15 notorious celebrity lawsuits

POOL/AFP // Getty Images Singers, actors, producers, athletes, royals, and many other high-profile people linked to show business have, at one time or another, ended up in court, either to defend themselves from wrongdoing or in an effort to win a claim of their own. Regardless of whether they sat at the plaintiff’s or defendant’s table, the legal system was witness to the most trying moments of their lives–and in many instances, so was the rest of the world. Some judicial cases have ended up in documentaries, films, TV series, and bestselling books. But that is minor compared to the thousands of news outlets worldwide that thirst for more and more coverage to feed the public’s never-ending interest in the legal ups and downs of the rich and famous. Some lawsuits have shed light on decadeslong depravity in the entertainment industry and the ruthlessness of yellow media; others have helped bring critical, sensitive issues into the public consciousness. The involvement of some of Hollywood’s biggest names in the Harvey Weinstein scandal, for example, and the magnitude of the accusations brought to bear both in the court of law and in the court of public opinion elevated the feminist #MeToo movement into a worldwide phenomenon. The three journalists who exposed the case in two separate stories–Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor of The New York Times and Ronan Farrow of The New Yorker–were together awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for public service. This undeniable example of how the justice system and the media can collaborate to overthrow such a vicious figure who abused his privileges to the detriment of other people’s basic rights exemplifies why many are fascinated by celebrity lawsuits and the power they have to right wrongs that too often go unpunished. And there is no shortage of celebrities getting themselves in legal hot water these days. Therefore, Janda Law Firm compiled a list of some of the most notorious celebrity lawsuits using various news sources. Alec Baldwin vs. Halyna Hutchins’ family Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times // Getty Images A New Mexico judge recently approved the settlement reached by actor Alec Baldwin and the widower of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on set by a bullet fired from a prop gun by Baldwin while filming the Western movie “Rust” in October 2021. Initially, Baldwin faced two charges of involuntary manslaughter, but prosecutors dismissed them in April 2023. Investigators are still figuring out how real ammunition was loaded into the pistol. Charges of involuntary manslaughter were filed against the film’s gun supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and remain in place, even though her lawyers filed a motion in May 2023 to dismiss them; a preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 2023. Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan vs. Harvey Weinstein JOHANNES EISELE/AFP // Getty Images “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein.” This was the statement infamous former movie producer Harvey Weinstein used in an attempt to downplay over 100 accusations of sexual harassment and about 20 allegations of rape from women actors, models, aspiring stars, and past employees. Among the high-profile celebrities who accused Weinstein were actors Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan. The former sued the disgraced producer for sexual harassment and defamation; the first charge was initially dismissed, a decision later reversed by an appeals court. McGowan’s rape lawsuit was also dismissed after she skipped a filing deadline in the court case in which she represented herself. Nevertheless, after half a dozen women sued Weinstein in New York City, Los Angeles, and London, the mogul was found guilty of third-degree rape and criminal sexual acts and sentenced to 23 years in prison in New York in early 2020. The following year, he was found guilty of rape, forced oral copulation, and third-degree sexual misconduct by a Los Angeles jury and sentenced to 16 years. Britney Spears vs. Jamie Spears Chelsea Guglielmino // Getty Images After 13 years of managing her financial assets and her life decisions through a binding, court-ordered conservatorship, Britney Spears’ father, Jamie, was removed from his role by a judge. Shocking allegations of the controlling nature of the relationship with her father sparked the fans-led #FreeBritney movement. Both sides of the story were portrayed in two TV documentaries aired a few months after the family feud was resolved in court. Among the allegations regarding the extent of her father’s power, Britney stated Jamie had the last word about her birth control regimen, her marital status, and even the color of her kitchen cabinets. Ed Sheeran vs. Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue Aaron Chown/PA Images // Getty Images In 2022, a London High Court judge ruled in favor of singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran after he was sued by composers Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue for copyright infringement. After an 11-day trial dedicated to dissecting Sheeran’s hit song “Shape of You,” the judge settled the case, stating the English star “neither deliberately nor subconsciously” copied parts of Chokri’s song “Oh Why.” Sheeran has been in court more than once, facing similar charges. In May 2023, he was acquitted of copying parts of Marvin Gaye’s soul classic “Let’s Get It On” to compose his two-time Grammy-winning track “Thinking Out Loud.” The musician has repeatedly spoken about unethical people trying to reach financial settlements through “baseless claims” of copyright infringement. “I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake,” he said after his latest courtroom quarrel. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop vs. California FDMD Neilson Barnard // Getty Images Lifestyle company Goop, owned by Hollywood A-lister Gwyneth Paltrow, settled a $145,000 lawsuit with the California Food, Drug, and Medical Device Task Force over claims that a $66 vaginal detox egg “could balance hormones, regulate menstrual cycles, prevent uterine prolapse, and increase bladder control.” Prosecutors stated the claims were not based on reliable scientific information, while Paltrow’s company referred to the issue as an “honest disagreement.” The “Jade Egg” and a similar “Rose Quartz Egg” can still be purchased on the company’s website. Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard JIM LO SCALZO // Getty Images In April 2022, estranged couple and actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met in court to determine a defamation lawsuit he initiated against his ex-wife, along with her counterclaims. The actor accused Heard of damaging his career after writing an op-ed article in The Washington Post (amended after the jury’s verdict) portraying herself as a survivor of domestic abuse. On June 1, the jury favored both to different extents. Heard was ordered to pay Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages, as she was found guilty of all three charges. In comparison, she was awarded $2 million from her ex-husband in compensatory damages for one of the three claims against him. Both actors appealed a few months later but settled to drop the appeals in December 2022. Immediately after the highly publicized, livestreamed trial between the former spouses, Heard moved to Spain with her 2-year-old daughter; Depp moved to France a few months later. Kelly Clarkson vs. Starstruck Management