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Britney Switches Lawyers
Silverstone Appears in Naked Ad
Gabor Operation "A Success"
Simpson Free on Bail
Snipes Ordered To Pay Up in Talent Agency Battle
Morgan Punished for Violating Probation
Spector Hung Jury Told To Forget About Lesser Charge
Timberlake and Furtado Are Diva Diners
Sheridan Wins Legal Battle
Kidman and Urban Sell Up

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WENN

20 September 2007

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Britney Switches Lawyers

Troubled pop star Britney Spears is set to fire the new lawyer in her custody battle - after just one day in the job. The hitmaker is currently embroiled in a bitter battle with her ex-husband Kevin Federline over the care of their two sons Sean Preston, two, and one-year-old Jayden James. Spears' lawyer Laura Wasser quit on Monday with reports suggesting the attorney found the star a "problem client." Melvin Goldsman was named as Wasser's replacement on Tuesday, but Spears is considering firing him, according to high-profile divorce lawyer Sorrell Trope. Trope claims he has been chosen as Goldsman's replacement. He tells People.com, "Yes, it's true Ms. Spears quit Melvin Goldsman's firm, but we haven't been officially retained yet. The paperwork has not been signed, and it has to have our firm's, Goldsman's, and Ms. Spears's signatures. I anticipate it will be signed on (Wednesday)." Meanwhile, Federline is "happy" with the judge Scott Gordon's decision to order Spears to undergo twice-weekly random drugs testing after he raised concern about the singer's apparent "habitual, frequent, and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol." Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan tells People.com, "It would appear the court wanted to stabilize the status quo, but also implement orders that give as much protection to the kids until the court has the benefit of the ... evaluations. Kevin is happy the case is moving forward in a positive direction."

Silverstone Appears in Naked Ad

Hollywood star Alicia Silverstone proves she would rather strip off than eat meat after fronting a pro-vegetarianism campaign. The actress appears naked in new print and television advertisements for animal rights campaigners People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). In the TV commercial, Clueless actress Silverstone is seen emerging from a swimming pool while discussing the benefits of a meat-free diet. She says, "I wasn't always a vegetarian, but I've always loved animals. Physically, the effect has been amazing. There's nothing in the world that's changed me as much as this. I feel so much better and have so much more energy."

Gabor Operation "A Success"

Veteran actress Zsa Zsa Gabor's operation to relieve a leg infection was "a success" according to her husband Frederic Von Anhalt. The 90-year-old underwent surgery at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Von Anhalt says, "The operation was successful, she's in recovery and in a couple of days she'll be OK." Gabor, who was partially paralyzed after a 2002 car crash, has been relying on the use of a wheelchair and walking aid in recent years to get around - and her current illness is a direct result of her immobility.

Simpson Free on Bail

O.J. Simpson has been freed on $125,000 bail after spending three days in a Nevada jail. The sports star-turned-actor was arrested on Sunday for his part in an alleged sports memorabilia armed robbery at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas last week. As part of his bail agreement, announced in a Nevada court minutes ago, Simpson will surrender his passport to his attorney, Yale Galanter, within 24 hours and he won't be able to make contact with the victims of the alleged robbery, co-defendants or any witnesses who may testify against him in an upcoming trial. A criminal complaint has been filed against the Naked Gun star, featuring 10 felony charges and one misdemeanor, all relating to the incident at the Palace Station last week. The charges against Simpson include kidnapping, robbery, burglary and assault with a deadly weapon. The actor's mother, daughter Arnell and girlfriend Christy Prody were in court for this morning's arraignment. Simpson wore prison garb for the duration of his brief court hearing. Judge Joe Bonaventure stressed Simpson, who lives in Florida, is free to travel around the U.S. but he must have no contact with anyone else involved in the case, stating, "By no contact, I mean no direct contact, no indirect contact whatsoever. If you see them, you are to avoid contact... Don't use email, telephone, mail, passenger pigeon." Simpson will return to court in Nevada on October 17 for a further arraignment hearing.

Snipes Ordered To Pay Up in Talent Agency Battle

Hollywood star Wesley Snipes has been ordered to pay $1.7 million in fees to a talent agency who helped him land roles in four films, according to court documents released on Tuesday. The Blade star, 45, must hand over the outstanding amount to the United Talent Agency (UTA), which filed a lawsuit against the actor in Los Angeles Superior Court last year. It is the latest financial wrangle involving Snipes, who faces a court case in Florida later this year on tax evasion charges. The court documents claim UTA helped Snipes secure film roles in Blade 3, Chaos, Middle Man and The Shooter. Under an agreement with the actor, UTA was to be paid 10 percent of any money he received for the roles - but the lawsuit alleged the star failed to hand over the cash.

Morgan Punished for Violating Probation

Comedian Tracy Morgan has been ordered to suffer another 80 days wearing an anti-alcohol bracelet after admitting violating probation by drinking booze. The 30 Rock star was handed the punishment during a progress report in court in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He was first fitted with the SCRAM device on May 25 after pleading guilty to driving under the influence in New York last year, which violated his probation from a previous DUI arrest in Los Angeles in December 2005. Morgan has one final chance to stay drink-free - if he violates probation once more, he faces a 30-day sentence in Los Angeles County Jail. The punishment came just two days after 30 Rock scooped Best Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards.

Spector Hung Jury Told To Forget About Lesser Charge

The judge overseeing record producer Phil Spector's murder trial is refusing to allow his jury to consider a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter as it struggles to make a decision. Judge Larry Paul Fidler spoke with the jury foreman on Tuesday after learning the 12-member panel was deadlocked after spending seven days deliberating over the evidence and testimonies of 77 witnesses. Lawyers revisited certain aspects of the case with the jury before the members were sent home early. Fidler had hinted he might be prepared to lessen the second-degree murder charge against Spector to aid the jury, but on Wednesday, the judge stood firm. He told the jury members they should only consider the charge of second-degree murder. He said, "I do accept that it would be inappropriate at this time to instruct the jury with a new offense, that being the lesser offense of manslaughter, because I believe it's basically directing them, if at all possible, that's what they should find. And that is inappropriate." Fidler told the jurors he's considering asking attorneys to reargue parts of the case to help them come to a decision. Spector is charged with murdering actress Lana Clarkson in his Alhambra, California mansion in February, 2003. His lawyers maintain the depressed actress shot herself either on purpose or by accident.

Timberlake and Furtado Are Diva Diners

Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado are the worst behaved diners in showbiz, according to celebrity restaurateur Guy Rubino. Rubino claims Timberlake insisted on ordering off the menu and Furtado acted like a diva during visits to his Toronto, Canada eaterie Rain. The chef tells The New York Daily News, "Timberlake comes into Rain, doesn't even look at the menu and shouts for random food that we don't make. If he knew what he wanted, why come to an Asian restaurant in the first place? (Furtado) made a reservation for 10 guests. She showed up an hour late with five extra people in tow. For parties that size, we do a prix-fixe type of menu. Nelly objected and was really rude about it. She expected individual dishes to be prepared. Her manager even came into the kitchen and had the gall to say, 'Just f**king do it! I told her that she and her client could just f**king leave." In contrast, Rubino claims Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were the best guests: "They're very polite. Every time they come in, they pop into the kitchen to say hello. I just love them."

Sheridan Wins Legal Battle

Desperate Housewives star Nicollette Sheridan has won a year-long legal battle with her former manager after he sued her for firing him. Rob Lee claimed the actress dumped him so she wouldn't have to pay him a portion of her TV salary. In his documents, filed last summer, Lee claimed he helped her land a role on the hit TV show - but never got his 10 percent fee. However, earlier this month the California State Labor Commission ruled Lee wasn't properly licensed when he helped negotiate Sheridan's Desperate Housewives contract, and, as such, he wasn't entitled to a fee. Estimates suggest Sheridan earns $25,000-per episode on Desperate Housewives.

Kidman and Urban Sell Up

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are selling their luxury Nashville, Tennessee home. The Hollywood couple have put their four-bedroom mansion up for sale, with a listing price of $2.5 million. A pal of the pair tells New York gossip column PageSix, "It was Keith's house - they probably just want to find a home that is theirs." The 7,000-square-foot home boasts a gym, pool and spa.

Articles Copyright World Entertainment News Network All Rights Reserved.

The Internet Movie Database takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the articles above. Studio Briefing is edited by Lew Irwin and articles are the copyright of StudioBriefing.  The Celebrity News articles are licensed from WENN (World Entertainment News Network) and published for the entertainment of our users only. The WENN items do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that WENN's reporting is completely factual. Please address any complaints regarding the content of WENN to imdb@wenn.com.