Bret Michaels to Sue Tony Awards

Bret Michaels blames the Tony Awards for causing the brain hemorrhage that nearly killed him after he was whacked in the head by a piece of scenery while performing on the show in 2009.

Michaels has filed a lawsuit against Tony Award Productions, CBS and others  blaming producers for not instructing him on how to safely exit the stage after his performance was over because while he tried to exit, he was "smacked" in the face by a piece of the set.

Michaels claims he had to be hospitalized for a broken nose and a cut lip.  Six months after the awards, Bret nearly died from a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage. Michaels insists it was NO coincidence.

In his suit, Michaels claims, "One of the most common causes of this type of hemorrhage is head trauma ummmm like the one Michaels suffered at  the Tony Awards." Michaels notes, "Through his sheer will to live, to see his children grow up, [he] was able to survive this trauma."

Bret says producers have "failed and refused" to remedy the situation and even blamed him for the mishap at the Tony Awards, claiming he "missed his mark." Michaels is suing for unspecified damages. A rep for the Tonys had no comment.

Sheen Sues Warner Bros. & Lorre for $100 Million

Charlie Sheen  has just filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. and Chuck Lorre, and he's not only demanding he get paid for the remaining 8 "Two and a Half Men" episodes, he's also suing on behalf of the cast and crew ... and the suit is for $100,000,000 plus punitive damages.

Sheen's lawyer, Marty Singer writes in the lawsuit, "Chuck Lorre, one of the richest men in television who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, believes himself to be so wealthy and powerful that he can unilaterally decide to take money away from the dedicated cast and crew of the popular television series, 'Two and a Half Men,' in order to serve his own ego and self-interest, and make the star of the Series the scapegoat for Lorre's own conduct."

Singer alleges the cancellation is based on "Warner Bros. capitulating to Lorre's egotistical desire to punish Mr. Sheen ..." Singer believes there was a conspiracy between Lorre and Warner Bros. to blame Charlie for the cancellation.

Singer says, the suit is also filed on behalf of the cast and crew, based on what's called a "private attorney general's statute." Singer alleges the decision to cancel the 8 episodes was made BEFORE Sheen criticized Lorre, because Lorre allegedly wanted out so he could work on his other shows -- and because he hated Sheen. The suit points out Warner Bros. renegotiated Charlie's contract when he was facing felony charges in Aspen -- charges Warner Bros. thought would land Charlie in jail.

Singer claims they fired Charlie when he was sick, and that's a violation of State and federal law.

Katie Holmes Sues Star Magazine Over Cover Story

Katie Holmes sued the publishers of Star Magazine on Tuesday, accusing them of libel over a magazine cover that implied she was a drug addict.

 

The actress filed the lawsuit against American Media Inc. in federal court in Los Angeles. She said the January cover that featured the headline "Katie DRUG SHOCKER!" was not true.

The cover featured a picture of Holmes not looking her best, and the story itself claimed she was "trapped in a cycle of addictive treatments," based on interviews with former Scientology members.

"Star Magazine's malicious claims about Katie are untrue, unethical and unlawful," Holmes' attorney, Bert Fields, wrote in a statement. "Not only do they cruelly defame Katie, they play a cheap trick on the public, making ridiculously false claims on the cover unsupported by anything inside."

The complaint also states the cover story implies that Holmes is looking to split from husband Tom Cruise, which the lawsuit states is untrue.

""Of all the fabricated stories that continue to be published about me, this instance is beyond the pale," Holmes said in a statement. "The publisher knew this outrageous story was false and printed it anyway to sell magazines."

Star Magazine is standing by its story and said in a statement that it raises significant concerns about Church of Scientology practices, including the use of e-meters, devices that practitioners believe detect mental trauma.
"Star fully stands behind the editorial integrity of what we have published concerning Ms. Holmes'
controversial use of the Scientology 'e-meter,'" the statement reads. "The physical effect of the e-meter on its users is a matter of significant public concern and we plan to vigorously defend the suit filed by Ms. Holmes.
"Our attorneys look forward to deposing Ms. Holmes about her experiences with Scientology and the e-meter, and expect that the case will be promptly dismissed by the court," the statement said. Holmes,  is seeking more than $50 million in damages.

Her lawsuit claims the damage from the case came from the number of people who saw the cover, but probably never picked up the magazine or read the story to find out the allegations weren't about illicit drugs.
"Tens of millions of people saw the false and startling assertions of (Holmes') drug addiction on Star Magazine's cover, which was intentionally designed to deceive the public, while viciously defaming the plaintiff," the lawsuit states.