Posted Feb 9th 2010 1:19PM by TMZ Staff
Nancy Kerrigan's father's death has been ruled a homicide -- this according to the Middlesex Chief Medical Examiner.
According to the findings, Daniel Kerrigan died from cardiac dysrhythmia after suffering a neck injury during a physical altercation at his house.
The Coroner says Daniel suffered a cartilage fracture to the larynx area, which was exacerbated by heart disease.
As we previously reported, Nancy's brother Mark faces one charge of assault and battery on an elder with serious bodily injury.
The investigation continues. No word on whether prosecutors will now up the charges against Mark.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: autopsy, dysrythmia, fracture, heart, mark kerrigan, MarkKerrigan, nancy kerrigan, NancyKerrigan, neck
Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:31PM by TMZ Staff
Perez Hilton has settled his legal beef with the Black Eyed Peas' manager who punched him last June -- and we're told the settlement goes to charity.
You'll recall Liborio Molina socked Perez outside of a club in Toronto back in June -- so Perez sued Molina but today lawyers were in court and announced a confidential settlement.
Our sources say as part of the settlement, Molina will donate money to charity.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives
Tags: black eyed peas, BlackEyedPeas, liborio molina, LiborioMolina, perez hilton, PerezHilton
Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:15PM by TMZ Staff
It's like a real life Robin Hood -- some schmuck in Finland robbed from the rich (a bank) and gave to the poor (itself) and did it all with a spring-loaded bow and arrow.
And there's another catch: Cops are unsure if the suspect, who's still at large, is a man or a woman. Officials in Finland tell TMZ the suspect was dressed like a woman ... but spoke like a man.
One thing's for sure -- it sure takes balls to rob a bank in broad daylight with medieval weaponry.
FYI: It seems the scheme worked -- the robber reportedly got away with the equivalent of around $6800 in cash.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: bank robbery, BankRobbery, crossbow, finland
Posted Feb 9th 2010 12:10PM by TMZ Staff
Michael Lohan just admitted in court that he's been a deadbeat dad.
Michael went before a judge today in Nassau County, NY -- after Dina Lohan claimed he had fallen 7 months behind in child support.
The hearing was closed and no one said how much Michael was in arrears.
Back in November TMZ broke the story that Michael was $15,100 behind in child support payments.
We're told Michael fessed up to being 7 months behind and promised the judge he'd become current by the time he's back in court on March 24.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Lindsay Lohan
Tags: Ali Lohan, AliLohan, child support, ChildSupport, Dina Lohan, DinaLohan, Lindsay Lohan, LindsayLohan, Michael Lohan, MichaelLohan
Posted Feb 9th 2010 7:00AM by TMZ Staff
Find a successful movie and TMZ will find a corresponding lawsuit alleging a shameless ripoff. Case in point - "Twilight."
Summit Entertainment, which owns the trademark to the stylized TWILIGHT trademark, is suing a company that is selling a "Twilight" DVD.
Here's the short story. Summit is releasing a "Twilight" documentary on DVD next month to correspond with the DVD release of "New Moon." The documentary cover features the title, "Twilight in Forks: The Saga of the Real Town," along with an image of a moonlit forest of trees. The back cover features photos of Bella's truck and the "Welcome" sign in Forks, Washington.
Summit claims the defendant, Topics Entertainment, sent copies of a flyer to Best Buy, Sam's Club and Target, advertising its own documentary titled, "Forks: Bitten by Twilight." Summit claims the art on the cover is very similar to the trademarked art and therefore deceptive.
Summit wants to put a quick end to the Topics documentary, asking a judge for an injunction and all sorts of damages.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Movies, Twilight, Exclusives
Tags: copyright, copyright infringement, CopyrightInfringement, lawsuit, likeness, summit entertainment, SummitEntertainment, topics entertainment, TopicsEntertainment, twilight
Posted Feb 9th 2010 6:05AM by TMZ Staff
Comedian Gabriel Iglesias -- a former finalist on "Last Comic Standing" -- had to call in extra security to his stand-up show in L.A. this weekend after receiving 2 threats on his safety.
The comic claims someone fired off an email and a voicemail warning the Fluffy Man to "be careful" while in town.
Gabriel instantly beefed up the security for his show -- and demanded that everyone who stepped into the theater had to be wanded down by officials.
We're told Gabriel joked about the situation during his performance.
Fortunately, nothing happened, but even if something did go down, TMZ has learned Erik Estrada -- a reserve officer in the Muncie Police Department -- was in the house that night.
Nobody messes with the Estrada.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives
Tags: comedy, comic, death threat, DeathThreat, gabriel iglesias, GabrielIglesias, last comic standing, LastComicStanding, threat
Posted Feb 8th 2010 7:50PM by TMZ Staff
Hugh Hefner has been sued for living the good life and refusing to give it up for the sake of his company.
We've obtained a class action lawsuit filed by a Playboy shareholder who claims the company is falling apart and Hugh has intentionally sabotaged two potential deals in the last 6 months to sell the company at a decent price.
In the lawsuit, an investment company that analyzed Playboy's business sent a note stating "we think the wildcard here is Hugh Hefner." The note continues, "If you were Hugh Hefner, 81, would you give up the parade of busty blonds, the fancy mansion and the reality TV show for a payout?"
The suit goes on ... "Hefner has continued to live the good life and make sure everyone knows it. Hefner remains in the limelight, showing up at media events and at the Playboy mansion ... with his girlfriends by his side."
The suit laments, "Today, the price of a Playboy magazine is far higher than the price of Playboy common stock." In 1999, the stock sold for $36 a share. Today Playboy closed at $3.14. The magazine sells for $5.99 ... because of the articles.
The plaintiffs say Hefner runs roughshod over the shareholders and they want unspecified damages.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Playboy, Exclusives
Tags: class action, class action lawsuit, ClassAction, ClassActionLawsuit, hugh hefner, HughHefner, lawsuit, playboy, sell
Posted Feb 8th 2010 6:18PM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Conrad Murray is a "danger to the public" -- according to the medical board that licensed him to practice medicine in California.
According to documents filed with the court, the Medical Board of California believes Murray showed, "utter disregard for the care and well-being of the persons entrusted to his care" -- namely, Michael Jackson.
The Board wants the judge to step in because it takes the Medical Board a long time to yank a doctor's license.
In the end, the judge ordered Dr. Murray not to administer anesthetics, including Propofol.
The judge will hear the Medical Board's request to suspend Dr. Murray's license as a bail condition in a few weeks.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: dr conrad murray, DrConradMurray, medical board of california, medical license, MedicalBoardOfCalifornia, MedicalLicense, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Feb 8th 2010 6:04PM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Conrad Murray was arraigned today and pled not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Michael Jackson. He was taken into custody for booking and bail was set at $75,000.
Jackson's parents and several of his siblings were front and center for the 25-minute hearing. The judge ruled as a condition to bail, Murray cannot be in possession of (or prescribe) anesthetics and specifically mentioned Propofol. At one point the judge said, "I do not want you sedating people."
Murray had to surrender his passport.
Murray will be in court again on April 5.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: bail, dr.conradmurray, manslaughter, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Feb 8th 2010 5:55PM by TMZ Staff
Take a look at the L.A. County Sheriff's official website -- it shows that Dr. Conrad Murray was officially booked moments ago at 2:38 PM PST.
The Doc is no small potato -- dude was listed at 6'5" and 220 lbs.
We're told the bail bondsman has already posted Murray's $75,000 bail -- so he should be walking out of court shortly.
UPDATE: Murray has posted bail and has been released.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: dr conrad murray, DrConradMurray, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Feb 8th 2010 3:27PM by TMZ Staff
Charlie Sheen was officially charged with three crimes today in court in Aspen, Colorado: felony menacing, misdemeanor 3rd degree assault and misdemeanor criminal mischief -- but Charlie did not enter a plea.
Sheen and his wife Brooke Mueller were at the courthouse in Aspen. The judge also relaxed the protective order that has been in place since Sheen's Christmas Day arrest -- so Sheen can now have communication and contact with Brooke.
Sheen is still not allowed to drink alcohol, harass Brooke or possess firearms. Charlie and Brooke hugged each other at the end of the hearing. 
He's due back in court in March.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Charlie Sheen, Brooke Mueller
Tags: arrest, aspen, assault, brooke mueller, BrookeMueller, charged, charlie sheen, CharlieSheen, christmas day, ChristmasDay, crimes, criminal mishief, CriminalMishief, menacing, wife
Posted Feb 8th 2010 3:15PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has just obtained a copy of the full L.A. County Coroner's report in the death of Michael Jackson -- which until now was under seal. The conclusion is clear ... Propofol killed the singer.
According to the report, the manner of death is homicide and the conclusion is based on the following 4 items:
1. Circumstances indicate the Propofol and the benzodiazepines were administered by another.
2. Propofol was administered in a non-hospital setting without any appropriate medical indication.
3. The standard of care for administering Propofol was not met. Recommended equipment for patient monitoring, precision dosing and resuscitation was not present.
4. The circumstances do not support self-administration of Propofol.
The Coroner's report was under wraps until the criminal complaint was filed and it will be a centerpiece in the prosecution of Dr. Conrad Murray on charges of involuntary manslaughter.
UPDATE: In the Coroner's report, the scene at Jackson's house is described in detail, and the bedroom sounds like a hospital. There was a chair next to the bed -- "reportedly the decedent's doctor sat here." Also there -- a green oxygen tank, prescription meds, medical supplies, a box of catheters, disposable needles and alcohol pads. Also found -- near the foot of the bed ... a closed bottle of urine.
As we first reported, authorities found 11 bottles of Propofol in the house -- 3 100 ml vials and 8 20 ml vials.
Also, there was talk about Jackson's hair and reports he was bald. In fact, the Coroner's report says, "The decedent's head hair is sparse and is connected to a wig."
UPDATE: As for what drugs were found in Michael Jackson's house ... authorities found Diazepam (for anxiety) prescribed by Dr. Murray, Lorazepam (for anxiety) prescribed by Dr. Murray and Temazepam (for insomnia) prescribed by Dr. Murray. Authorities also found Clonazepam (for panic disorders) prescribed by Dr. Allan Metzger, Trazodone (an anti-depressant) prescribed by Dr. Metzger. And they found Tizanidine (a muscle relaxer) prescribed to Omar Arnold (a Jackson alias) prescribed by Dr. Arnold Klein. There was also an empty vial of Propofol injectable emulsion and an empty glass vial of a Flumazenil injection (which reverses effects of sedation) and a broken syringe.
As we first reported, authorities found 11 vials of Propofol ... 3 100 ml vials and 8 20 ml vials. None of the bottles had prescription directions, patient or doctor names.
They also found liquid Midazolam (anti-anxiety), Lorazepam liquid (injectable) and 14 capsules of ephedrine (for narcolepsy and depression), caffeine aspirin, Zanaflex (a muscle relaxer) and Prednisone (for skin conditions). There was also Azithromycin (an antibiotic), prescribed by Dwight James/Cherilyn Lee and the patient name was Kathlyn Hursey.
UPDATE: An anesthesiologist who consulted with the Coroner said there are "NO reports of its use (Propofol) for insomnia relief, to my knowledge. The only reports of its use in homes are cases of fatal abuse."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: autopsy, body, coroners report, CoronersReport, death, dr. conrad murray, Dr.ConradMurray, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, propofol
Posted Feb 8th 2010 2:31PM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Conrad Murray has just been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.
According to the criminal complaint, the D.A. alleges Dr. Murray "did unlawfully, and without malice, kill Michael Joseph Jackson ... in the commission of an unlawful act, not a felony; and in the commission of a lawful act which might have produced death, in an unlawful manner, and without due caution and circumspection."
Dr. Murray will be arraigned today at 1:30 PM. As we first reported, he will plead not guilty.
Dr. Murray is expected to show up at around 1:00 PM, accompanied by his lawyers and a bail bondsman. Bail should be set at $25,000.
Dr. Murray administered Propofol to Jackson just before he died, and the L.A. County Coroner's Office has determined Jackson died as a result of acute Propofol intoxication.
If convicted, Dr. Murray faces a maximum of four years in prison.
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Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: charged, death, demerol, dr. conrad murray, Dr.ConradMurray, injections, investigation, iv, lapd, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, propofol
