newsmakers

August 31, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

newsmakers

RV dealer challenges Lautner to push-ups

LOS ANGELES

The owner of an RV dealership sued by Taylor Lautner over a customized vehicle challenged the “Twilight” star Monday to use his muscles instead of his lawyers to resolve the case.

Brent McMahon, who owns McMahon’s RV in Irvine, Calif., offered to compete in a push-up contest to settle the breach-of-contract lawsuit that Lautner filed Aug. 23 claiming the dealership failed to deliver a $300,000 RV on time for use as a dressing room on the set of the actor’s latest film.

McMahon and his attorney denied wrongdoing and said they will vigorously defend the case in court if Lautner, 18, doesn’t accept the challenge.

The dealership said Lautner’s camp had sought a $40,000 settlement to resolve the case, leading to the unorthodox proposal by McMahon. The 47-year-old businessman said if he won the contest, he would donate the settlement money to Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Lautner’s lawsuit claimed McMahon’s RV failed to complete the customized RV on time, and it needed additional work after it was delivered.

Car strikes gate at novelist’s home

BANGOR, Maine

Authorities say a car rammed into the security gate outside Stephen King’s home in Maine.

Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards says 25-year-old Renee Harris of Alton told police that an oncoming car veered into her lane about 9 a.m. Sunday. She swerved and crashed into the custom-made black iron fence. No one was injured.

Police say the accident might have caused $100,000 in damage to the gate. King spokeswoman Marsha DeFilippo says he was not home at the time.

At least two people have gotten into trouble trying to reach the popular horror author at home over the years. In 1991, a man broke in while King’s wife was home alone. She ran to a neighbor’s house and called police. In 2003, an illegal immigrant charged with stalking King was ordered removed from the U.S.

Vindicator wire services