Trial Date Rescheduled for June 15, 2010 in KTTV Fox 11 News Camera Operator`s Lawsuit against City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Police Department

Patti Ballaz Alleges the LAPD Caused Her to Suffer Serious Injuries While She
Was Covering the 2007 May Day Immigration Rights Rally

LOS ANGELES–(Business Wire)–
The trial in KTTV Fox 11 News camera operator Patricia “Patti” Ballaz` lawsuit
against the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department has been
rescheduled from its June 8, 2010 date, and will now begin on Tuesday, June 15,
2010 at 10:00 AM in Los Angeles Superior Court. Ms. Ballaz alleges that the LAPD
caused her to suffer serious injuries while she was lawfully covering the 2007
May Day Immigration Rights Rally taking place at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles,
CA. The case will be heard before the Hon. William F. Highberger in Department
307. The trial is expected to last seven days, with jury selection slated for
Thursday, June 17, 2010.

Ms. Ballaz was a credentialed member of the KTTV Fox 11 News team covering the
2007 May Day MacArthur Park Immigration Rights Rally. Her case was consolidated
with other similar lawsuits and is collectively known under the lead case name
of Thomas Frederick Mecozzi vs. City of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles Police
Department, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC377597. Patricia Ballaz is
represented by Browne Greene and Robert D. Jarchi with the Santa Monica, CA. law
firm of Greene Broillet & Wheeler.

Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP
Kathy Pinckert
Director of Marketing & Media Relations
Tel: 310.576-1200, ext. 248
Email: Kpinckert@greene-broillet.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Mum wants MJ’s autopsy photos kept private

London, May 14 (ANI): Late King of Pop Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine has expressed her fear that a series of graphic photos taken during the autopsy of the singer might be leaked to the public.

The images, which were detailed in the coroner’s report of the singer’s death, are in the possession of officials at the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.

According to the National Enquirer, Katherine, 80, fears the photos will fall into the wrong hands and end up on the Internet or splashed across publications around the world.

“There are genuine fears the pictures could be leaked or that computer hackers could get to them – and the LAPD and District Attorney’s office are taking extreme preventive measures to keep them secure,” the Daily Express quoted a source as saying.

Katherine wants the pictures to be kept under wraps, as she believes the publication of the gruesome shots will be disrespectful to Michael’s memory and have a negative impact on his three young kids.

“Katherine says releasing the photos is morbid and disrespectful to Michael’s memory,” the source said.

“She’s still dealing with Michael’s death and she’s extremely worried about his kids seeing pictures of their dead father.

“Katherine said she hopes and prays that decency will prevail and no one will ever see these photographs,” the source added. (ANI)

‘Only 3 detectives are investigating MJ’s death’

London, Aug 28 (ANI): The reason behind Michael Jackson’s death case taking so long is that it is being investigated by only three detectives, sources say.

“There are only three detectives from LAPD’s homicide division assigned to the case,” the Sun quoted a source as saying.

The insider added: “This is one of the reasons the investigation is ongoing.”

In fact the overworked cops have remained so busy that they have not yet interviewed security officer Alberto Alvarez, who made the 911 call as the star lay dying.

Also the icon’s chief of staff Michael Amir has not been questioned.

Lawyer Carl Douglas, who represents both, said: “We arranged two occasions for investigators to meet my clients.

“The first meeting was rescheduled. The second I had to call them to inquire about the detectives’ absence.” (ANI)

MJ’s death was homicide, concludes coroner

London, August 25 (ANI): The Los Angeles County coroner has reportedly concluded Michael Jackson’s death was homicide.

The King of Pop, who was allegedly being treated for insomnia, had lethal levels of the strong anaesthetic Propofol in his body when he died, according to court papers.

Details of the coroners’ findings were revealed when a search warrant affidavit was made public in Texas, reports the Sun.

Investigators have quizzed the team of doctors who treated Jackson, including his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray, who, though not named as a suspect, is at the centre of a manslaughter probe.

A search warrant affidavit for Murray in California read: “The Los Angeles Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner, Dr Sathyavagiswaran, indicated that he had reviewed the preliminary toxicology results and his preliminary assessment of Jackson’s cause of death was due to lethal levels of propofol (diprivan).”

The affidavit apparently revealed that Murray told LAPD detectives he had been giving the singer propofol as part of his treatment for insomnia, and feared the star was becoming addicted to the drug.

But Murray, who has denied any wrong doing, reportedly gave Jackson a lower dosage of propofol on the morning of his death after several other drugs failed to work.

Jackson died aged 50 from an apparent cardiac arrest at his rented LA mansion on June 25. (ANI)

MJ’s death probe: Cops discover secret email accounts

London, Aug 24 (ANI): Cops investigating Michael Jackson’s death have discovered two secret email accounts he may have used to buy prescription drugs.

The detectives said they have recently discovered the King of Pop operated the Gmail and AOL sites.

“They could hold vital evidence with regard to Michael’s death and the drugs he was using regularly,” the Mirror quoted a source close to the investigation as saying.

“Not only did he get prescription drugs through a network of doctors, it’s believed he may also have got them from illegal websites or drug cartels. The LAPD has to get a search warrant first and this takes a few days,” the source added.

It has also been said that police have got the number for a private mobile phoneline used by Jacko.

The detectives had not been told about the rarely used number until last week. There’s a possibility that the ‘Thriller’ hitmaker used the phone to contact people for his drugs. (ANI)

Lindsay ‘OK, but upset’ after burglary at home

Washington, August 24 (ANI): American actress Lindsay Lohan is said to be “OK, but upset” after her home has been burgled.

She found that her Hollywood Hills house had been broken into when she returned home after a hugely successful stint as a guest judge on the Project Runway premiere.

Norma Eisenman, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), confirmed that police were investigating the matter.

She also said that everyone at Lindsay’s home was cooperating, and that no suspects were in custody.

“There is a possible burglary investigation going on,” E!online quoted her as saying.

Lindsay’s mother Dina, who also happens to be the actress’ manager, told People: “The safe was ripped out of the wall, and the door was off the hinges and door handles removed.”

She even revealed that the family was already in the process of packing up Lindsay’s belongings.

“We are moving her to a safer place,” she said.

Earlier, a robbery attempt was made at Lindsay’s house in May, which was caught on the surveillance cameras installed there. (ANI)

Cops probing MJ’s death launch murder probe

London, July 11 (ANI): The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has launched a murder investigation into King of Pop Michael Jackson’s death, owing to the mysterious circumstances surrounding the case.

Police chief William Bratton has revealed that the singer’s medical records have been subpoenaed.

He said that since the late star appeared to have died after allegedly taking a cocktail of prescription drugs, somebody has to face trial over his death.

Bratton revealed that they had seized a number of items from the singer’s home at the time of his death, and were waiting for toxicology reports to come in.

“Based on those we’ll have an idea of what we’re dealing with. Are we dealing with homicide? Are we dealing with an accidental overdose? What are we dealing with?” the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

“At the time of the death with search warrants, we were able to seize a number of items from the residence where the death had occurred and those will assist in the investigation,” he added.

The news came after Jackson’s father, Joe, alleged that his son was murdered.

At the time, Joe insisted: “I do believe it was foul play. I do believe that. Yes.”

Meanwhile, homicide police were reportedly on the look out for Jackson’s several former doctors, and will also be re-arranging interviews with all the current medics involved with the star, who died aged 50 on June 25. (ANI)

Criminal investigation launched into Jackson’s death

London, June 29 (ANI): A criminal investigation has been launched into the sudden death of Michael Jackson, his family’s lawyer has revealed.

Attorney Brian Oxman said that homicide detectives had been called in to investigate the death, and the Jackson family was looking to begin a legal battle of their own if anybody found to be responsible was not brought to justice.

The family carried out their own private second autopsy to gather evidence to start legal action, after foul play was ruled out in the first one.

“I can tell you, and this is a new development, there is a criminal investigation taking place by the Los Angeles Police Department. That is the case. They have told the family,” British tabloid The Sun quoted Oxman as saying.

The King of Pop’s personal doctor Conrad Murray was questioned by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on June 27.

Murray is suspected of giving the singer a shot of the potent painkiller Demerol before he collapsed in his rented Los Angeles home.

He is thought to have plunged a syringe into the star’s heart in his failed attempts to save him.

Speaking about Murray, Oxman added: “I don’t know what he did. But the reports I have heard are disturbing. A Demerol shot sure sounds consistent with what I knew.”

A police spokesman said: “Dr Conrad Murray voluntarily contacted the Los Angeles Police Department. Detectives assigned to Robbery and Homicide Division met with him and conducted an extensive interview. Dr Murray was co-operative and provided information which will aid the investigation.” (ANI)

Antonio Banderas to star as detective in The Big Bang

Washington, May 11 (ANI): Antonio Banderas is all set to star in the Tony Krantz-directed neo-noir detective story, ‘The Big Bang’.

Richard Rionda Del Castro, Krantz and Erik Jendresen will produce the film, which is based on a script by Jendresen, who also penned ‘Band of Brothers’.

The production of ‘The Big Bang’ will start in Spokane, Washington, in September, reports Variety magazine.

In the film, Banderas would be seen playing an L.A. private detective who’s hired to find a missing stripper.

The track leads to the New Mexico desert, where he finds a trail of bodies and contends with a brutal Russian boxer, three LAPD detectives and an aging billionaire looking to perfect the nuclear physics equivalent of the Big Bang.

The film’s executive producers will be Patricia Eberle, Richard Salvatore, and Ross Dinerstein.

And Rionda Del Castro’s Hannibal Pictures is financing and handling foreign sales at Cannes.

U.S. representation is being handled by WMA and Endeavor.

The project would be the first theatrical feature for Krantz, one of the few ex-agents to make that leap. (ANI)

Rihanna soaks up Barbadian sun with beer

London, April 28 (ANI): Rihanna has been spotted soaking up the sun in swanky Barbados resort Sandy Lane.

It looks like the singer is trying to come to terms with her terrible split with rapper Chris Brown, right after he supposedly attacked her at the Grammys.

Dressed in a skimpy bikini, the singer was seen sipping a few fizzy lagers quite a few times.

It seems the dusky beauty is making the most of being single, reports the Sun.

Meanwhile, Rihanna wants LAPD to return the nearly million-dollar worth jewellery taken into evidence for investigation in her alleged beating case.

The singer, who was allegedly punched, choked, and bitten by her former boyfriend Chris Brown before the Grammy’s, had borrowed the expensive accessories from four jewellers, who now want it back.

The R and B lady was said to have been trying to recover the bling from the officials since late March. (ANI)

Rihanna wants $1m borrowed jewellery back from cops

Washington, April 25 (ANI): Rihanna wants LAPD to return the nearly million-dollar worth jewellery taken into evidence for investigation in her alleged beating case.

The singer, who was allegedly punched, choked, and bitten by her former boyfriend Chris Brown before the Grammy’s, had borrowed the expensive accessories from four jewellers, who now want it back.

The R and B lady was said to have been trying to recover the bling from the officials since late March.

“Since there appears to be no evidentiary value to the continued holding of this jewelry … we respectfully [ask] the court to order the return of this property to [Rihanna] without further delay,” People magazine quoted her attorney Donald Etra as writing in a court request filed earlier this week.

“If the DA doesn’t need the items, and the LAPD doesn’t need the items, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be returned,” Etra added.

Etra further said that the owners of the items would hold the 21-year-old responsible if the items were not returned and the total cost and damages for their late return could run up to more than 1.4 million dollars.

LAPD refused to comment and as per the court papers, there is yet to be a response for the requests of the jewellery’s return.

DA spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said: “At this stage, we’re not even sure what evidence is going to be entered into the case. For now, we don’t have any further comment on this matter.”

Meanwhile, Brown, who pleaded not guilty to two felony counts, is due to return to the court on April 29. (ANI)

Rihanna, Chris Brown fight re-enacted in a video

London, Mar 21 (ANI): American ‘Teen empowering group’ DoSomething.org, formed to help domestic violence victims, has recreated the alleged fight between Rihanna and Chris Brown in a public service address flick.

Media reports that Rihanna was allegedly attacked by Brown and left with horrific injuries raised a lot of questions in the minds of young fans.

With many fans turning against Brown for his appalling act, the Teen Empowering group decided to make a flick based on the facts gathered from the LAPD report, in a bid to urge victims of domestic violence to come forward.

The group brought to light the shocking fact that one in every three is a victim of domestic violence.

The flick begins with a warning about graphic images before showing a couple in a car involved in a fight.

And it ends with a message urging people suffering from domestic violence to come forward and report it.

Meanwhile, Brown has been charged with two felony counts and released on a bail of 50,000 dollars until a hearing on April 6. (ANI)

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson’s fight has window panes flying

London, Mar 16 (ANI): Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons, as her recent fight with Samantha Ronson resulted in a smashed window.

The ‘Mean Girls’ actress was busy partying at hotel Chateau Marmont in LA before making a late night visit to old lothario Jack Nicholson’s home, after which she headed to Ronson’s place.

According to People magazine, after Ronson arrived the duo began quarrelling loudly, and a neighbour called the police after hearing the commotion.

After a moment the neighbour saw a windowpane get cracked, which sent the window glass flying across the street.

“The police were called in by a neighbor after a loud argument between Lindsay and Sam, which could be heard out on the street,” the Daily Star quoted a source, as saying.

“At one point, something went flying through a side window, shattering glass on the side walkway of the house,” the source added.

When the police arrived, neither Lohan nor Ronson responded to their constant knocking at the front door.

“LAPD officers pounded at the front door but Lindsay or Sam did not open the door,” the source added.

Lohan’s representative were unavailable for comment. (ANI)

Website chief defends publishing ‘battered Rihanna’ pic

London, February 25 (ANI): A celebrity news chief has defended his stand of publishing an alleged photograph of Rihanna with horrific injuries.

The ‘Umbrella’ hitmaker was ‘snapped’ with a split lip, a bloody nose, and wounds on her forehead and face.

It was claimed that the photograph was taken after Rihanna was allegedly attacked by her singer ‘beau’ Chris Brown following a heated argument.

TMZ published a photo of a battered woman alleging her to be Rihanna which prompted L.A police department to launch a probe to find those responsible for the leak.

And now website boss Harvey Levin has insisted upon the significance of covering “both sides” of the story.

“It is a photograph of Rihanna that was taken shortly after the alleged beating a couple of weeks ago,” the Daily Express quoted him as telling Fox News.

“We, obviously, believed at the time, convincingly, that it was Rihanna and put it up on the site… I’m not saying anything bad at all about the LAPD.

“I mean, what they needed to do, they felt, was conduct an internal affairs investigation because they felt there was a leak. In so doing … they did authenticate the picture,” he added.

Levin continued: “Chris Brown is not going to just say, ‘I’m going to lie down on this one and not fight’. I guarantee you that Chris Brown is going to mount a defence in this case. I know that. He will mount a defence in this case.

“So, the picture is not the be-all and the end-all, as far as he’s concerned… But what it does do is it puts a face on what both sides really have been kind of leaking out over the last couple of weeks… Well, the bottom line is, here’s the photograph, here’s the end result. And frankly, I think it’s pretty horrifying.” (ANI)

Chris Brown under investigation over alleged assault

Washington, Feb 9 (ANI): Pop star Chris Brown is being investigated by the L.A police department after an unnamed woman accused him of domestic abuse.

According to sources, the unnamed is superstar Rihanna.

The police statement said Brown and a woman were in a vehicle near Hollywood’s Hancock Park when ‘they became involved in an argument.’

A woman with visible injuries identified Brown as her attacker but the pop star had already left the scene when authorities arrived.

Now, he is being investigated by the LAPD for an alleged domestic violence termed the ‘felony battery’ offence.

However, some sources are claiming that Brown is incapable of committing such a ghastly act.

“Chris is a good kid, well brought up,” Fox news quoted a source, as saying. (ANI)

Jamie Lynn Spears’ look-alike sues LAPD for being used as a decoy

London, January 8 (ANI): A Jamie Lynn Spears lookalike is taking LAPD to court, claiming damages worth 1.3 million pounds, after she was used as a decoy for Britney’s younger sister– without being informed.

Adessa Eskeridge is considering her legal options against the department after she was put on the same flight as Jamie last September.

In order to prevent paparazzi from mobbing the young actress, the officials had used Adessa to sidetrack attention, reports the Sun.

Her lawyer R. J Molligan said: “Adessa was not given any details as to the nature of the task or of the potential danger involved. She simply followed the instructions of the police as most good citizens would do.”

The team also claimed that: “The LAX police did not want to subject Ms. Spears to the pushing, shoving, humiliation and possible physical injury that come with the paparazzi, but instead decided that Ms Eskeridge was not important enough to give the same protections to.”

Molligan further alleged that Adessa was “never informed that upon deplaning, she would be mobbed by the paparazzi, that she would be in fear of her well-being, that her picture would be taken, (and) that video of her would be all over the Internet”.

She added her client was “deceived and manipulated” by the offcials and claimed she has “suffered and continues to suffer great humiliation” post the incident.

LAPD are yet to comment on the case. (ANI)