NEWSMAKERS | Sheen sues Warners for $100 million

NEWSMAKERS

Sheen sues Warner for $100 million

SANTA MONICA, Calif.

Charlie Sheen brought his verbal war against Warner Bros. and the executive producer of “Two and a Half Men” to the courtroom Thursday, filing a $100 million lawsuit seeking to recoup his salary and wages for the show’s crew. The breach-of-contract lawsuit alleges production was halted on the CBS sitcom to punish Sheen for recent behavior that has included two hospitalizations and, in recent weeks, a series of interviews where he has attacked executive producer Chuck Lorre.

The filing comes four days after Sheen was fired from “Two and a Half Men,” leaving the top- rated sitcom’s future in doubt.

Sheen’s lawsuit alleges that Warner Bros. bowed to Lorre’s desire to punish Sheen, and that the producer and studio conspired to blame the actor for causing production to stop. The suit also was filed on behalf of the sitcom’s crew, which was put out of work.

On top of Sheen’s $100 million request for damages, the 45-year-old actor is seeking punitive damages.

The complaint states that Sheen’s most-recent contract, executed last May, entitles him to be paid whether or not the series films for up to 24 episodes per season through late 2011. Sheen’s lawsuit states that he attempted to return to the series in mid-February, but was told that Lorre had not prepared production scripts for the season’s remaining episodes, which was later shortened.

Lohan rejects offer in necklace-theft case

LOS ANGELES

Lindsay Lohan rejected a plea agreement Thursday offered by prosecutors that included a guaranteed return to jail in a case involving the theft of a $2,500 necklace. The “Mean Girls” actress appeared in a courtroom and told a judge she agreed to delaying her case until an April 22 preliminary hearing, when prosecutors will present evidence against her.

Her decision came after Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz offered the actress another opportunity to resolve the case. He said Thursday he had laid out to Lohan’s lawyer how he would sentence Lohan if she pleaded guilty or no contest to the theft of the necklace, and said she could accept his offer at a hearing March 25.

The exact terms of the proposed plea deal by prosecutors and the judge’s offer were not disclosed.

Schwartz previously told Lohan he would sentence her to jail if she accepted the government’s plea deal but did not indicate how much time he would impose. If eventually convicted, the actress could be sentenced to up to three years in state prison. Lohan, 24, has pleaded not guilty.