Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Prosecutors have decided not to charge Russell Brand for assaulting a Paparazzi at the Los Angeles airport, Hollywood News reported.

Our Los Angeles defense lawyers understand both sides of such assault cases and our Paparazzi defense attorneys handle cases in which a client has been charged with breaking the law, including trespassing, assault or stalking allegations.

At the time of the incident, Brand alleged the photographer was trying to shoot a picture up Kay Perry's skirt. Brand, 35, will still have to make a court appearance on Nov. 19. He was accused of striking and shoving the paparazzo.

"If you cross the line and try and put a lens up my dress, my fiance will do his job and protect me," Perry later wrote on her Twitter feed.

We understand celebrities become frustrated with reporters and cameras when they are not trying to promote their latest film or album. But you cannot assault members of the media, regardless of whether it's the paparazzi, or a reporter from your local television state, or Dan Rather. In fact, there is rarely an occasion where you can assault anyone except to protect yourself from physical attack.

County prosecutors likely decided not to press charges because the incident did not rise to the level of a felony. City prosecutors, who could file misdemeanor assault charges, report having no information about the case.

Celebrities court the media. The paparazzi are part of that equation. Tiger Woods may not be excited about reporters digging into his personal life and asking him questions about his divorce. But when it's not about the golf it doesn't mean that assault is a viable option.

Frequently, however, law enforcement does side with the celebrity. Woody Harrelson actually strangled a TMZ reporter in 2006, at least according to TMZ. But the LAPD sided with Harrelson.

More recently, Kanye West busted up the camera of a photographer at LAX and is due in court this month, according to Zimbio.

Continue reading "Russell Brand won't be charged with Paparazzi assault" »

If you are a member of the paparazzi in Los Angeles, chances are you will need a paparazzi lawyer to defend you from false accusations. The paparazzi lawyers at Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates have worked with numerous paparazzi to defend against false claims and other charges.

A paparazzo has been implicated in pop superstar Madonna's recent horse riding accident in Long Island, New York. The singer was riding a horse at a friend's house when she claims a paparazzo jumped out from behind some bushes, startling her horse and causing it to rear. The singer was treated at a Long Island hospital for "minor injuries and bruises" according to a local police report.

While the police report does not specify the presence of any paparazzi at the time of the incident, numerous photographs exist of the singer both just before and just after her incident according to her spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg. Photographer Thomas Hinton claims he was taking pictures of the singer from a public road before and after her fall, but was not present when she fell. Celebrities such as Madonna are increasingly taking a tough stance against the ever-present paparazzi, and lawmakers are following suit.

California became the first state in the nation to enact laws against the paparazzi when it enacted a bill in 1999 that protected those with celebrity status from a physical invasion of privacy when photographers are trespassing, as well as rendering any audio or video enhancing devices that would also violate the celebrity's privacy illegal. In 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a second piece of anti-paparazzi legislation that punished members of the paparazzi for assaults or altercations caused by the photographer's attempts to take photos.

The new legislation tripled the amount of damages that may be awarded to a celebrity in such cases and makes it illegal for photographers to profit from photos taken illegally during an intrusion. In California, freedom to take photos of celebrities in public spaces is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Celebrities, however, are targeting the paparazzi with both civil suits and criminal charges as photographers use increasingly aggressive tactics to get photos.

If you are a photographer facing criminal charges, call the attorneys at Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates immediately to fight for you.

When fandom become obsession, celebrities get understandably frightened, police become suspicious and judges act. Last week a Los Angeles judge extended the temporary restraining order against Robert Michael O'Ryan for allegedly stalking 17-year-old gymnast Shawn Johnson. Police caught O'Ryan packing a gun and trying to break into the Dancing With the Stars studio. Johnson is a participant on the hit TV show this season.

In another event last week, Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies arrested Miranda Tozier-Robbins after security guards caught her peeking in the windows of Britney Spears' Calabasas home. Tozier-Robbins, a fifth season American Idol hopeful who auditioned with the Spears' ballad Everytime, was toting a camera and dressed in camouflage gear at the time of her arrest. She was charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct before being released.

It's not just paparazzi who can be caught on the wrong side of the law when celebrity worship becomes obsessive. Stalking, trespassing, and breaking and entering are serious crimes in California, whether you're one of the paparazzi or a besotted fan. Even when the crime committed could be charged as a misdemeanor, having a gun in your possession when you commit a crime ramps the charge up to a felony.

Celebrity outcry and fear of tragedy led to California's enactment of anti-paparazzi laws in 1999 and their expansion in 2005. The laws have made it possible for paparazzi to be punished for becoming too aggressive in their efforts to photograph celebrities. Both civil and criminal charges are allowed. Paparazzi and aggressive fans can be charged with assault, battery, conspiracy, false imprisonment, stalking, and trespass. While most of these are usually charged as misdemeanors, some can also be charged as felonies. Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony can make the difference between a fine and probation or a criminal conviction and serving time in jail.

Effective defense against a paparazzi charge requires aggressive representation by an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney. Skilled L.A. criminal defense lawyer Stephen Rodriguez said the worst thing you can do if charged of a paparazzi crime is try to talk your way out of the situation. "Talking to law enforcement without consulting an attorney first is a mistake," said Rodriguez. For more information about paparazzi crimes, visit the website of Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates.

-Legal

Pro

TMZ, one of the leading paparazzi media outlets, had one of its photographers attacked by actor Woody Harrelson. The attack occured in New York's Laguardia Airport. As the paparazzi asked Harelson questions, the actor shoved the camera into the photographer's eye, causing it to temporarily stop recording. A few seconds later the video returns but then the screen goes black again -- you can still hear Harrelson attack full bore, ripping the camera out of the photog's hands.

The paparazzi says Woody smashed the camera to the ground, breaking it. Harrelson then picked the camera up and began walking away with it. The photographer followed him, claiming he was assaulted and demanded that Harrelson return the camera. That's when Harrelson attacked again, striking the paparazzi repeatedly and grabbing his neck.

The paparazzi have had a hard time dealing with the laws in California, and now are treated as criminals. The nation's first civil anti-paparazzi law went into effect in California on January 1, 1999. This protects celebrities against physical invasion of privacy where a trespass occurs, as well as constructive invasion of privacy, where no trespass occurs but an audio- or video-enhancing device is used to violate a reasonable expectation of privacy. However, this law apparently wasn't enough to thwart paparazzi activities so on September 30, 2005, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law an anti-paparazzi bill to punish Paparazzi for assaults and altercations caused by their attempts to photograph celebrities. The new law expands the Anti-Paparazzi Act, Section 1708.8 of the Civil Code, tripling the damages that may be awarded to a celebrity, and denies photographers the right to profit from images illegally taken during intrusions.

We are Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys focusing exclusively on criminal defense and we aggressively defend those accused of criminal offenses in California. We have over 90 years combined criminal experience and we know how to get the best possible results for our clients. If you are a paparazzi and being charged with any paparazzi crimes please contact us to discuss your case.

Don't settle for a "guilty" plea. Being convicted of a crime in California can lead to jail, hefty fines and a criminal record. Let Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates, a team of experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys, represent you in court. Call us now for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Rapper and self-proclaimed "voice of his generation" Kanye West was charged with one count each of misdemeanor vandalism, grand theft and battery by the Los Angeles city attorney this week stemming from a scuffle with the paparazzi at Los Angeles International Airport in September of 2008. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office had earlier decided against pursuing felony charges against West over the incident.

West and his manager, Don Crawley, were arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of felony vandalism after a confrontation with a paparazzi photographer and videographer in the passenger screening area. The videographer, who reportedly works for website TMZ.com caught the incident on video before Crawley attempted to take the camera from his hands. Crawley has been charged with two misdemeanor counts each of vandalism, grand theft and battery.

If convicted of the misdemeanor charges, West faces a maximum of two years and six months in a Los Angeles County jail with Crawley facing up to five years. In the incident, West and his manager confronted the paparazzi, took their equipment from them (constituting theft) and threw them on the ground. While the definition of theft is readily understandable, vandalism may be less familiar. California law defines vandalism as the defacing, damaging or destruction of the property of another person. Since there are also misdemeanor charges of battery, West and Crawley presumably came into physical contact with the paparazzi members, struggling with them to take the equipment away.

Typically, the difference between a misdemeanor theft or vandalism charge or a felony charge in Los Angeles is if the value of the property stolen or vandalized is $400 or more. In this case, felony charges would have been possible for law enforcement to pursue, however, the Los Angeles Police Department has been cracking down on aggressive paparazzi behavior, which may explain why the charges were downgraded to misdemeanor status. West and Crawley are scheduled for arraignment April 14th at the Airport Courthouse.

Don't settle for a "guilty" plea. Being convicted of a crime in California can lead to jail, hefty fines and a criminal record. Let Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates, a team of experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys, represent you in court. Call us now for a FREE CONSULTATION. (Los Angeles cases only).

Paparazzi have come under fire of late because of their aggressive tactics, but also because the people they take photographs of have incredible amounts of money to throw at attorneys. Los Angeles paparazzi lawyers know that defending a member of the paparazzi can be an uphill battle because the paparazzi don't garner much sympathy in court with juries or judges.

Celebrities have begun blaming the paparazzi for their many problems, regardless of their alcoholism, drug addiction of various other life problems. For example:

• Lindsay Lohan recently came out and said that her string of car accidents. The 'Mean Girls' actress has previously landed behind bars for her two DUI charges, including a 2007 incident when she was charged for possessing cocaine, driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.

"My car accident that I got into, where I got my first charge, I wouldn't have been speeding up like I was if I didn't have people shoving cameras in my windows. I was running away from the paparazzi," Lohan said.

• Robert Pattinson says that he is being forced to stay in doors more than he would like because of his paparazzi followers.
• KANYE WEST has lambasted the paparazzo he clashed with at Los Angeles International Airport last year, accusing the snapper of making the incident a "bigger deal" than it really was. The Stronger rapper was arrested along with his manager following the run-in in September. They were charged with felony vandalism after reportedly smashing a photographer's camera, but the charges were later dropped by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.

This poor treatment of the paparazzi by individuals who depend upon the celebrity status they provide is very one-sided. If you are charged with any of the above-mentioned crimes during the course of your work as a professional photographer, immediately hiring an experienced Paparazzi criminal defense attorney is critical to a successful defense. A skilled and experienced Los Angeles Paparazzi criminal defense attorney involved early in the process can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case and can start to prepare your defense.

Paparazzi and celebrities go together like the beach and seagulls, lots of people like the beach, but seagulls aren't so great. A city councilman in Los Angeles is trying to pass new laws to both protect celebrities from having their rights violated, and make places like school zones safer for the general public.

Much ado was made when celebrities such as Julia Roberts were followed by the paparazzi to her child's school. Ms. Roberts went so far as to confront the paparazzi and try to get them to leave. Unfortunately, few, if any, are standing up for the first amendment rights of the paparazzi in this instance. Most people enjoy the celebrity Websites and glossy magazines that show the latest fashion, but in a public debate between fifty photographers and Brad Pitt, the public will usually side with the megastar.

The new law seeks to curb the actions of the paparazzi; celebrities could drop their children off at school and visit their doctors without fear of being accosted by paparazzi under a proposal introduced by a Los Angeles city councilman this week.

The proposed law, the latest effort by Councilman Dennis Zine to combat aggressive tabloid photographers, would restrict commercial photography and video recordings within 20 feet of schools, hospitals and medical facilities.

Earlier this year, the councilman proposed a "personal safety zone" around celebrities, but that effort stalled after the Los Angeles Police Department called it unnecessary and unenforceable.

Zine said legal experts have signed off on the constitutionality of his current proposal. The ordinance would not prohibit paparazzi from using long lenses. "You can make it 200 feet. With a lens, it doesn't matter," said Frank Griffin of the Bauer-Griffin photo agency.

Paparazzi have been flocking to places such as LAX recently, where as many as 70 celebrities pass through the airport each day, but most go undetected by the half a dozen photographers who wait outside the airport for tips from publicists and paid sources.

Police intervention was required only twice this year for confrontations between paparazziand famous subjects. In September, rapper Kanye West and his road manager were arrested after an altercation with paparazzi as he arrived for a flight. Two months before that, photographers surrounded a vehicle taking Britney Spears away from a terminal.

Britney Spears is turning the tables on the league of paparazzi that haunt celebrities. Fed up with the increasingly aggressive tactics of the paparazzi who seem to dog her every step, the pop diva has started handing out weekly awards dubbed "Paparazzies" on her website Britneyspears.com. A clever play on the infamous Golden Raspberry Awards, or Razzies, awarded annually for the film industry's worst achievements, Spears' Paparazzies are aimed at calling attention to the most flagrant paparazzi excesses.

"Terrorizing Britney has unfortunately become a daily part of the paparazzi's lives," the site notes. "So we've decided to start calling these maniacs out each week." The first honor went to a photographer caught on video mooing Mary-Kate Olsen.

Like many celebrities, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been relentlessly pursued by paparazzi, particularly since moving to New York City. Aggressive paparazzi are a constant source of anxiety. "Honestly, I'm a wreck," Ashley said. "Every time I see a camera, I'm a wreck." When surrounded by a mob of camera-flashing paparazzi, Ashley explained, "I don't tend to react as though 'I have to do this, it's my job.' I am reacting as a woman who is 5-foot-1 whose space is being invaded by a bunch of men whose aggression I can literally feel."

Overly-aggressive pursuit of celebrities can land paparazzi in jail. Supported by tough California laws, celebrities are fighting back against the invasion of their privacy. Under California law, paparazzi who abandon the ethical laws of journalism can be charged with felonies and misdemeanors, some of which can result in a jail sentence. Some examples of charges under California's paparazzi laws include:

• Criminal trespass, such as breaking into a celebrity's home, crashing a private party or taking telephoto pictures of a celebrity in his home.


• Assault, including using a camera as a "deadly weapon" to threaten a celebrity or putting a celebrity at risk by aggressively pursuing him in a vehicle.


• False imprisonment from interfering with a celebrity's freedom of movement.


• Stalking by repeatedly following and harassing a celebrity.


• Battery resulting from use of force or violence against a celebrity.

Paparazzi who join forces to trespass and take pictures of celebrities in their homes can also be charged with conspiracy which can result in a double charge. Each individual can be charged with making the agreement and the implied intent to trespass, then charged a second time for actually committing the illegal act.

If you are charged with a paparazzi crime, do not attempt to talk your way out of the situation. Talking to law enforcement officers without first consulting an attorney is a mistake. Seek the immediate counsel of a skilled felony criminal defense attorney.

A member of the paparazzi claimed that Keanu Reeves, the star of "The Matrix," "Speed" and "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", struck him with his Porsche in March 2007, causing him to fall and injure his left wrist.

After deliberating for less than three hours, jurors unanimously rejected the civil lawsuit Monday, ruling that Reeves is not responsible for the paparazzi's alleged injuries. The paparazzo had asked the jury to award him $711,974, which includes medical bills, lost wages and punitive damages.

A radiologist told jurors the wrist fracture appeared to be an old injury, and an emergency room doctor said the paparazzi admitted hurting his wrist playing soccer as a youth in Brazil.

The hazards of being a member of the paparazzi have increased over the year's, as the public and politicians have often sided with celebrities in handling the photographers. Celebrities are bringing criminal charges against those who invade their privacy. In California paparazzi photographers have a First Amendment right to photograph celebrities and other public figures in public places. However, if these paparazzi photographers use aggressive tactics to capture those pictures and break the law, the paparazzi photographer could be facing criminal charges for the following:

• False Imprisonment
• False Imprisonment
• False Imprisonment
• False Imprisonment
• False Imprisonment
• False Imprisonment
• False Imprisonment

If you are charged with any of the above-mentioned crimes during the course of your work as a professional photographer, immediately hiring an experienced Paparazzi criminal defense attorney is critical to a successful defense. A skilled and experienced Los Angeles Paparazzi criminal defense attorney involved early in the process can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case and can start to prepare your defense.

In an altercation with a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport, Kayne West was arrested on a charge of vandalism late last week. According to news reports, West and his manager, Don Crowley, smashed a paparazzo's camera into the airport floor. Both men were arrested and booked for investigation of felony vandalism.

In video clips on the TMZ celebrity gossip website, West and Crowley are shown wrestling the camera from a photographer who is screaming, "Police! Police! Help Me!" Crowley appears to slam the camera into the ground, followed by West hurling down a flash. Crowley then tussles with the TMZ videographer who was shooting the incident, breaking his camera before security intervened.

Celebrity backlash at aggressive paparazzi tactics has itself become increasingly aggressive. Woody Harrelson faced charges of vandalism and assault and battery after an altercation with a paparazzo in 2006. Harrelson is currently fighting a $2.5 million lawsuit by photographer Josh Levine who accused the actor of choking him and smashing his camera, then ordering his bodyguard to attack him.

American's seemingly unquenchable thirst for celebrity news and the often exorbitant amounts of money celebrity outlets are willing to pay for celebrity photos and videos -- particularly those showing celebrities in an unfavorable light -- have created a feeding frenzy among paparazzi. Increasingly aggressive tactics by some paparazzi have created a celebrity backlash that also affects legitimate professional journalists and photographers who practice ethical rules of journalism.

Aggressive tactics by either side -- celebrities and paparazzi -- are against the law. Paparazzi can be charged with assault, assault with a deadly weapon, battery, stalking, trespass, conspiracy, even false imprisonment if they violate a person's freedom of movement. Celebrities who try to take the law into their own hands can be charged with assault, battery, vandalism, even theft if they forcibly take a paparazzo's camera or equipment. The celebrity/paparazzi battle is one in which cooler heads generally prevail. However, human nature being what it is, either side is likely to find itself in need of an experienced criminal defense lawyer!

Protecting the paparazzi is something often overlooked by police, and by the general population. Paparazzi are usually portrayed as stalkers who hide out in trees near celebrity homes. However, there has been increasing aggression against the paparazzi, and the courts are beginning to take notice.

Two men assaulted a paparazzo on the beach in Malibu (which is public property). The photographer was attempting to take a photograph of Matthew McConaughey when he was assaulted by the two men in question.

Skylar Martin Peak, 24, and Philip John Hildebrand, 30, both of Malibu, were each charged with one misdemeanor count of battery for attacking the paparazzo, Richid Altmbareckouhammou, who was working for a French news agency, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office said.

Officials claim the two men threw Altmbareckouhammou into the water from where he was taking pictures on the beach. Each faces up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine.

The incident occurred while McConaughey was surfing near a cove in Malibu. About a dozen paparazzi were on the beach taking pictures of the actor.

Los Angeles politicians passed a "Paparazzi Law" which attempted to limit the rights of the paparazzi, however there are few laws protecting the paparazzi from such viscious attacks as Mr. Altmbareckouhammou had to endure.

Stephen G. Rodriquez & Associates are Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys focusing exclusively on criminal defense and we aggressively defend those accused of criminal offenses in California. We have over 90 years combined criminal experience and we know how to get the best possible results for our clients. If you are a paparazzi and being charged with any of the above paparazzi crimes please contact us to discuss your case.

An area of the law that is constantly developing in Los Angeles is Paparazzi Law. From time to time, the situation heightens a bit, with both celebrities and paparazzibeing accused of various abuses. Recently, Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton said that laws restricting the actions of paparazzi are less important because of the actions, or lack there of, of certain celebrities.

Bratton said, "If you notice, since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving; Paris is out of town not bothering anybody, thank god; and, evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don't seem to have much of an issue."

Paparazzi law involves charging celebrity photographers with assault, battery, stalking and trespassing. Individuals such as Britney Spears, Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts have all had interactions with the paparazzi where either law enforcement got involved or lawsuits were filed.

Many of the crimes paparazzi are charged with are listed as felonies and can lead to heavy fines, jail time and other penalties. On September 30, 2005, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law an anti-paparazzi bill to punish paparazzi for assaults and altercations caused by their attempts to photograph celebrities. The new law expands the Anti-Paparazzi Act, Section 1708.8 of the Civil Code, tripling the damages that may be awarded to a celebrity, and denies photographers the right to profit from images illegally taken during intrusions.

For paparazzi dealing with these charges, the attorneys at Stephen G. Rodriguez & Associates are experienced in all aspects of Paparazzi Law.

Weary of the paparazzi feeding frenzies that trail celebrities wherever they go, Los Angeles politicians are considering cracking down on the professional shutterbugs. Though it's a lack of professionalism that seems to be driving city leaders to rein in a situation that both celebrities and LA citizens say has gotten out of control.

Overly aggressive paparazzi have provoked attacks by celebrities' bodyguards and even fans. Malibu surfers fought with photographers who stormed the beach to click pics of Matthew McConaughey. New mom Halle Berry pressed criminal charges against paparazzi who crept into her yard to sneak photos of her infant daughter. Numerous celebrities have been chased through city streets by packs of photographers, sometimes resulting in minor accidents.

Accusations -- and sometimes punches -- have flown from both sides. Celebrities say they feel harassed and endangered. Photographers say they're just trying to make a living. LA politicians are fed up with what they see as increasingly confrontational and aggressive tactics. "This is a response to their lack of responsible behavior," said LA City Councilman Dennis Zine, organizer of the new task force charged with finding a solution to the problem.

The most likely solution, one that even paparazzi have considered, is certification or registration of photographers to work as paparazzi. Paparazzi are freelance photographers which means any person with a camera can try to get in on the action. Supporters believe that registration would cull non-professionals from the ranks. Providing legitimate photographers with official credentials could help police determine who has a right to be onsite at celebrity sightings. It is also hoped that fear of losing their credentials might promote more professional and less aggressive behavior.

Under existing California law, paparazzi who break the law or use overly aggressive tactics to get a celebrity's picture can be charged with invasion of privacy, criminal trespass, assault, false imprisonment, stalking or battery. California enacted the nation's first civil anti-paparazzi law in 1999. Stringent punishments were added in 2005. Aggressive tactics can also lead to serious criminal charges. If you are charged during the course of your work as a paparazzi, seek the counsel of an experienced paparazzi criminal defense attorney.

-LegalPro

Paparazzi law in Los Angeles is an ever changing field, in part because of the differing situations that arise from time to time. For example, the news almost regularly reports instances of celebrities to attack the paparazzi after feeling attacked or for some other reason. However, as is the case with a paparazzo who was photographing Matthew McConaughey, this isn't always how things play out.

A photographer was trying to take photos of Matthew McConaughey when a mob of surfers attached the paparazzo, roughed him up and threw his camera into the ocean.

The paparazzi have come under fire lately, with celebrities taking drastic measures to protect their privacy. The paparazzi have faced:

Criminal charges from celebrities claiming they are under attack.

A sharp fallout after the various revelations from the death of Princess Diana, which the Courts blamed on the paparazzi chasing after her.

Stalking charges brought on from the various tactics used to get photographs.

These criminal charges, coupled with the various civil charges brought by celebs, have made the landscape for paparazzi far different than it was even five years ago. The aggressive behavior of some actors such as Hugh Grant and others, have made the job slightly more dangerous and legally challenging for LA's paparazzi.

In our May 2 blog post we talked about paparazzi Glen Gurniak who filed a hit and run suit against rocker Benji Madden and passenger Paris Hilton for allegedly driving over his foot before speeding away. The incident was widely reported in national and LA entertainment news and blog sites. Although no legal resolution has been reported to date, an anonymous citizen is posting strikingly similar responses to blog sites wherever the Gurniak charge crops up.The response posted on 22.moon.com is representative, though more elaborate than the comment posted on this site: "The pap is just in need of money he's tmz ex-video guy who is a sex offender, nothing happen to his foot anyone can go into a hospital and say their leg hurts and doctors can only assume it's a sprain if they can't find anything wrong with it. Which is what he claims to have had a sprain on his knee and ankle. Celebrities watch out he'll do it again."

So is this legit, an attempt to defame the man or a misguided effort to sway public or legal opinion? As Alice would say in Wonderland, things are getting "curiouser and curiouser." As is often the case, things may not be what they seem. Gurniak's claim could be legitimate or it could be a fraudulent attempt to bilk money from publicity shy celebrities. The unsubstantiated blog comment could equally be true or fraudulent, an attempt to either "get the truth out" or discredit Gurniak's charge.

The whole affair points out the importance of obtaining legal counsel no matter which side of an argument you're on. If you're a little guy with a legitimate beef, you need the power of an experienced lawyer to protect yourself from the rich and powerful. If you're among the social elite, you need the resources of an experienced lawyer to protect yourself from becoming the target of frivolous and often expensive nuisance suits. An experienced attorney will protect your interests in court. You may not be able to stop the rumor mills from spewing misleading or spurious reports, but an experienced attorney will see that your rights are protected. Leave it to the facts to quash unsavory rumors.

- LegalPro