Ed McMahon files lawsuit over mold

The Associated Press

Originally published Thursday, April 11, 2002

LOS ANGELES -- Ed McMahon has filed a $20 million lawsuit against his insurance company, claiming he was sickened by toxic mold that spread through his Beverly Hills home.

The lawsuit seeks damages for alleged breach of contract, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

McMahon and his wife, Pamela, said a plumbing pipe burst in July, flooding their den with water. Mold was found in the den a month later, the lawsuit says.

The couple alleges the mold spread to other parts of the house, including the air conditioning ducts.

They claim they became seriously ill and their dog died from mold-related illness. The 79-year-old McMahon, best known as the sidekick to former "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson, said he was coughing and congested for months, forcing him to cancel several speaking engagements and take antibiotics.

They've moved out of the 8,000-square-foot home and are renting a $23,000-a-month house as they try to resolve their dispute. The removal of the toxic mold has not been completed, said McMahon lawyer Allan Browne.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in Superior Court, names American Equity Insurance Co., two insurance adjusters and several environmental cleanup contractors. A spokeswoman for the insurance company declined to comment.

NEW YORK -- Ashanti's fans are no fools -- they bought more than 500,000 copies of her debut album during its first week in stores.

The R&B singer's self-titled "Ashanti," which features the hit single "Foolish," topped the album charts for the week ending April 7, according to industry figures released Wednesday.

She also topped Tweet, another R&B newcomer, whose debut album, "Southern Hummingbird," sold 195,000 copies in its first week.

NEW YORK -- Diva Las Vegas!

VH1 is once again celebrating female power singers with its annual "Divas" concert, but this year, the live special will take place in Las Vegas instead of New York.

"Divas are defined by talent, style and attitude, and only Vegas can match the excitement and unpredictability of these divas," Rick Krim, executive vice president of talent and music programming at the network, said in a statement Wednesday.

This year's "Divas" lineup will seem familiar to fans of the special: Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion and Cher have been featured in past "Divas" concerts. Additional performers will be announced later.

Last year's "Divas" special, at Radio City Music Hall, was a tribute to Aretha Franklin.

This year's concert is scheduled to air live from the MGM Grand on May 23. Proceeds will benefit VH1's Save the Music Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to boosting music education in schools.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Oprah Winfrey missed the South African launch of O, The Oprah Magazine, reportedly because she was concerned about traveling.

In a videotaped message shown Tuesday night at a luxury Johannesburg hotel, Winfrey said she had picked out the dress she planned to wear and regretted being unable to attend.

Winfrey's videotaped message did not refer to her reasons for missing the event, but in an interview in the Sunday Times she said, "I started feeling uncomfortable about traveling. My instinct says things aren't right in parts of the world."

South Africa is the first country outside the United States to have its own edition of Winfrey's magazine. Winfrey began O in April 2000, and its paid circulation has risen since then to 2.5 million.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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