Jussie Smollett Indicted for Lying to Chicago Police

Celebrities escape culpability for misdoings all the time –except when they’re black men.  Jussie Smollett can’t get a break. After all charges against him (he was accused of staging a hate attack on himself) were dropped in March 2019, the former Empire actor has found himself in a help of trouble yet again. He faces 6 new charges of being black “disorderly conduct.”

Dan Webb, the special prosecutor assigned late last summer to investigate how Chicago prosecutors handled the case, said in a statement he was going to further prosecute Smollett. Chicago Police and the city’s mayor have stood by their case against Smollett – and accused the courts of letting him “off scot-free” last year. As with with O.J., and Cosby, they won’t stop fishing until they see his black face in jail get the conviction that they want.

Smollett is now charged with “making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers related to his false claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, knowing that he was not the victim of a crime,” Mr Webb said.

He added that his office had obtained “sufficient factual evidence” to argue that prosecutors were wrong to drop the case last year.

Smollett is due in court on February 24th.

The city has also sued the actor in a civil suit, seeking payment of more than $130,000  for overtime paid to officers involved in investigating his claims. Smollett has filed a counter suit.

Little Dream Caught in the Middle of Ugly Custody Dispute Between Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian

Dream Kardashian, the sole grand-heir of the Kardashian name, is developing a potty mouth and unkempt hygiene according to new court documents. Dream’s father, Rob Kardashian, the son of O.J. Simpson‘s lawyer, Robert Kardashian and the brother of Kim Kardashian, filed new legal docs seeking primary custody of the 3-year-old daughter he shares with the former video vixen, Blac Chyna.

Rob claims Blac Chyna, whose real name is Angela Renée White, is a bad influence on their daughter. He claims, she “snorts cocaine” and spends $600-a-day on alcohol. He also claims that Chyna taught their daughter to twerk.

He also adds that Chyna is making for ‘an unsafe environment due to her unpredictable behavior‘ and even makes violent threats to people in her home’.

This isn’t the first time Rob has alleged Chyna had a substance abuse issue. Rob sued his ex-fiance over an alleged incident that went down on December 14, 2016. In that lawsuit, he claimed she “consumed a significant amount of drugs and alcohol” and proceeded to damage a television, break down a door, damage the walls, destroy his cell phone and smash a gingerbread house that was made for the holidays.

Mr. Kardashian wants his baby mama’s time with Dream to be reduced to weekends with a nanny on hand, TMZ  and Daily Mail reported. The pair first struck a deal back in March of 2019 that granted them shared custody so the toddler could have both of her parents in her life, equally. Not only did they agree to be civil and share the custody of little Dream, but they also agreed to split their daughter’s expenses 50/50 –including medical, school, and whatever else she needs.

The 50/50 split was a relief for the former Keeping up with the Kardashians star who had initially been ordered to pay $20,000 per month. By late 2018, Rob claimed he could not afford to make payments to Chyna any longer.  Although he’d initially been contracted to earn $1million from KUWTK,  he hasn’t appeared on the show in years. Blac Chyna’s star has not dimmed. In fact, she’s starring in a new reality series, The Real Black Chyna.

It could be that this latest effort for primary custody is a way for Rob to further reduce his cost sharing burden for Dream and maybe even get a check from Chyna, who was reportedly worth $1.4 million before inking the new tv deal.  Could it be that Rob is trying to get his Kevin Federline on?

 

Harvey Weinstein Faces New Allegation of Sexual Assault from Former Teen Model

Former teen model, Kaja Sokola alleges she was sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. The Polish native filed a new lawsuit Thursday against the disgraced movie mogul, his former studio Miramax and previous owner the Walt Disney Co.

Previously identified only as Jane Doe in an earlier class-action lawsuit, her new lawsuit filed with the New York State Supreme Court alleges that in 2002, when she was 16 and an aspiring actress, Weinstein promised to take her to lunch to discuss her career. Instead, the Sokola says, he took her to his SoHo apartment, where he “aggressively and threateningly demanded sex.”

Weinstein who has been accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with over 80 women, “instructed her take off her clothes,” and “to touch herself,” according to the filing. He also took off his pants and, despite her protestations, forced her to touch his penis while he “grabbed at her breasts,” the lawsuit alleges.

In a statement to The Los Angeles Times, Sokola said she “cannot accept the proposed ‘global settlement’ as fair or just. There is no accountability for the perpetrators, insufficient compensation for all of the victims, and millions of dollars going to people that I believe enabled Weinstein …. I know that this lawsuit cannot erase the pain that I have been living with for 17 years. But I do hope to achieve at least some measure of justice that has still been denied to Harvey Weinstein’s many victims.”

Pop-Punk Band Yellowcard Continues its Lawsuit Against Juice WRLD for Unauthorized Sampling Despite his Tragic Death

Yellowcard‘s $15 million lawsuit against Juice WRLD will continue even after the rapper’s death.

Yellowcard claims that Juice illegally sampled elements of their 2006 song, “Holly Wood Died” for his breakout, Nick Mira-produced 2017 single, “Lucid Dreams,” which has been certified six-times platinum. 

The case had been put on hold after Juice WRLD died earlier this month, but as newly obtained court documents  reveal the case will continue. However, the date for at least one part of this case has just been changed.

Yesterday, the pop-punk band filed a motion to extend the amount of time parties for Juice Wrld and his co-defendants Taz Taylor, Nick Mira, and the two labels Juice’s is signed to—Grade A Productions and Interscope Records—have to respond to the complaint filed against them. The original due date for the defendants’ response to the lawsuit was Dec. 9, but now they have until Feb. 4, 2020.

Speaking to Digital Music News after the death of Juice, Richard Busch, who is representing Yellowcard in the case, says the group put the litigation for the case on hold after Juice Wrld died on Dec. 8. The rapper suffered seizures at the Chicago Midway International Airport. Juice died after allegedly ingesting several Percocet pills in order to hide them from authorities as they searched through luggage containing 70 pounds of weed and six bottles of liquid prescription codeine cough syrup. At the time, Busch said the group wanted time to “digest” news of Juice’s death.

In October, Yellowcard members Peter Mosley, Ryan Key, Sean Wellman-Mackin and Longineu Parson claimed that Juice illegally sampled elements of their 2006 song, “Holly Wood Died” for his breakout, Nick Mira-produced 2017 single, “Lucid Dreams,” which has been certified six-times platinum.

 

Boxer Adrien Broner Ordered to Pay Over $800K to His Sexual Assault Victim!!!

Looks like its time for the star boxer, Adrien Broner to put back on his gloves because a Clevland court has ordered him to empty out his cash drawer to a woman he was convicted  of assaulting in a Cleveland nightclub.

According to the victim’s civil complaint, back in June of 2018, Broner “thrust himself on to [the victim], pinned her beneath his body, and began kissing her.” The victim said she struggled to free herself but was unable to push him off of her as he stuck his tongue down her throat, kissed her neck and body, and continued pressing himself on her. One of Mr. Broner’s friends reportedly pulled him off of her, after a bystander snapped a photo of the assault.

The crime was immediately reported to the Cleveland Police Dept.

On April 8, 2019, the former welterweight champ pleaded guilty to assault and unlawful restraint, and was sentenced to probation. And as far as the civil suit goes, Broner did not appear at the hearing to contest the damages.

Welp, Broner was hit with a $830,000 judgment in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday, in connection with a June 2018 incident at The Park Social Lounge in Cleveland, according to the plaintiff’s attorney Subodh Chandra.

 

 

Judge Refuses to Seal Nicki Minaj Videotaped Statements in Deposition

Photo Credit: Instagram/@nickiminaj 

Rapper Nicki Minaj has been denied her request to seal her videotaped statement in an ongoing legal battle with a former stylist.

The”Anaconda” rapper whose real name is Onika Maraj, has been locked in a court fight with her former stylist, Maher Jridi since October 2018.

Photo Via Instagram/ @Maher_1 
Maher Jridi – FASHION STYLIST / CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jridi claimed that his suppliers  stuck him with a bill of almost $74,000 because he could not return the rented designer items as clothing options for a series of events in 2017, including Paris Fashion Week in France.

He demanded that Minaj reimburse him for the cost of the bill and deliver damages for emotional distress, but she challenged the claims and subsequently responded with her own claim, arguing that the Frenchman owes her money because she had overpaid him. $ 12,000 for his services.

Minaj was questioned about the dispute in a statement filmed in September, but then moved to block Jridi from using the images or throwing them into the media.

The legal documents obtained by Celawbrity show Maraj/Minaj’s lawyers aid: “Given the fame of Maraj as a rapper and cheerleader of world renown, she fears that the Claimant intends to publicly disseminate the discovery of confidential documents and testimony prior to the trial to embarrass or harm her.”

Jridi’s lawyers insisted that the hip-hop star was simply trying to use her “celebrity status” to get special treatment, and the judge who oversaw the case accepted it, and dismissed Minaj’s motion.

In his ruling, the judge stated that Minaj had not provided evidence to support claims that suggested that Jridi would filter the video or explain how its release could damage her reputation.

The case continues.

Fat Joe Sued for Copyright Infringement and His Insurance Company Refuses to Back Him Up

Bronx born rapper and CEO of Terror Squad, Fat Joe  is named in a copyright infringement lawsuit related to the 2016 double-platinum single “All the Way Up.” 

Fat Joe poses with Wendy Williams, Dec. 10, 2019 after appearing on her show where he discussed his show “Family Ties” and used the platform to condemn the glorification of pill popping in the wake of the death of fellow rapper Juice Wrld.

Unfortunately, his personal liability insurer, Homeland Insurance Co. of New York has told a New York federal court it does not have to cover the rapper Fat Joe in a copyright infringement lawsuit related to the 2016 double-platinum single “All the Way Up,” as the suit doesn’t fall under their agreement.Fat Joe’s smash hit was shared with French Montana.

The policy owned by Joseph Cartagena — Fat Joe — and his company Sneaker Addict Touring LLC doesn’t cover the lawsuit filed by rapper Fly Havana as it relates to “jointly-authored and jointly-owned work,” the insurer said Friday. 

Miami based rapper Fly Havana

Fly Havana accused Fat Joe of denying him credit and compensation  for his contributions to the “All the Way Up” track. But Joe claims he paid Fly Havana $5,000 in exchange for the release of all his claims to the work.

Fat Joe, believes the lawsuit falls squarely under the insurance agreement providing coverage for “infringement and is suing for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing against Homeland. He is also seeking declaratory relief. He believes Homeland should face punitive damages “sufficient to punish it and deter similar conduct in the future.”

 

Braxton Family Values Star Towanda Braxton Faces FRAUD Charges

Braxton Family Values star, Towanda Braxton has had a year of legal drama that looks like its going from bad to worse. After filing BANKRUPTCY earlier this year, the sister of the legendary Toni Braxton and the infamous Tamar Braxton is being SUED by her former landlord for being FRAUDULENT about her ability to pay. (YES… She was renting the suburban Atlanta home we saw her in on the WE tv show.

Although Towanda filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy back in April– citing $277,650 in assets but $547,056 in liabilities, her former landlord Michael Waggoner followed up with his own lawsuit, saying she was LYING about her assets and income and owes him $76,000 over unpaid rent and damages from the Atlanta home she RENTED from him. He does not want the debt wiped out in the Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy proceedings.

According to the Blast, Braxton is set to be deposed about the Waggoner situation on November 21.

Chicago’s Civil Lawsuit Against Jussie Smollett Could Be Dismissed

Jussie Smollett‘s lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit against him seeking $130K.

Its no secret that actor Jussie Smollett best known for his leading role on the television series Empire, has been accused of making up an elaborate story of being the victim of an attack outside his apartment in Chicago by two men who allegedly had on MAGA caps. Two hunky Nigerian aspiring actors later admitted that they were the MAGA guys but claimed they were put up to the whole thing by Smollett himself.

Criminal charges stemming from the incident were dropped back in March after Cook County’s top prosecutor, Kim Foxx declined to prosecute the actor after Jussie forfeited his $10,000 bond and agreed to perform community service. However, the City of Chicago continued its public campaign to derail the actor, with everyone from the mayor to police chief holding press conferences shaming the actor for allegedly filing a false police report. (Even if true, he wouldn’t have been the first person of privilege to file a false police report, and he certainly won’t be the last.)

Then Mayor Rahm Emanuel called it a “whitewash of justice” and suggested Smollett received special treatment: “You cannot have, because of a person’s position, one set of rules apply to them and another set of rules apply to everybody else.”

Even US President Donald Trump threw in his 3 cents, tweeting: “FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!” ABC7 Chicago reported that the “FBI is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of criminal charges.” According to TMZ, the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police filed a complaint with the Department of Justice.

The actor was later fired from Empire. To make matters worse, the city of Chicago sued the Jussie Smollett seeking reimbursement for the $130K they spent vigorously investigating the alleged hoax attack.  The Chicago Police Department claims to have logged 1,836 hours in overtime trying to resolve the case.

Lawyers for the actor are now asserting that while Smollett is not admitting he staged the incident,  the decision to spend so much time and resources investigating is squarely on law enforcement.

“My client from the beginning has maintained his innocence and disputed the city’s allegations,” said William J. Quinlan, of The Quinlan Law Firm, who filed the motion. He noted that “it’s going to be very difficult for the city to prevail in making a case my client should pay for overtime for a case ultimately dismissed by the state’s attorney.

“It’s ridiculous and a stretch to require him to do so.” “This lawsuit was only filed by the former mayor … out of frustration for the state’s attorney dismissing the charges,” said Quinlan.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall, who is hearing the case, said she will rule in October on whether the city could move forward with its lawsuit to redeem the costs.

 

‘Girls Gone Wild’ Producer Sued Again

“Girls Gone Wild” video producer Mantra Films  is being sued after it allegedly stiffed its Oklahoma lawyer for over $300,000 in legal fees, according to a suit filed in Superior Court in Riverside County, Calif.

“Girls Gone Wild” founder and Mantra Films owner Joe Francis is not named as a party in the lawsuit.
Mantra allegedly refused to pay lawyer Brian Rayment of Kivell, Rayment and Francis because the law firm declined to take undisclosed actions with regard to a trust to which Francis was a beneficiary.
Mantra fraudulently induced the firm to represent it and never intended to pay for its services or out-of-pocket expenses, according to the complaint.
Rayment wants compensatory damages of $312,686.53 and punitive damages of not less than $625,000.

The video empire was also sued in 2010 by a video equipment rental company, CIT who alleged Mantra Films owed them $233,588 in over due bills….

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