LiLo Settles Suit Over Missing Mink

He blames city, county for ex-girlfriend's suicide drive into Hudson

(NEWSER) - The sad story of a New York mother who committed suicide by driving into the Hudson River in April, drowning three of her four young children, now has a hefty lawsuit attached. The kids' biological father is suing the city of Newburgh and Orange County for a total of $80 million, the Times Herald-Record reports. Jean Pierre alleges that the city boat ramp where the incident took place is too dangerous and that county officials should have been keeping a closer watch on his estranged girlfriend and the children. More»

Don't bring the 'negativity,' warns Dina

(NEWSER) - No one would dispute that an upcoming film starring heiress Lydia Hearst playing a wild young ne'er-do-well actress is about troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan. Even the film's writer says Hearst will play a "bratty movie goddess in and out of rehab and hounded by predatory paparazzi—a role obviously based on Lindsay Lohan." That's the problem, says Dina Lohan, who is planning to sue, reports TMZ . "They are using her likeness without her being compensated," she said. Besides, she adds: "Anyone bringing negativity will be dealt with accordingly." Now Hearst is apparently getting cold feet, tweeting that she hasn't yet officially signed on to the project. More»

New York couple wants $8M

(NEWSER) - A New York marriage counselor’s unorthodox methods apparently include telling his clients to cheat—and now he’s being sued by one couple he "treated." Guido Venitucci and Heather Aldridge paid $300 a week for 11 years to see counselor Jeffrey Mechanic—even though he was allegedly telling Venitucci his wife would never satisfy him and he should have an affair. When he did, Mechanic assured him it was a-OK. More»

From NYC to London, Berlin to Mississippi

(NEWSER) - Want to see hear some great music in a tiny place? The Guardian asks industry insiders for tips:

• Pegu Club, New York: Hitting this unassuming West Houston Street spot is “like going back to the great clubs of the 20s, when the staff were pretty and jazz and cocktails ruled,” says the director of one London jazz standby.
• Po’ Monkey’s, Merigold, Miss.: “Ramshackle hut powered by a single cable,” Po'Monkey's offers “raw blues at its authentic and spine-shivering best,” says one music-travel exec.

Lindsay Lohan should be happy the baby wasn't called 'skanky cake'

(NEWSER) - Lindsay Lohan is none too pleased—to the tune of a $100 million lawsuit —about the E*Trade commercial featuring a talking “milkaholic” baby named Lindsay, but it could have been worse. Joshua David Stein was there as the ad was created, working on a behind-the-scenes story for Esquire on the process—and a few other charming, and eventually rejected, nicknames for the baby were discussed: gutter hound, jailbait, tramp, flank-steak woman, and the simple but poetic skanky cake. More»