotional plea on behalf of his son: "John was my first born son, and the first chance to carry on my family name."

Before the accident, John Graziano "was healthy, he was safe, and he was strong. He was a hero. He was a United States Marine. He was willing to put his life in harm's way to protect his country's freedom, [but] what Al Queda could not do to my son, Nick did to my son in minutes."


Ed Graziano also said his son's mental and physical condition is likely permanent, and that he will probably never be able to communicate with family and friends again.

John Graziano's father, as well as his sister, Kristen Carson, said Bollea never expressed his remorse for his role in the accident.

"We have never once heard him apologize. He has never said sorry," Carson said.

The Hogan family responded to the accusations.

"I miss John being around me all the time," Bollea said. "I know this has been extremely difficult for the Grazianos, and it has also been extremely difficult to my family, and I feel terrible about it."

While Hulk Hogan expressed his condolences, both for the Graziano family and his own, he also defended Bollea.

"Nick is not the person that he's been asked to be portrayed on TV... Nick is a good person. He is kind, he is gentle, he's compassionate, and he doesn't have a bad bone in his body," he said. "People fail to realize that Nick is still a 17-year-old child."

Prior to Judge Philip Federico sentence, he said the crash was not "an accident" and called Bollea's driving behavior "cavalier."

In addition to the 8 years behind bars, Federico sentenced Bollea to five years of probation, 100 hours of community service per year and one day monthly in "some positive framework." He also suspended Bollea's driver's license for three years and told the underage teen he could not drink alcohol.

Britney and Jamie Lynn's reunion

Britney Spears and her sister's reunion at Jamie Lynn's baby shower reportedly went well and was captured by OK! magazine, which features the sisters on the cover of their next issue.

The two met up again in their hometown of Kentwood, La. last weekend after being apart since last October.

"It was wonderful to be able to spend time with her and just be girls again," pregnant 17-year-old Jamie Lynn told the magazine. "We painted our nails and did stupid stuff, and we had our private time too. To be able to be in the privacy of our own home and just be sisters again was wonderful."

In other Spears' news, a court ruled Tuesday that Britney Spears will receive more time with her two children, although the exact amount of time was not clear.

"We are so pleased with Britney's progress, and we are appreciative of the court's recognition of this progress," the singer's parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, said in a statement following the hearing.

Both Britney Spears and her ex-husband Kevin Federline attended the 9:40 a.m. hearing, as did the singer's parents.

"It is a cautious step, but a step forward nonetheless," said Mark Vincent Kaplan, Federline's lawyer. "We are seeing signs of [Britney's] progress, and consistency over time is something welcome by Kevin ... The children are doing great."

Wesley Snipes is sentenced to three years in prison

Action actor Wesley Snipes has been sentenced to three years in prison by a federal judge this afternoon.

In February, the Blade movie star was found guilty of failing to file tax returns from 1999-2001. The actor owed 2.7 Million and was given the maximum sentence under the law.

Snipes’ lawyers tried to argue for leniency and claimed that the star only owed $4000,000 and that the government’s sentencing guidelines weren’t fair.

Although Snipes was acquitted on the felony charges of filing false claims and fraud, the prosecutors pushed to harshly punish Snipes in the misguided hope that such a high-profile case would discourage tax fraud in the future.

Snipes’ co-defendant, who I am assuming are his accountants, were convicted of felony fraud and conspiracy and were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Shia Labouf is No Longer Wanted

The charges against actor Shia LaBeouf have been dropped.

The twenty-one-year-old Transformers' star was given a citation for unlawfully smoking on a sidewalk outside of a gift shop in Burbank, CA on Feb. 18, and after failing to appear in court on March 18th, a $1000 bench warrant had been issued for his arrest.

The day after his missed court date, LaBeouf’s lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, and the charges were dropped on the condition that Shia pay a $500 fine.

Which just goes to show that smoking really is a costly habit. Maybe next time he’ll think twice before lighting-up. Or at least make sure he sends someone to attend his court date ontime.

Woman who hit Sandra Bullock is going to court

Lucille Gatchell, the sixty-four-year-old woman who crashed into Sandra Bullock’s SUV, is scheduled for an arraignment Tuesday in a Gloucester District Court.

She is facing drunken driving charges, and her blood-alcohol level was allegedly twice the legal limit in the state of Massachusetts at the time of the accident.

Neither Bullock nor her husband, Jesse James, were injured in the crash on Friday night.

Bullock is currently filming a romantic comedy entitled “The Proposal.”

Spears' attorneys get big payday

Britney Spears' legal representation for the past several months will receive more than $372,500 for their services, Los Angeles County Superior Court commissioner Reva Getz determined Thursday.

Spears' court-appointed attorney Samuel Ingham will receive $10,000 a week and co-conservator Andrew Wallet will receive an advance of $100,000 for his involvement in the case since February. The firm representing Jamie Spears, Britney's father and the other co-conservator, will also be advanced $175,000; Britney's brother's lawyer will receive $22,500 and Stacy Phillips, the singer's new divorce lawyer, will get $75,000.

The day's court proceedings also delayed action on the motion to put Spears' business entities in her trust, and it will be heard on July 31. That same day a probate court will decide on a permanent conservatorship for the pop star and the restraining order on her former pal Sam Lutfi will be re-examined.

Restraining order against Sam Lutfi extended

Britney Spears' former pal Sam Lutfi's restraining order was extended until July 31, a Los Angeles court decided Wednesday. The initial restraining order was placed in February after Lynn Spears claimed Lutfi was drugging her daughter.

According to legal experts, the order can be extended for up to five years. For now, Britney's father and lawyer's conservatorship remains in place; it will be re-reviewed in court on July 31, as well.

Carmelo Anthony arrested for DUI

NBA star Carmelo Anthony was arrested early Monday morning for suspicion of driving under the influence. The All-Star player for the Denver Nuggets was stopped on Interstate 25 after weaving in and out of his lane and failing to dim his lights. The arrest came just hours after his worst game of the season.

Anthony was ticketed and released at the scene after failing a series of sobriety tests, said Detective Sharon Hahn. Those arrested for DUI in Denver are not jailed, but Anthony is due in court May 14.

"Carmelo apologizes to his fans, the Denver community, his teammates and the Nuggets organization for the distraction this is causing them," said Anthony's attorney, Dan Recht.

He also said Anthony had taken a blood test and the results would be available in several weeks, but, for now, "Carmelo will try to stay focused on his family and his team."

The Nuggets organization said they were aware of the arrest but declined to comment. The team is in the midst of a heated playoff battle and are currently a half game ahead of the Golden State Warriors for the last spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

This is not the first such problem for Anthony. In February he was given a speeding ticket for driving 25 mph over the posted speed limit in Araphoe County. His hearing is scheduled for next month. Last season he was in a brawl in Madison Square Garden, punching the New York Knicks' Mardy Collins, leading to a 15-game suspension.

Nicolas Cage and Kathleen Turner settle suit

Nicolas Cage settled a libel suit against Kathleen Turner in a London court due to false claims in Turner's autobiography "Send Yourself Roses."

In the book, Turner claimed Cage was "arrested twice for drunk-driving and, I think, for stealing a dog. He'd come across a Chihuahua he liked and stuck it in his jacket."

Neither of the actors attended the hearing, held at Britain's High Court. Turner's lawyer, book publisher and the Daily Mail offered apologizes to Cage and donations to charities of his choice.

Turner, Headline Publishing Group and Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers all agreed to pay for Cage's legal fees and also make charitable donations due to the defamatory and false comments in the book.

Mischa charged with DUI and possession

Mischa Barton was charged with four misdemeanor counts yesterday related to her Decenber arrest. She was pulled over in West Hollywood on Dec. 27 after sheriff's deputies noticed her car straddling two lanes of traffic and failing to use her turn indicator.

According to court papers, the former "O.C." star was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving while having a 0.08 percent or higher blood alcohol level, driving without a valid license and possession of 28.5 grams or less of marijuana.

Anthony V. Salerno, Barton's attorney, released a statement that said he was happy his client was only charged with misdemeanor offenses. "The D.A.'s office is to be commended for treating this case the same as it would any other matter; Ms. Barton has received no special treatment," he said.

Barton will be arraigned Thursday in Beverly Hills Superior Court.

Britney Loses Custody

Britney Spears has temporarily lost custody of her two toddler sons Sean Preston, 2, and 1-year-old Jayden James. Ex-husband, Kevin Federline and his attorney went to the Los Angeles Supreme Court this morning expressing concern over Spears’s recent brushes with the law. The issue of Britney driving without a valid driver’s license this past weekend while her children were in the car was addressed, along with drug and nudity allegation's of Tony Baretto, the pop star's former bodyguard.



It is unclear which offense, specifically, the court-ordered decision has been based upon, but Commissioner Scott Gordon’s official ruling claims that the “Respondent [Federline] is to retain physical custody of the minor children on Wednesday October 3rd, 2007 at 12 PM until further order of the Court.” Prior to this hearing, the couple were to share their children 50/50 for the duration of the custody battle, but now Federline will have full custody until otherwise noted. Judge Gordon had ordered Spears to undergo random drug testing and enroll in parenting classes before the decision will be reconsidered.