Real Prison Sentence for ‘Real Housewives’ Stars

On Thursday, October 2, reality television stars, Giuseppe and Teresa Giudice were sentenced to staggered prison sentences for several counts of fraud.

The married couple, starring on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” were indicted in 2013 on 39 counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and making false statements on loan applications. Additionally Giuseppe failed to file tax returns for the years 2004 – 2008. The couple originally pleaded not guilty, but changed their mind in March …

April 22, 2014 Fraud

Borgata Refunding Entrance Fees From Poker Tourney Tainted by Fake Chips

Following a three month investigation, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement issued an order on April 14th indicating that $1.7 million in prize money should be refunded to nearly half of the individuals that participated in a January poker tournament.

Tournament participants were required to pay a $560 entrance fee – $60 of which went to the house and $500 which went to the overall prize pool. However, the tournament was halted shortly after it began when the casino discovered that hundreds of fake …

August 22, 2013 Fraud

Costner Claims Robin Hood Production Company is Robbing From the Rich, Giving to Themselves

On August 8^,2013, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard Stone denied, for a second time, actor Kevin Costner’s claim that Morgan Creek Productions Inc. fraudulently denied him profits from the 90’s hit film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. However, Judge Stone granted the actor leave to amend the complaint to re-plead a claim for fraud keeping alive the possibility for a damages award more significant than one based solely on breach of contract.

In his decision, Judge Stone found insufficient facts to …

June 13, 2013 Fraud / Insurance

Keeping Up With the Counterclaims: Tria Beauty, Inc. and Kim Kardashian Are Denied Insurance Coverage

On May 21, 2013, a California Federal Judge denied insurance coverage to Tria Beauty, Inc. in a case involving false advertising allegations against rival Radiancy, Inc. In response, Radiancy, Inc. raised several counterclaims against Tria Beauty. What made the case especially noteworthy is the involvement of Tria Beauty’s leading spokeswoman, the wildly famous and always controversial Kim Kardashian.

The coverage claim providers, National Fire Insurance Co. of Hartford, and Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America, denied coverage to Tria Beauty, Inc. The coverage dispute was …

June 9, 2013 Fraud

Judge Suggests Parties Settle Ugly Dispute Over Art Valuation Over Cocktails in the Hamptons

A feud between a billionaire art collector and a gallery owner continued in a Manhattan court on June 5, 2013. The head of Forbes Holdings Inc. & MacAndrews, Ronald Perelman, is suing Larry Gagosian over past art deals. The case started in September 2012 when both parties filed claims against each other on the same day in the same New York court. Gagosian accused Perelman of backing out of a $23 Million art deal. Perelman’s suit asserts that Gagosian manipulated art prices and concealed information …

April 11, 2013 Fraud

Tour de Courts: SCA and Armstrong Battle It Out on Question of Fraud and Settlement

Lance Armstrong is riding a new tour these days, but instead of fresh air and the beautiful landscapes of France, this tour will be inside offices (lawyers’ offices) and courtrooms. Yes, it is the Tour de Courts. Since his confession to doping in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, his legal problems have compiled dramatically.

One of the more public legal disputes is with SCA Promotions (SCA). SCA helps companies run promotions that involve large payouts – payouts that these companies would otherwise not be …

February 22, 2013 Fraud

Mike Tyson Seeks to Punch-Out Former Financial Advisors with Lawsuit

On February 20, 2013, former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and its subsidiary SFX Financial Advisory Management Enterprises Inc. in California state court. Tyson’s suit accuses the Defendants of damaging him financially by embezzling more than $300,000.00 from Tyson and his wife, along with providing Tyson false financial advice that ended up costing the former star more than $5 million.

Tyson has had a financial relationship with the Defendants since 2005. Later, when the boxer …

July 10, 2012 Fraud

Federal Judge Cuts Down Actress’s Claims in Suit Against Amazon, IMDb for Posting Her Age Online

U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman released an order on July 2, 2012 granting a joint motion by IMDb.com Inc. and parent company Amazon.com Inc. to dismiss actress Junie Hoang’s claims that IMDb’s and Amazon’s privacy notices were fraudulent.

40-year old Hoang brought a breach of contract and privacy suit against IMDb and Amazon in October for finding and publishing her true age online. Hoang claimed that after she signed up for an IMDbPro account, her legal date of birth was added to her public …