Manson sued for woman's wrongful death

Olympian news services

Originally published Thursday, April 4, 2002

LOS ANGELES -- The mother of a woman who died in a car crash last year has sued Marilyn Manson for wrongful death, alleging that the musician gave the woman drugs before the accident.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Superior Court, claims that Manson was negligent in "instructing the woman to operate a motor vehicle in her incapacitated condition." Maria St. John is seeking unspecified damages and attorney fees.

Manson's representatives could not be reached for comment early Wednesday.

The lawsuit alleges that St. John's daughter, 28-year-old Jennifer Syme, was with the singer, whose real name is Brian Warner, and other unnamed defendants last April. Manson allegedly gave Syme drugs before she was dropped off at her home. She got into her car, with the intent of returning to Manson's home, according to the lawsuit.

Syme, an actress and former girlfriend of actor Keanu Reeves, later crashed into at least three parked cars and was thrown from her car. She died at the scene.

LOS ANGELES -- Liza Minnelli's 94-year-old stepmother has sued her for elder abuse and breach of contract, claiming the performer has neglected her.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Superior Court claims that Lee Anderson Minnelli was guaranteed housing in the will of her late husband, Vincente Minnelli. Liza Minnelli, his daughter with Judy Garland, sold the Beverly Hills home and "has instructed her representatives to remove Lee by whatever means necessary," according to the lawsuit.

Representatives for the singer could not be reached for comment early Wednesday.

The lawsuit also claims that Liza Minnelli failed to comply with an agreement to keep the home in habitable condition. The electricity was shut off March 27 and the gardener and pool man also have been fired, the lawsuit alleges.

"While defendant is honeymooning all over the world, having fed 850 of her closest friends a 12-foot cake, plaintiff is alone in a cold, dark house," the lawsuit states. Liza Minnelli married producer David Gest last month in New York.

The living conditions have caused "extreme stress, humiliation, embarrassment and worry," for Lee Minnelli, according to the lawsuit.

She seeks a court order requiring her stepdaughter to pay utility and household bills, and unspecified general damages and attorney fees. She also wants a constructive trust for $1 million to be placed on any proceeds from the sale of the house.

LOS ANGELES -- "Laugh-In" hosts Dick Martin and the late Dan Rowan have received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their irreverent 1960s variety show, famous for its nonsequiturs and psychedelic shtick.

Martin accepted the honor at the Hollywood Boulevard ceremony on Tuesday; Rowan died in 1987 at age 65.

A precursor to "Saturday Night Live," "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" made stars out of Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn and Henry Gibson and introduced such catchphrases as "Sock it to me!" and "You bet your sweet bippy."

Rowan was the straight man to daffy Martin on the sketch comedy show, which aired on NBC from 1968-73.

Their routines were dialogues that built to uproarious climaxes, usually based on Martin's dimwitted misunderstanding of what Rowan was trying to explain.

The 80-year-old Martin was joined Tuesday by show regulars Tomlin, Gibson, Arte Johnson, Ruth Buzzi, Gary Owens and Jo Anne Worley in addition to comedians Bob Newhart, Don Rickles and Dick Van Dyke.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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