Celebrity Legal Issues

Celebrities and booze, it happens all the time.  It’s a deadly combination, almost literally especially when they get behind the wheel.  Do you know that these celeb’s keep the lights on at most criminal defense law firms?

It’s amazing that not everybody in school these days doesn’t want to be a criminal defense lawyer.  These celeb’s will keep them in business for years to come if they follow the act of our TOP 10 DUI’s stories of recent times:

10. Gary Collins Pleads Guilty to DUI after Fatal Accident
9. Rebecca De Mornay Arrested for DUI
8. Mickey Rourke Arrested for DUI on a Scooter
7. Kirsten Storms Arrested for DUI after Littering Stop
6. Michelle Rodriguez Arrested for DUI Again…and Again..
5. Kurt Angle Arrested for DUI Based on Telephone Call
4. Ty Pennington DUI Case Closes Quickly
3. Vivica A. Fox DUI – Shades of Mel Gibson?
2. Kiefer Sutherland Designs His Own DUI Sentence
1. Lindsay Lohan – Let me count the ways…

So what is the take away from this list?  Well – don’t drink and drive.  According to the CDC: “In the United States, motor vehicle–related injuries are the leading cause of death for people ages 1–34, and nearly 5 million people sustain injuries that require an emergency department visit. The economic impact is also notable: motor vehicle crashes cost around $230 billion in 2000.”

End result:  Don’t drink and drive people it’s the law – or are celeb’s above the law?  Only time will tell.

The burglarizing “Bling Ring” – which included five teenagers and a 27-year-old from the Los Angeles area – allegedly targeted a number of celebrities’ homes in 2008 and 2009 and stole millions of dollars worth of property from them.

Some of the targets? Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox and Orlando Bloom, to name a few.

The six “Bling Ring” members – Nick Prugo, Rachel Lee, Courtney Ames, Alexis Neiers, Diana Tamayo and Roy Lopez are headed back to the courtroom and some of them are willingly speaking out.

Prugo, the 19-year-old who was arrested last September is one of them.

“There was a definite thrill to it,” he told People magazine. “I don’t think any of us realized how severe it was until we actually got caught. It didn’t seem as bad as it was.”

The group’s leader, 19-year-old Rachel Lee, plead “not guilty” to a number of theft charges in an LA courtroom on Wednesday. The charges included receiving stolen property.

The rest of the accused group have entered not-guilty pleas to charges related to the alleged crime spree.

After being in prison for nine year sentence, following the involvement in the 1999’s infamous Club New York shooting (for which Diddy was acquitted for), the former Bad Boy rapper Shyne was deported back to Belize.  On Wednesday, October 28th, 2009, Shyne had “temporarily accepted deportation”.  The exact reason, however, was unclear.

In early November, Shyne held a press conference in Belize, his first appearance since being deported, discussing the importance of education.  Since then, Shyne has been out of the spotlight, until February 2nd, 2010.  He released a new song on DJ Khaled’s Victory Album, alongside Akon and Movado for “All My Life“.  I am curious how many fans are eager to hear if he is fighting for a return to the United States since Shyne’s new song.  Perhaps he may want to look into a business visa in New York City to get back to the States in order to start performances, instead of waiting around in Belize!

Securities Fraud Lawsuit Victim - Nicholas Cage

Actor Nicholas Cage, star of popular movies such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Moonstruck (1987), and Leaving Las Vegas (1995), could face two $3 million securities fraud lawsuits stemming to an investment deal gone bad.

According to Access Hollywood, “The star has been struck with another lawsuit, but while on Saturday it was reported that an investment company was suing Cage for $36.7 million by People, and picked up by Access, it appears the lender is actually seeking around $3 million from the star.  “People’s” original report also claimed that the financially troubled actor had been accused of fraud, which has since been determined was incorrect.”

In July, 2007, Cage was allegedly loaned $3.5 million by “Red Curb Investments” and agreed to pay $29,166.67 monthly which includes 10% interest.  “Red Curb Investments” says Cage committed securities fraud by withholding the information that he was in severe debt to the IRS and took the investment to pay back taxes.  The suit goes into a lot of detail over how repayment was structured, but bottom line, Red Curb claims Nic owes a balloon payment of $1,850,269.67 plus and additional $15 million for committing investment fraud.

Investment lawyer, Marty Singer who is representing Cage in this case states, “Any claim that our client engaged in any fraudulent conduct is ridiculous.”

Securities Fraud - Actor Nicholas Cage Involved in Investment Lawsuit

The recent tabloid phenomena surrounding “The Hills” reality star Heidi Montag’s most recent plastic surgeries is a major question of medical ethics.  The star had gone through an extreme makeover of more then $50,000 on her whole body resulting in 10 plastic surgery procedures in single day.

Some say this was the reality stars last cry for attention, but in the end many question the integrity of the doctor who agreed to perform the life threatening act. Post surgery in an interview with Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush, Heidi had claimed “I almost died after my procedure.”

Speculations say that she was given too much Demerol (a surgical pain medication) and this caused her to have shortness of breath, almost killing Heidi.  The doctors and nurses caring for her deny the claims and say she needs mental help. If something were to happen to Heidi Montag, who would have been at fault? This would be a legal question for louisville medical malpractice attorney like Whaley, Mory & McDonner to answer.

Now have recovered from surgery Heidi Montag is stepping out and telling her medical horror story.  It is quite obvious to tell in recent interviews that she has had a lot of work done; many say she now looks “fake” and is “very plastic looking”  while others close to her say that the 10 surgeries in one day were a bit overboard.

Will there be more surgeries to come, only time will tell.