Allen Iverson’s highly-
publicized money troubles
might be taking a turn for the
better for a change — because
a judge has ruled the former
NBA star is still entitled to a $4
million judgment … if he can
get his hands on it. Iverson
won a lawsuit back in 2010
against Martin Sepulveda over
a house Iverson purchased in
Georgia that had major
construction defects … so
much so that Allen and his
then-wife were forced to
move out. A.I. scored a $4
million judgment, but later in
2010 … Sepulveda filed for
bankruptcy, putting Iverson’s
big pay day in jeopardy. But a
federal court judge ruled last
month in Iverson’s favor,
saying the debt could not be
discharged and Iverson was
still owed the giant chunk of
change. Iverson could use the
money — as TMZ first
reported, a judge in Georgia
ordered Iverson’s wages be
garnished to pay back a $
859,896.46 debt.
Tag Archives: court
KrisHumphriesDemands $7 MillionFrom KimKardashian
Kris Humphries is secretly
demanding $7 MILLION from
Kim Kardashian to walk away
from their marriage … TMZ
has learned.Sources directly
connected to Kris tell TMZ …
the bballer — through his
Minnesota lawyer — has given
Kim an ultimatum … either pay
up, or endure an ugly, public
trial. Our sources say Kris and
his lawyer have been told to
pound sand, and with good
reason.For starters, even if
there wasn’t a prenup, the
marriage lasted a grand total
of 72 days, so the community
property wouldn’t be in the
universe of $7 mil.Second,
there was an iron-clad
prenup, which provided that
Kim owes Kris zilch.Third, Kris
actually MADE MONEY from the
marriage. Sources tell us …
Kris raked in around $1 mil
from the wedding and the TV
special that showcased the
nuptials. And Kris made off
like a bandit because Kim
ended up using a portion of
what she got to pay for the
ring.In addition, we’re told
Kris made somewhere
between $250,000 and $
300,000 from the Kardashian
reality show.Looks like the
Bank of Kardashian is
officially closed.
Game Could Owe Police $15 Million in Documentary Lawsuit
A North Carolina appeals court has determined that the Game, the rapper and actor born as Jayceon Taylor, and Bungalo Records, owe $5 million and possibly more to five North Carolina police officers over a bonus feature on a documentary called “Stop Snitchin’ Stop Lyin.”
Game Talks ‘The R.E.D. Album’: VIdeo Track-By-Track
At a 2010 trial, the defendants were ordered to pay $5 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages to the officers for manipulating video footage of an incident five years earlier at a North Carolina mall. The video was edited to make it appear as though the police officers brutally arrested Game. In a recently published decision, the appeals court has mostly affirmed the verdict but remanded for further investigation on the issue of punitive damages.
The incident happened on October 28, 2005, at the Four Seasons Mall in Greensboro, North Carolina. That day, local police officers arrested the Game for criminal tresspass, communicating threats and disorderly conduct.
One of Game’s entourage recorded the events in question, and a heavily edited version of what transpired was included in a documentary DVD.
The following year, the police officers sued numerous individuals connected to the event, including Game, his record label, Universal Home Video and YouTube for defamation, wrongful appropriation of likeness and unfair and deceptive practices. Universal and YouTube were later dismissed and one of the defendants settled, but a trial proceeded against the remaining defendants.
Game never appeared for trial, and the judge entered summary judgment against him. The judge held a bench trial against the other defendants in September 2010, with witnesses testifying to the negative effects of the DVD. The plaintiffs were awarded millions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.
The rapper appealed on grounds that the judge shouldn’t have held a summary judgment hearing on the day of the trial, the outcome there, and the way the judge relied on certain evidence to support a verdict and finding of damages.
North Carolina Appellate Judge Ann Marie Calabria has turned down Game’s appeal over the verdict itself, finding that he could have objected to the timing of the summary judgment hearing if he had showed up at the trial. She also deems the evidence to be sufficient to support a summary judgment motion on defamatory and appropriation grounds, but not for deceptive practices.
On the damages question, Judge Calabria says the trial court didn’t abuse discretion by awarding each of the officers $1 million in compensatory damages over a DVD that is said to have raked in somewhere between $10 million to $40 million in profits. However, the trial court is deemed to be a little too quick to award $2 million to each officer in punitive damages.
The appeals court has remanded back for trial whether there’s clear and convincing evidence that Game acted with malice or some other aggravating factor, that would merit punitive damages. Judge Calabria also overrules the record label’s objections against its own liability and the use of a disclaimer on the DVD.
Chris Brown’s Grammy Comeback Draws Criticism
The Grammy Awards’ warm embrace of Chris Brown three years after his assault of Rihanna has drawn the ire of viewers who claim the controversial R&B star shouldn’t have been rewarded with such attention.
Brown was front-and-center three times during Sunday’s Grammys. He won best R&B album for “F.A.M.E.,” he performed a single from his upcoming album, “Turn Up the Music,” and he opened a dance tribute to “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius.
The imagery of Brown’s Grammy glory was striking because it was, literally, a return to the scene of the crime. On the eve of the 2009 Grammys, Brown beat his then-girlfriend Rihanna, for which he later pled guilty to a charge of assault and was sentenced to five years of probation and six months of community labor.
Since then, Brown has worked to repair his image, undergoing domestic violence counseling and rediscovering popularity with his hit album “F.A.M.E. (Forgiving All My Enemies).” Last year, his restraining order was eased. The former order required Brown to stay 50 yards away from 23-year-old Rihanna, but the restriction was reduced to 10 yards if they were at a music industry event.
On Sunday evening, Twitter was abuzz with questions of Brown’s significant role in the proceedings. Many critics argued against the Grammys’ decision to celebrate Brown and endorse his comeback.
New Yorker music critic Sasha Frere-Jones called Brown’s return “one of the Grammys’ weirdest choices ever,” and cited R&B singer Drake as the more deserving star in the genre to celebrate.
In an op-ed, Valerie Strauss for The Washington Post said that while people deserve second chances, “That doesn’t mean they deserve a chance to strut around the Grammy stage a few years after being convicted of felony assault.”
Jeffrey Goldberg for The Atlantic tweeted: “I don’t look for the Grammys for moral clarity, but, really? Do the words ‘felony assault’ mean anything at all?”
On Monday, Neil Portnow, president of The Recording Academy, defended Brown’s role in the telecast, saying the Grammys ultimately proceed out of the academy’s voting.
“That’s really where the judgment comes from: music professionals listening to the music of other professionals,” said Portnow. “Clearly, our voting membership rated highly Chris’ musical work this past year.
“If we’re going to get in trying to personally evaluate artists in terms of their personal lives, that’s a slippery slope that we wouldn’t want to get into,” he added.
On Monday’s “CBS This Morning” Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich said that he was “kind of rooting” for Brown.
“I just believe people deserve a second chance,” said Ehrlich. “The year he had this year, really brought him back into the public. He really deserved a second chance.”
Rihanna, who also performed Sunday, did not complain about Brown’s attendance. She has said she’s glad to see him succeed again.
Certainly, there are many fans of Brown – “Team Breezy,” as he calls them – and they, too, took to social media to defend Brown. But some of those tweets were also held up as examples of questionable taste.
The site Buzzfeed gathered 25 tweets from Brown fans with lines such as: “I don’t know why Rihanna complained. Chris Brown could beat me anytime he wanted to.”
The feminism blog Feministe cited such reaction as evidence that “we as a society have a lot more work to do” to educate on domestic violence.
Rita Smith, executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, also questioned the message the Grammys were sending.
“If an awards show is going to highlight an artist, what an awesome message they could send if we got an update somehow about how that artist had changed in a positive way,” said Smith. “Otherwise, the message becomes wait for a period of time and go on with business as usual.”
Brown, who didn’t attend last year’s Grammys even though he was nominated for three awards, has sometimes portrayed himself as embattled. On Sunday, he tweeted, “Team breezy we have come (a long) way … No matter what anyone says … WE MADE IT!!”
In his acceptance speech and performances, he made no mention or gesture to his last, abbreviated trip to the Grammys. But he did tweet – and then delete – the message: “People who make mistakes and learn from them are ROLE MODELS too. I’m just happy to inspire growth and positivity.”
Rihanna also performed Sunday, singing her hit “We Found Love” and transitioning into a duet of “Princess of China” with Coldplay’s Chris Martin. Rihanna was nominated for four awards, including best album for her disc “Loud.” She shared in the wins for best rap/sung collaboration and best rap song for Kanye West’s “All of the Lights,” with Kid Cudi and Fergie.
But many performers watching at home questioned Brown’s involvement.
“Are Chris Brown’s mom and dad CBS and Grammy Brown?” sarcastically wondered Eric Stonestreet of “Modern Family.”
The singer Michelle Branch tweeted: “Trying not to go off on a rant but … Chris Brown … (bites tongue) have we forgiven him?”
“View” co-host Sherri Shepherd took a similar tact, writing, “Looks like all is forgiven (with) Chris Brown. That’s all I’ll say.
Katy Perry Signs Off onDivorce With a Smile
Katy Perry signed off on her
divorce from Russell Brand this
week and the court documents
reveal a few new details: 1) The
“Firework” singer is getting her
maiden name back. 2) The
comedian wants none of her
money. 3) There’s never a wrong
time for a smiley face signature.
Perry, 27, and Brand, 36, reached
a “comprehensive written
settlement of all issues,”
according to a court filing dated
Tuesday (Feb. 7) in Los Angeles
Superior Court.
In Perry’s court filing, she asks
the court to not get involved in
awarding Brand 50% of her
earnings since getting married in
October 2010. She also requested
to legally return to her maiden
name. According to TMZ, Brand’s
court filing asks for no spousal
support.
To cap off this, the most amicable
divorce in Hollywood history,
Perry has added a smiley face
while signing her name in at least
two court documents.
There’s time to save the marriage,
if both parties choose to do so.
The divorce won’t actually be
official until June 30, in
accordance to California’s 6-
month waiting period.
Perry and Brand started dating in
late 2009, with the “Get Him to
the Greek” actor proposing over
the New Year’s weekend two
years ago. The couple married on
Oct. 23, 2010 — two days before
the singer’s 26th birthday — in a
lavish ceremony in India.
Chris Brown and RihannaTimeline: 2009 Grammys ToNow
It will be three years this
weekend since the last time
Rihanna ** and Chris Brown **
were supposed to both perform
at the Grammys. It will also be
three years since the violent
altercation which ultimately
changed both of their lives,
professionally and personally.
On Feb. 8, Chris Brown and
Rihanna got into a physical
altercation which reportedly took
place before both were
scheduled to perform at the 2009
Grammys. Brown was charged
with two felonies after brutally
attacking Rihanna, who at the
time was his girlfriend. Brown was
sentenced to five years probation
and six months of community
service in Aug. 2009.
On Sunday night, Rihanna and
Chris Brown will meet at the 2012
Grammys, as both are scheduled
to perform.
It may not be the first time they
have seen each other, for it’s
been rumored that the ex-couple
have been meeting up, most
recently spotted (separately) at a
2012 Super Bowl XLVI after party
at LA’s Grewystone Manor
nightclub.
RIHANNA AND CHRIS BROWN
SECRETLY STILL TOGETHER?
As we anticipate the pair’s
separate Grammy performances,
Billboard.com’s The Juice takes a
look at Chris Brown and
Rihanna’s accomplishments
through the past three years,
from the unsettling night before
the 2009 Grammys to this years
show.
Feb. 8, 2009: Brown is charged
with two felonies stemming from
a brutal attack on then-girlfriend
Rihanna that took place in his
car.
May 5, 2009: Rihanna makes her
first public appearance since the
Grammy night assault, at New
York’s Metropolitan Museum of
Art Costume Institute Gala.
Sept. 20, 2009: Chris Brown
returns to the music scene with
his first single off “Graffiti,” titled
“I Can Transform Ya.”
October 20, 2009: Rihanna
releases “Russian Roulette,” a
dark ballad about a dysfunctional
relationship, that previews her
fourth studio album, “Rated R.”
The music video features the pop
singer being held in captivity.
December 2, 2009: “Rated R”
debuts at No. 4 on the Billboard
200 with 181,000 copies sold,
according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The album would go on to spawn
hits like “Rude Boy” and “Hard.”
Dec. 5, 2009: Chris Brown’s “I
Can Transform Ya” peaked at No.
11 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Dec. 26, 2009: Chris Brown’s
revealing, synth-heavy album, ”
Graffiti **,” peaks at No. 1 on
R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 7
on the Billboard 200 chart.
April 16, 2010: Rihanna kicks off
her Last Girl on Earth world tour
in Belgium, just as “Rude Boy”
spends its fifth week atop the Hot
100.
June 27, 2010: Chris Brown
breaks down and sheds tears at
the 2010 BET Awards when
performing a Michael Jackson
tribute. You can’t fake snot!
July 22, 2010: Rihanna scores
another No. 1 on the Hot 100 —
this time with Eminem on “Love
The Way You Lie.” The track,
which details an abusive
relationship, would be performed
by the pair at the MTV Video
Music Awards that year and score
5 Grammy nominations.
September 7, 2010: Rihanna
reveals “Only Girl (In the World),”
the first single from her fifth
album, “Loud.” The song is in the
top 10 of the Hot 100 within two
weeks.
Sept. 11, 2010: Breezy returns to
the top of the R&B/Hip-Hop
Songs chart for the first time
since 2006 as “Deuces,” from his
and Tyga **’s collaborative
mixtape, “Fan of a Fan,” jumps to
No. 1.
February 13, 2011: Rihanna
performs “What’s My Name?” at
the Grammy Awards, three
months after the song hits No. 1
on the Hot 100.
February 22, 2011: A court
order that prevented Chris Brown
and Rihanna from coming into
close contact is lifted, allowing
Brown to speak to Rihanna
without harassing or annoying
her.
April 9, 2011: Brown earns his
first No. 1 album on the Billboard
200 chart as “F.A.M.E.” with
270,000 copies sold, according to
Nielsen SoundScan. “F.A.M.E.”
debuted at No. 1 on the R&B/
Hip-Hop albums chart also.
April 2, 2011: Count “Look At
Me Now,” feat. Lil Wayne and
Busta Rhymes, as another R&B/
Hip-Hop Songs No. 1 under
Brown’s belt.
May 14, 2011: People notice that
Rihanna and Chris Brown are
following each other on Twitter.
She tells a fan, “It’s f—-n
Twitter… calm down.”
May 22, 2011: Rihanna teams up
with Britney Spears for a special
performance of “S&M” at the
Billboard Music Awards. “S&M”
becomes Rihanna’s 10th No. 1
single on the Hot 100 one month
earlier.
June 4, 2011: Rihanna embarks
on her Loud tour, with artists like
Cee Lo Green and J. Cole serving
as support.
June 26, 2011: Breezy took home
five awards for “Look At Me
Now.” at the 2011 BET Awards.
CHRIS BROWN RELEASES ‘TURN
UP THE MUSIC’ SINGLE: LISTEN
September 22, 2011: Rihanna
releases “We Found Love,” the
first single from her sixth album,
“Talk That Talk.” The song rushes
to the top of the Hot 100 and
spends 10 weeks there.
Nov. 27, 2011: Brown takes
home a hefty prize at the 2011
Soul Train Awards: Album of the
Year for “F.A.M.E.”
Jan. 18, 2011: Us Weekly runs a
report that Rihanna and Chris
Brown are still secretly dating. A
rep for Brown denies that the
pair are romantically involved.
Jan. 26, 2012: Fans get a taste of
Brown’s upcoming album,
“Fortune,” with the release of the
first single, “Turn Up The Music.”
Drake Denies ‘Wrongful Conduct’ in ‘Marvin’s Room’ Lawsuit
Getty Images
Artists in this Article
Drake
Drake has responded to a lawsuit filed by a purported ex-girlfriend over her contributions to the song “Marvin’s Room.”
“This claim is entirely without merit and our client has not engaged in any wrongful conduct,” a spokesperson for the rapper told The Hollywood Reporter. “Ericka Lee consented to the use of her voice in the song ‘Marvin’s Room’ prior to its release. Lee asked only for the credit she received as ‘Syren Lyric Muse,’ and she did not ask for any compensation. It was only after she retained a lawyer that there was a demand for payment. Drake tried for months to resolve the matter amicably, and he now looks forward to being vindicated in court.”
Previously, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Lee had filed a suit, coming forward as the voice of the young woman on the viral hit.
Lee claims she was asked to record the track’s opening monologue and hook and would be paid 50% of the song’s proceeds. She claimed to have received several text messages from Drake citing her contribution to the song as well as lesser monetary offers. According to Lee, she and the Cash Money rapper had a romantic relationship as well, which went south after the song’s recording. Among other requests, her suit asks that she be named a co-writer on the song.
“Marvin’s Room,” a single that advanced 2011’s “Take Care” album release, became a YouTube hit, scoring over 39 million views.
Selena Gomez Granted Three-Year Restraining Order
A civil judge on Friday granted
Selena Gomez ** a three-year
restraining order against a man
accused of threatening to kill the
singer-actress and of traveling
from Illinois to try to meet her.
Superior Court Judge William D.
Stewart granted the order, which
requires Thomas Brodnicki to stay
away from the “Wizards of
Waverly Place” star and not
attempt to contact her.
Another judge dropped a felony
stalking charge against Brodnicki,
46, last year after determining
prosecutors hadn’t proven he
had caused fear in the star.
Stewart twice delayed issuing a
civil order until Brodnicki had an
opportunity to respond.
Gomez, 19, did not appear at
Wednesday’s hearing. She wrote
in a declaration filed in October
that she was in extreme fear after
learning that Brodnicki had
threatened to kill her while he
was on a psychiatric hold.
Prosecutors later alleged he
stalked the actress between July
and October.
Stewart noted that Brodnicki filed
a declaration in December
essentially consenting to the
protective order and that the
man with a history of mental
illness had received “due
process.” He said Gomez had
reasonable cause to afraid of
Brodnicki, who did not attend
Friday’s hearing.
The order also covers Gomez’s
family.
Michael Jackson’s doctortoo poor to fund appeal
Michael Jackson’s doctor on
Tuesday asked for a publicly-
funded lawyer to handle his
appeal on a manslaughter
conviction in the pop star’s
death, saying he could not
afford to pay for one
himself.
Dr. Conrad Murray, serving a
four-year jail term for the
involuntary manslaughter of
Jackson in 2009, filed papers
with Los Angeles Superior
Court saying he was unable
to fund his legal help any
longer.
“The defendant is indigent
and respectfully requests the
appointment of counsel on
appeal,” the court papers
said.
Murray said he wished to
appeal both his conviction
and his sentence but so far
has not filed formal papers
with the California appeals
court.
The 58-year-old cardiologist
had hired two lawyers for
his six-week trial, but he was
convicted in November of
involuntary manslaughter, or
gross negligence, after
admitting he gave the
“Thriller” singer nightly
doses of the surgical
anesthetic propofol to help
Jackson sleep.
Jackson, 50, died on June 25,
2009 of an overdose of
propofol and sedatives, just
weeks before a series of
planned comeback concerts.
BULLETFAME 