Posts Tagged ‘Legal Matters’

Beyonce is facing a $100 million (R800 million) lawsuit after reportedly abandoning a video game project back in 2010.

Games company Gate Five claim the ‘Countdown’ singer “abruptly abandoned” their project for a dance-related game called Starpower: Beyonce causing them to lose a $7 million investment in the project as a result.

A judge at Manhatton’s Supreme Court has rejected Beyonce’s request to reject the lawsuit, after legal papers for filed against her in April this year.

Gate Five claim Beyonce was in breach of contract by backing out of the project in November 2010, and insists her actions “destroyed Gate Five’s business and drove 70 people into unemployment, the week before Christmas.”

They are claiming her exit from Starpower: Beyonbce also caused them to miss out on potential profits of $100 million.

In response lawyers for the ’1+1′ singer have claimed Beyonce only dropped the project after they failed to finance the video game in time for her involvement to continue.

Beyonce is duet to give birth to her first child with husband Jay-Z at some point over the next couple of months.

The trial of troubled hip hop artist and Kelly Khumalo’s baby daddy Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye and co-accused Themba Tshabalala was expected to resume in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

At a previous appearance, the court heard that a Legal Aid lawyer would not be appointed for the musician because he had failed to complete the required application process at the Dobsonville Justice Centre.

Maarohanye’s former lawyer Ike Motloung withdrew from the case because his client was unable to pay him.

Maarohanye and Tshabalala face charges of murder, attempted murder and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

They were allegedly drag-racing when one of their Mini Coopers ploughed into a group of schoolchildren in Mdlalose Street, Protea North, on March 8, 2010.

Andile Mtombeni, 19, Phomelelo Masemelo, 16, Mlungisi Cwayi and Prince Mahube, both aged 17, were killed as they were walking home from school. Fumani Mushwana, 17, and Frank Mlabo, 18, suffered serious injuries, including brain damage.

During the bail hearing, the prosecution said preliminary tests showed that Maarohanye had cocaine and morphine in his system. Tshabalala was twice over the legal alcohol limit.

Maarohanye broke down in tears when he took the stand last year.

“I’ve never committed a crime. I don’t intend to… I’ll do anything to get my life back on track. I’ve been going through a lot of emotional stress with everything that’s been happening. I just need time to be with my family and unborn child. I just want to be alone from everyone.”

Both accused, who pleaded not guilty to the crime, were out on R10,000 bail.

Initial court appearances were marred by violence as scores of children protested against the granting of bail. Police resorted to using water cannons and firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.

The never-before-seen photo and recording were revealed during the first day’s evidence in the manslaughter trial of Dr Conrad Murray in Los Angeles. Prosecutor David Walgren opened his case by showing jurors the image of a thin Jackson lying dead on a hospital trolley.

In the tape, the Thriller star slowly mumbles he had wanted his comeback shows in London to make people say he is “the greatest entertainer in the world” and that he wants to “build the Michael Jackson Children’s Hospital”.
Jackson Trial: Photo Of Dead Singer Shown

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11:35am UK, Wednesday September 28, 2011
Dramatic evidence shown at the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor has included an audio tape of the drugged singer barely able to speak and a picture of him dead in hospital.

:: WARNING: STORY AND VIDEO FEATURE PICTURE OF MICHAEL JACKSON’S DEAD BODY.

:: FOLLOW DAILY LIVE COVERAGE OF PROCEEDINGS ON THE SKY NEWS HD TV CHANNEL, SKY NEWS ONLINE AND THE SKY NEWS IPAD APP.

The never-before-seen photo and recording were revealed during the first day’s evidence in the manslaughter trial of Dr Conrad Murray in Los Angeles.

Prosecutor David Walgren opened his case by showing jurors the image of a thin Jackson lying dead on a hospital trolley.

In the tape, the Thriller star slowly mumbles he had wanted his comeback shows in London to make people say he is “the greatest entertainer in the world” and that he wants to “build the Michael Jackson Children’s Hospital”.

Michael Jackson rehearsing on July 24 and the next day, after his death

The prosecution used a photo of Jackson’s body in its opening statement

Witness testimony included a close associate describing Jackson, then 50, as being a “lost boy” without anyone properly caring for him.

In opening arguments two years after Jackson’s death by drug overdose of hospital anaesthetic Propofol and sedatives, Mr Walgren told jurors he”literally put his life in the hands of Dr Conrad Murray”.

“That misplaced trust in the hands of Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life,” he said.

But Murray’s legal team argued Jackson “caused his own death” by giving himself extra medication in a bid to sleep.

michael jackson recorded while on propofol

“He died so rapidly, so instantly, he didn’t even have time to close his eyes,” defence lawyer Ed Chernoff said in opening arguments.

Murray denies he is guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson on June 25, 2009, but admits giving the pop star a dose of powerful Propofol as a sleep aid.

The Texas cardiologist, who was paid $150,000 (£96,000) a month to care for Jackson ahead of a planned 50-date series of shows in London, wiped away tears during Tuesday’s opening statements as Mr Chernoff defended him.

Jackson’s body was found at his rented Los Angeles mansion just three weeks before the start of the This Is It comeback concerts were scheduled to begin.
Kenny Ortega, the co-director of the concerts, told the court that Jackson was excited about the shows because he wanted his young children to see him perform.

But on June 19, six days before his death, Jackson turned up at rehearsals in Los Angeles in a worried state and “Michael seemed chilled, lost and incoherent”.

“I was feeding him, wrapping him in blankets to warm his chills, massaging his feet to calm him and calling his doctor,” Mr Ortega added.

Mr Ortega wrote in an email to concert promoters hours later: “It broke my heart. He was like a lost boy… He is terribly frightened it is all going to go away.”
But days later Jackson was found dead and Mr Chernoff told jurors Murray was trying to wean the pop star off Propofol – which Jackson called “milk”.

He argued that Jackson – tired and under pressure to get the concerts ready – gave himself eight lorazepam anti-anxiety pills to sleep in the early hours of June 25.

When he still could not rest, he added Propofol.

“We believe the evidence will show… that when Dr Murray left the room, Michael Jackson self-administered a dose of Propofol that with the lorazepam created a perfect storm within his body that killed him instantly,” Mr Chernoff said.

“The whole thing is tragic, but the evidence is not that Dr Murray did it.”
Jackson Trial: Photo Of Dead Singer Shown

*
*
*

11:35am UK, Wednesday September 28, 2011
Dramatic evidence shown at the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor has included an audio tape of the drugged singer barely able to speak and a picture of him dead in hospital.

:: WARNING: STORY AND VIDEO FEATURE PICTURE OF MICHAEL JACKSON’S DEAD BODY.

:: FOLLOW DAILY LIVE COVERAGE OF PROCEEDINGS ON THE SKY NEWS HD TV CHANNEL, SKY NEWS ONLINE AND THE SKY NEWS IPAD APP.

The never-before-seen photo and recording were revealed during the first day’s evidence in the manslaughter trial of Dr Conrad Murray in Los Angeles.

Prosecutor David Walgren opened his case by showing jurors the image of a thin Jackson lying dead on a hospital trolley.

In the tape, the Thriller star slowly mumbles he had wanted his comeback shows in London to make people say he is “the greatest entertainer in the world” and that he wants to “build the Michael Jackson Children’s Hospital”.

Michael Jackson rehearsing on July 24 and the next day, after his death

The prosecution used a photo of Jackson’s body in its opening statement

Witness testimony included a close associate describing Jackson, then 50, as being a “lost boy” without anyone properly caring for him.

In opening arguments two years after Jackson’s death by drug overdose of hospital anaesthetic Propofol and sedatives, Mr Walgren told jurors he”literally put his life in the hands of Dr Conrad Murray”.

“That misplaced trust in the hands of Conrad Murray cost Michael Jackson his life,” he said.

But Murray’s legal team argued Jackson “caused his own death” by giving himself extra medication in a bid to sleep.

michael jackson recorded while on propofol

“He died so rapidly, so instantly, he didn’t even have time to close his eyes,” defence lawyer Ed Chernoff said in opening arguments.

Murray denies he is guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson on June 25, 2009, but admits giving the pop star a dose of powerful Propofol as a sleep aid.

The Texas cardiologist, who was paid $150,000 (£96,000) a month to care for Jackson ahead of a planned 50-date series of shows in London, wiped away tears during Tuesday’s opening statements as Mr Chernoff defended him.

Jackson’s body was found at his rented Los Angeles mansion just three weeks before the start of the This Is It comeback concerts were scheduled to begin.

Michael Jackson’s physician Dr Conrad Murray appears in court

Dr Conrad Murray appears in court in Los Angeles

Kenny Ortega, the co-director of the concerts, told the court that Jackson was excited about the shows because he wanted his young children to see him perform.

But on June 19, six days before his death, Jackson turned up at rehearsals in Los Angeles in a worried state and “Michael seemed chilled, lost and incoherent”.

“I was feeding him, wrapping him in blankets to warm his chills, massaging his feet to calm him and calling his doctor,” Mr Ortega added.

Mr Ortega wrote in an email to concert promoters hours later: “It broke my heart. He was like a lost boy… He is terribly frightened it is all going to go away.”

Everything in me says he should be psychologically evaluated. If we have any chance at all to get him back in the light, it’s going to take a strong therapist as well as immediate physical nurturing.

Email from Kenny Ortega on June 20 2009

But days later Jackson was found dead and Mr Chernoff told jurors Murray was trying to wean the pop star off Propofol – which Jackson called “milk”.

He argued that Jackson – tired and under pressure to get the concerts ready – gave himself eight lorazepam anti-anxiety pills to sleep in the early hours of June 25.

When he still could not rest, he added Propofol.

“We believe the evidence will show… that when Dr Murray left the room, Michael Jackson self-administered a dose of Propofol that with the lorazepam created a perfect storm within his body that killed him instantly,” Mr Chernoff said.

“The whole thing is tragic, but the evidence is not that Dr Murray did it.”

Below is a replay of the live blog on the court case.

The prosecution described the benefits and risks of Propofol and also claimed Murray originally demanded $5m (£3.3m) for a year of work as Jackson’s doctor but eventually agreed on a monthly fee.

Jackson’s parents, Joe and Katherine, his sisters, Janet and La Toya, and other family members were in court on Tuesday.

Outside dozens of fans outside the courtroom held sunflowers, pictures of the dead pop star, and placards saying “Justice for Michael.”

Murray faces a prison sentence of up to four years if convicted in the trial that is expected to last up to six weeks.

The court resumes at 5.45pm UK time.

Newly released rapper Lil Wayne has been banned from consuming any alcohol for the next three years, which could ruin his planned prison release party.But this did not stop the rapper from tweeting a pic (above)  of himself next to a glass of what looked like cognac a few hours after his release.

Probation documents obtained by TMZ state that the rap star “may not consume or drink any substance containing alcohol”, as long as he’s on probation.

However, according to other reports, Lil Wayne already has 48 bottles of expensive Champagne paid for at his prison release party at a Miami strip club.

Troubled Actress Lindsay Lohan was ordered to remain in rehab on Friday after failing a random drug test last month while on probation for a 2007 drunk driving and cocaine possession offense.
Lohan, 24, escaped being sent back to jail in a brief hearing at Beverly Hills Superior Court. Lohan, who was in court on Friday, has spent the last three weeks in a voluntary drug and alcohol rehab program in California after admitting she had tested positive for cocaine.

Beverly Hill Superior Court judge Elden Fox on Friday ordered Lohan to remain there rather than sending her back to jail. He set another hearing for February 25. The former teen idol’s movie career has been derailed for three years because of failed drug tests, missed alcohol education classes, stints in rehab and three brief spells in jail.
Friday’s hearing follows a failed court-ordered drug test in September shortly after she was released early from a rehabilitation program and served two weeks of a 90-day jail sentence for violating her probation in the 2007 case.

Hopefully she’ll get it together this time,even thouh we won’t be surprised if she didn’t

A woman accused of abusing teenagers at Oprah Winfrey’s school for girls in Johannesburg was acquitted of the charges Monday, and Winfrey said she was “profoundly disappointed” by the trial’s outcome.

Prosecutors had accused former school matron Tiny Virginia Makopo of trying to kiss and fondle girls at the school soon after it opened in 2007 outside Johannesburg. Makopo also had been accused of assaulting one of the teens as well as a fellow supervisor.

Mthunzi Mhaga, a spokesman for South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, said Monday that Makopo had been acquitted of the charges.

“The magistrate indicated that the state did not prove itself case beyond reasonable doubt on all the charges. We won’t be appealing the judgment,” Mhaga said.

Winfrey had called the allegations crushing given her own stated history of childhood sexual abuse and promised an overhaul of the school.

“I will forever be proud of the nine girls who testified with the courage and conviction to be heard,” Winfrey said in a statement Monday.

The lavish $40 million Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, which opened in January 2007, is the aims to give girls from deprived backgrounds a quality education in a country where schools are struggling to overcome the legacy of apartheid.

The school is spread across a 22-acre campus with neat lawns and garden paths decorated with mosaics. It has computer and science labs, a library and a wellness center. The school is home to about 300 girls from across the country.

Winfrey said Monday that the school’s staff “is committed to providing a nurturing educational environment so that all of our girls may continue to flourish. And they are indeed thriving.”

Sources: Associated Presss

Beyonce has settled a lawsuit with a man who claimed the singer had “invaded his neighbourhood” and caused a racket during a video shoot.

Philip Markowitz claimed the Single Ladies star and her production crew “wreaked havoc in his neighbourhood” and trespassed on his driveway.

Markowitz sued on the grounds of private nuisance and trespass. But the case has now been dropped – after he was offered a 5-figure settlement.

Here’s Markowitz statement to TMZ:

“I’m happy with the settlement, but this lawsuit shouldn’t have happened in the first place. They set up on my property without asking and should send a notice to other production companies that they need to respect the rights of property owners.”

Lols!!!!