Travolta takes stand in extortion trial
NASSAU, Bahamas, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- John Travolta testified in a Bahamian court Wednesday that an employee first informed him of the alleged extortion plot involving his son's death.
The film star first took the stand last week in the trial of former senator Pleasant Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne, who have pleaded innocent to charges they attempted to sell confidential documents pertaining to 16-year-old Jett Travolta's death to his parents for $25 million.
Bridgewater and Lightbourne allegedly threatened to release the documents to the media if Travolta didn't pay them.
E! News quoted the actor as testifying Wednesday that he called his lawyer immediately after an employee first told him about the demand and that the attorney then contacted the authorities.
Travolta admitted he was never contacted directly by the defendants, but said his trusted staffer relayed the message to him from Bridgewater and Lightbourne that if he didn't pay the $25 million they would go public with information "imply(ing) that the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable in some way."
Travolta said last week he signed a document releasing the ambulance company from liability in his son's care, while he decided whether to fly the teen -- who was autistic and suffered a seizure -- to Florida or have him treated at a local hospital. The family has a home in Ocala, Fla.
"I received a liability of release document," E! News quoted Travolta as saying on the stand last week. "I signed it. I did not read it. Time was of the essence."
Jett was ultimately taken to a medical facility in the Bahamas where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead Jan. 2.
Judge tosses Dan Rather's CBS lawsuit
NEW YORK, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A New York state appeals court has dismissed Dan Rather's $70 million lawsuit against CBS, legal records show.
Rather, 77, alleged in court papers that the network, his workplace for 44 years, violated their contract with him, limited his air time and ruined his reputation by making him take the fall for an erroneous 2004 story about President George W. Bush's Vietnam-era Texas Air National Guard service.
However, the New York Post said a five-judge panel ruled unanimously Tuesday that the veteran broadcast journalist's lawsuit had no merit.
"We believe the decision is incorrect on a number of grounds and, accordingly, we intend to ask the New York Court of Appeals to review it," Rather's attorney, Martin Gold, told the newspaper.
Kathy Ireland eliminated from 'Dancing'
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Model Kathy Ireland became the latest celebrity booted from the U.S. dance competition series, "Dancing with the Stars," Tuesday night.
Previously eliminated from Season 9 of the show were singer Macy Gray and actor Ashley Hamilton.
"I wouldn't change a minute of it," Ireland, who had been partnered with professional dancer Tony Dovolani for the show, told People magazine after learning their fate. "To be able to work with Tony the past six weeks has changed my life forever. I can do so many things I never thought I could do. I feel like the biggest winner because I got him as my teacher."
Report: Timberlake and Biel break up
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. pop star Justin Timberlake and actress Jessica Biel have ended their three-year courtship, a mutual friend told Usmagazine.com.
The source said Timberlake broke up with Biel on the phone. "It was about a month ago," the friend reported, adding the actress is in "severe denial and won't accept" the relationship is over.
"There's no way of knowing if it's a firm breakup, because with them it's so hot and cold," another source told Usmagazine.com.
Timberlake previously dated singer Britney Spears and actress Cameron Diaz.
