Los Angeles Superior Court

Lindsay Lohan Ditches Newport Beach Rehab After 3 Minutes for Betty Ford Center

See the update at the end of this post about Lindsay Lohan apparently spending three minutes in the Newport Beach rehab before resurfacing at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage late Thursday.Lindsay Lohan is Newport Beach's now, bitches!No, she's not here for the next 90 days to show off bikinis ... More >>

Dave Hester, Ex-Costa Mesa Thrift King, Losing Early Rounds of His Suit Against Storage Wars

The A&E network and the Storage Wars production company are reportedly winning the early rounds in the lawsuit brought against them by former cast member and Costa Mesa thrift store king Dave Hester.The ballcap-wearing hoarder known for his "YUUUP!" calls at storage locker auctions claims he was ... More >>

[UPDATED with Appeal Withdrawn:] Dr. Lisa Tseng's Over-Prescription Cloud Hangs Over Surf City's Now-Closed Pacifica Pharmacy

See the update at the end of this post about the former Pacifica Pharmacy owner withdrawing his appeal of his pharmacy license revocation.ORIGINAL POST, FEB. 25, 7:30 A.M.: As you've probably seen or read, former Rowland Heights physician Lisa Tseng has pleaded not guilty to three counts of second- ... More >>

A&E Response Sounds Like Network Wants to Mothball Dave Hester's Storage Wars Lawsuit

As we pointed out a month and a half ago, former Costa Mesa thrift store king and early Storage Wars cast member Dave "YUUUP!" Hester is suing the A&E cable network and the reality show's production company for $750,000, alleging he was fired after complaining the reality show is fake. A&E h ... More >>

10 Brushes with Celebrities in Orange County, Both Major and Very Minor in 2012

Moving cameras are nothing new to Orange County, where countless motion pictures have been shot, movie stars have frolicked and resided and, in more recent years, reality television stars have made our Plasticland "real."But though we're a short distance/long commute from being Hollywood adjacent, w ... More >>

Rigoberto Gil in Court After Cops Find Rifles and $2 mil in Coke, Meth in Santa Ana Home

What Glendale police describe as a big-time Santa Ana drug dealer pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday to felony counts of possessing methamphetamine and cocaine for sale, transporting the drugs, possessing the drugs and an AK-47 at the same time and possessing the AK, two other a ... More >>

[Updated With Info On Upcoming Hearing] Long Beach Marijuana Dispensary Ban is Illegal, Court Rules

*See end of post for information about the next hearing in this case as well as the Long Beach City Attorney's response, denying that the city's pot ban has been invalidated.ORIGINAL POST, Sept. 8, 5:23 p.m.: A Los Angeles Superior Court ruling may have far reaching consequences for Long Beach's ban ... More >>

Michael Stephen Baker, LA Pedophile Priest, Arrested at Resort Pool Surrounded by Kids

The last time we wrote about Michael Stephen Baker, the pedophile priest was arrested in November of last year for violating his probation for kiddie-fiddling. Turns out he violated his probation again, this time on August 17, when probation officers found him next to a swimming pool where kids were ... More >>

Doctor Stands Trial For Overdose Deaths of Three Young Men; One From OC

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Dr. Hsui-Ying "Lisa" Tseng to stand trial for second degree murder in the deaths of three young men, one of whom was Vu Nguyen, 28, from Lake Forest. The decision came after a preliminary hearing that lasted three weeks. The osteopathic medicine doctor alle ... More >>

[UPDATED with Already Out of Jail:] Jeffrey Hubbard, Ex-Newport-Mesa Schools Chief, Gets 60 Days, Probation, Restitution

​UPDATE, FEB. 27, 1:58 P.M.: After serving four days of his 60-day sentence, former Newport-Mesa Unified School District superintendent Jeffrey Hubbard was reportedly released from jail early this morning. The judge had previously indicated Hubbard would be freed by mid-March due to overcrowding. ... More >>

Bob's Towing Unleashes the Dogs, Fullerton Police Bite Back

​A week after the Weekly reported that local business Bob's Towing had sued the Fullerton Police department for harassment, the department fired back with a salvo of its own. Tuesday's city council meeting saw the embattled department unveiling a nearly 600 page report detailing a  year-long ... More >>

[UPDATED with Firing Confirmed:] Jeffrey Hubbard, Newport-Mesa Schools Chief, Guilty of Misappropriating Funds

​UPDATE, JAN. 24, 5:26 P.M.: The support Newport-Mesa Unified School District Superintendent Jeffrey Hubbard enjoyed from his Board of Education disappeared into the paneling separating trustees from the public barred from a secret meeting this afternoon.In other words, the board voted unanimously ... More >>

Michael Stephen Baker, Notorious L.A. Pedophile Priest, In Orange County Jail for Violating Probation

Baker: Looks like John Wayne Gacy, no?​Michael Stephen Baker was one of the most notorious pedophile priests in Southern California history, a monster who single-handedly showed what a lying sack-o'-shot Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony was in protecting pedo-priests from the law.Baker is now als ... More >>

[UPDATED WITH CITY'S NEAR CLUELESS REACTION] Long Beach Pot Ordinance Ruled Illegal: Cannabis Activists Winning?

​UPDATE, OCT. 7, 12 P.M.: Long Beach city officials are scratching their heads about how to respond to an appeal court decision that appears to overturn the city's medical marijuana ordinance. According to an article by Greggory Moore posted yesterday evening on Long Beach Post, the city attorney ... More >>

[UPDATED with Dismissal:] Irvine Woman Sues Dr. Phil Over Naked Man Stunt

​UPDATE, AUG. 15, 2:50 P.M.: An Irvine woman's lawsuit against Dr. Phil McGraw, which alleged the 56-year-old was traumatized by the surprise appearance of a naked man during the taping of the Dr. Phil show, has been dismissed. Lawyers for CBS and McGraw filed a motion to dismiss early last week, ... More >>

Imperial Stars to Stand Trial

[Mental Notes] Also, Poreotics and the trans-Pacific dance heist.

From Ron Artest to Metta World Peace and Five Other Weird Celebrity Name Changes

​Yesterday, Ron Artest's attorney filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking to change the Los Angeles Lakers forward's name to Metta World Peace. Born Ronald William Artest Jr., the 31-year-old cited personal reasons for wanting to make the change. This is not the first time a sports ... More >>

Imperial Stars Face Charges for Freeway Stunt

​Remember Imperial Stars? The trio from Garden Grove who thought it would be a great idea if they blocked three lanes of the 101 to play a song called...(wait for it) "Traffic Jam 101?" And then announced to anyone who'd listen that it was to "benefit displaced children of America?" Well, the Regi ... More >>

Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine Are Buds

The two thought they were doing the people of Long Beach a favor. Then they became targets in the city's weird war on weed

Irvine Woman's Suit Against Dr. Phil Over Naked Man Stunt Proceeds

​A judge has ordered a July hearing on a lawsuit brought by two women, including a 56-year-old Irvine resident, who claim they were traumatized by the surprise appearance of a naked man during the taping of the Dr. Phil show.Shirley Rae Dieu, the Irvine woman, and Crystal Matchett, 26, of Michig ... More >>

[UPDATED] Chris McAmis Enters Not Guilty Plea in Lynsie Ekelund Killing

​UPDATE, MARCH 22, 12:44 P.M.: Today, after months of delays, 32-year-old Christopher McAmis entered a plea of not guilty to allegedly murdering and attempting to rape Placentia woman Lynsie Ekelund a decade ago. This was McAmis' fourth appearance at the Superior Court in uptown Whittier since his ... More >>

Kurt Karcher, Serving Life for Strangling OC Attorney in 1992, Gets 88 Years for Choking Out Two Cellmates

​A male prostitute already serving life in prison for strangling an attorney with a strap in a Garden Grove motel room and stuffing the body into a Dana Point trash bin nearly 20 years ago just got another 88-year sentence.Kurt Karcher's latest crimes? Choking out two cellmates, one at the state p ... More >>

Jeffrey Hubbard, Newport-Mesa Schools Chief, Held for Trial, and Then Suspended

​Hours after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled there is enough evidence for Jeffrey Hubbard to face trial for allegedly misappropriating public funds, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to suspend their superintendent of schools.Trustees meeting behind closed d ... More >>

Chris McAmis' Arraignment on Murder Charge Delayed

​Accused murderer Chris McAmis requested a new arraignment date today via his public defender, Leslie Gordon, at the Los Angeles Superior Court in Whittier. Commissioner Armando Moreno granted the request and set a new date for March 22, though he warned there would be no further continuances.

Jeffrey Hubbard, Newport-Mesa Schools Chief, Denies Affair, Claims Trustees Approved $20,000 Stipend

​Despite the sexy-time chatter--pet names, love pledges and oral-sex references--e-mailed between Newport-Mesa Unified School District's superintendent and a subordinate from his days leading the school system in Beverly Hills, Jeffrey Hubbard maintains he did not have a relationship outside work ... More >>

[UPDATED:] Gay Cameraman Sues Sacha Baron Cohen Over Prop 8 Riot in Bruno

​Update, November 26, 3:51 p.m.: A cameraman has dropped his lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen over an alleged assault at a Prop 8 rally in West Hollywood.Mike Skiff, who is openly gay, cited his own "emotional well being" as being the reason for ending the legal claim filed last month in Los Ange ... More >>

Chase Johnson of MTV's Laguna Beach Has His Suit Tossed Over $43,000 Bar Tab

​A judge tossed out a lawsuit brought by Chase Johnson, a former Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County cast member who claimed he should not have to pay the $43,000 bar tab he racked up at a Hollywood nightclub because the establishment knew he was only 20 at the time.The club, My House, last mont ... More >>

BREAKING: Arrest Made in Case of Missing Placentia Woman

Lynsie Ekelund​UPDATE, 8:45 P.M.: OCDA ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE ON THE CASE TODAY. SEE BOTTOM OF POST FOR DETAILS.After nine years of investigation and fears the case had been forgotten, an arrest has been made in the disappearance of Placentia resident and Fullerton College student Lynsie Ekelund. ... More >>

Gay Cameraman Sues Sacha Baron Cohen Over Prop 8 Riot in Bruno

​This time "Bruno" went too far, claims a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.Funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen's alter ego and his crew assaulted a man at a Prop 8 rally, alleges the suit that seeks $25,000 in punitive damages and reimbursement for medical expenses and general damages.

Cal State Fullerton Grad Student Grad Finds Missing Link Between Alex Bernal Housing Covenant Case and the Supreme Court

Courtesy of the Bernal familiaThe pioneering Bernals of Fullerton​It was a pleasure earlier this summer to report on the story of Alex Bernal, the longtime Fullerton resident who successfully fought off a lawsuit filed by racist white neighbors in 1943 that wanted him out of their neighborhood sol ... More >>

Fees Charged Students in Tustin and Long Beach Cited in ACLU Lawsuit Against State

​Fees charged to public school students in Tustin and Long Beach are part of the evidence the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is citing in a class action lawsuit filed today against the state of California and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.The suit contends the state is violating the Californ ... More >>

Steven Bren, Son of Billionaire Irvine Co. Chairman, Lands on Tax Delinquent List

Only known photo to exist anywhere and everywhere of Steve Bren, not counting those other ones.​A former Grand Prix racing champion and son of billionaire Irvine Co. chairman Donald Bren occupies the No. 18 spot on the most recently updated list of California's most delinquent tax delinquents.Ste ... More >>

Bribery, Threats, Broken-Down Vehicles, Lawsuits, Pioneers, Good Food: Tales From OC's Taco Trucks

Pedo-Priest Gus Krumm Fighting to Keep His Personnel Files Personal

If you want to fight for the side of truth and justice, join members of SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) this Sunday around 8:30 in the morn as they distribute fliers outside Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in Huntington Beach. They'll alert parishioners about what Diocese of ... More >>

John Burgess To Be Sentenced; Donna Jou's Family To Send Letter To Craiglist

Courtesy of Jou familyDonna JouA press release sent out this weekend by lawyer Gloria Allred notifies us that John Steven Burgess, the man who plead guilty to manslaughter and concealing an accidental death in the case of Rancho Santa Margarita's Donna Jou, faces sentencing in Los Angeles Superior C ... More >>

Ex-Owner of Santa Ana Abortion Clinic May Be Jail Bound

LifeNews.com reports the owner of a chain of women's health clinics that caters primarily to Latinas - which until recently included Clinica Medica Para La Mujer at 120 W 5th St., Santa Ana, the site of an alleged assault by a physician on a pro-life photographer we blogged about in August - is like ... More >>

Marilyn Manson Sued By Ex-Bandmate

A lawsuit against Marilyn Manson was filed earlier this afternoon in Los Angeles Superior Court. Keyboardist Stephan Bier (a.k.a. “Madonna Wayne Gacy”) claims Manson filched millions of dollars from the band's earnings, squandering the money on his lavish lifestyle. According to the New York P ... More >>

Again with the Orange County Connection

'Member that op-ed piece I hacked out for the Los Angeles Times a couple of months back? No, not the MEChA-loving piece or my amnesty-loving piece, but the one where I deemed our fair county the Mexican-bashing capitol of America? Turns out that the Los Angeles Superior Court judge who told an illeg ... More >>

From Burned Boy to Burned Investor (Allegedly)

KNBC/Channel 4 reports that 28-year-old Dave Dave--who when he was age 6 and known as David Rothenberg had 90 percent of his body burned after his father Charles Rothenberg doused him with kerosene in a Buena Park motel--is suing for fraud a man he met at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. In his la ... More >>

Dirty Money

If you want to pollute in Orange County, its best to be a multinational

The Sins of the Father

While Catholic priests raped Orange County children, Pope John Paul II looked the other way

Take the Bishop Michael Driscoll Pedo-Quiz!

Personnel Bile No. 7: The Choir Master

The Choir Master

Shreddin'!

Other Catholic diocese have destroyed incriminating priest personnel files. Why not Orange?

Personnel Bile #3: The Milwaukee Monster

#The Milwaukee Monster

A Millstone Around Their Necks

Orange Diocese about to settle with sex-abuse victims for millions but will lose nothing

Whats His Line?

An OC Weekly poll of voters in the Dornan-Rohrabacher race

Diary of a Mad County

Travis Bickles

An open letter to the Board of Supervisors

The Madness of King George

Megadeveloper Argyros says F the voters