Judge tosses part of Blac Chyna case against Kim Kardashian
Judge tosses part of Blac Chyna case against Kim Kardashian
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FILE - Kim Kardashian appears at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 27, 2022. Kim Kardashian testified Tuesday, April 26, 2022, that she had no memory of making any attempt to kill the reality show that starred her brother Rob Kardashian and his fiancée Blac Chyna. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
In this courtroom artist sketch, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Alarcon sits in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in the trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Alarcon sits in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in the trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, former reality television star Blac Chyna sits in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in the trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, Khloe Kardashian, from left, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kris Jenner sit in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in a trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
FILE - Kris Jenner, left, and Corey Gamble appear at the Tom Ford show during NYFW Fall/Winter 2020 Feb. 7, 2020, in Los Angeles. Gamble testified Wednesday in a lawsuit brought by Blac Chyna against Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner alleging they conspired to get her show, “Rob & Chyna,” canceled and ruin her reality TV career. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Television personalities Kris Jenner, from left, Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian attend the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment 2015 Upfront at The Javits Center on Thursday, May 14, 2015, in New York. On Monday, April 18, 2022, Kris and Kylie Jenner, along with Kim and Khloe Kardashian, sat in the front row of a Los Angeles courtroom as prospective jurors aired their feelings about the famous family and the four women, all defendants in a lawsuit brought by Rob Kardashian’s former fiancée Blac Chyna. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Blac Chyna arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. A jury has been seated and opening statements are set to begin Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in a trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Blac Chyna waves as she leaves Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. A judge on Friday threw out part of the case against Kim Kardashian in former reality TV star Blac Chyna’s lawsuit while the jury deliberates on the elements that remain. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna waves as she leaves Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. A judge on Friday threw out part of the case against Kim Kardashian in former reality TV star Blac Chyna’s lawsuit while the jury deliberates on the elements that remain. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna arrives for her lawsuit against the Kardashian family at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. Jurors have begun deliberations in a trial pitting the former reality TV star Chyna against Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna, left, arrives for her lawsuit against the Kardashian family at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. Jurors have begun deliberations in a trial pitting the former reality TV star Chyna against Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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FILE - Kim Kardashian appears at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 27, 2022. Kim Kardashian testified Tuesday, April 26, 2022, that she had no memory of making any attempt to kill the reality show that starred her brother Rob Kardashian and his fiancée Blac Chyna. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Kim Kardashian appears at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 27, 2022. Kim Kardashian testified Tuesday, April 26, 2022, that she had no memory of making any attempt to kill the reality show that starred her brother Rob Kardashian and his fiancée Blac Chyna. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
In this courtroom artist sketch, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Alarcon sits in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in the trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Alarcon sits in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in the trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Alarcon sits in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in the trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gregory W. Alarcon sits in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in the trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, former reality television star Blac Chyna sits in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in the trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, former reality television star Blac Chyna sits in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in the trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, Khloe Kardashian, from left, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kris Jenner sit in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in a trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
In this courtroom artist sketch, Khloe Kardashian, from left, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kris Jenner sit in court in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 19, 2022. A jury has been seated in a trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Bill Robles via AP)
FILE - Kris Jenner, left, and Corey Gamble appear at the Tom Ford show during NYFW Fall/Winter 2020 Feb. 7, 2020, in Los Angeles. Gamble testified Wednesday in a lawsuit brought by Blac Chyna against Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner alleging they conspired to get her show, “Rob & Chyna,” canceled and ruin her reality TV career. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Kris Jenner, left, and Corey Gamble appear at the Tom Ford show during NYFW Fall/Winter 2020 Feb. 7, 2020, in Los Angeles. Gamble testified Wednesday in a lawsuit brought by Blac Chyna against Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner alleging they conspired to get her show, “Rob & Chyna,” canceled and ruin her reality TV career. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Television personalities Kris Jenner, from left, Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian attend the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment 2015 Upfront at The Javits Center on Thursday, May 14, 2015, in New York. On Monday, April 18, 2022, Kris and Kylie Jenner, along with Kim and Khloe Kardashian, sat in the front row of a Los Angeles courtroom as prospective jurors aired their feelings about the famous family and the four women, all defendants in a lawsuit brought by Rob Kardashian’s former fiancée Blac Chyna. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Television personalities Kris Jenner, from left, Kylie Jenner and Khloe Kardashian attend the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment 2015 Upfront at The Javits Center on Thursday, May 14, 2015, in New York. On Monday, April 18, 2022, Kris and Kylie Jenner, along with Kim and Khloe Kardashian, sat in the front row of a Los Angeles courtroom as prospective jurors aired their feelings about the famous family and the four women, all defendants in a lawsuit brought by Rob Kardashian’s former fiancée Blac Chyna. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Blac Chyna arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. A jury has been seated and opening statements are set to begin Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in a trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - Blac Chyna arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. A jury has been seated and opening statements are set to begin Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in a trial that pits model and former reality television star Blac Chyna against the Kardashian family, who she alleges destroyed her TV career. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Blac Chyna waves as she leaves Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. A judge on Friday threw out part of the case against Kim Kardashian in former reality TV star Blac Chyna’s lawsuit while the jury deliberates on the elements that remain. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna waves as she leaves Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. A judge on Friday threw out part of the case against Kim Kardashian in former reality TV star Blac Chyna’s lawsuit while the jury deliberates on the elements that remain. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna waves as she leaves Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. A judge on Friday threw out part of the case against Kim Kardashian in former reality TV star Blac Chyna’s lawsuit while the jury deliberates on the elements that remain. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna waves as she leaves Los Angeles Superior Court in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. A judge on Friday threw out part of the case against Kim Kardashian in former reality TV star Blac Chyna’s lawsuit while the jury deliberates on the elements that remain. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna arrives for her lawsuit against the Kardashian family at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. Jurors have begun deliberations in a trial pitting the former reality TV star Chyna against Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna arrives for her lawsuit against the Kardashian family at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. Jurors have begun deliberations in a trial pitting the former reality TV star Chyna against Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna, left, arrives for her lawsuit against the Kardashian family at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. Jurors have begun deliberations in a trial pitting the former reality TV star Chyna against Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Blac Chyna, left, arrives for her lawsuit against the Kardashian family at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles, Friday, April 29, 2022. Jurors have begun deliberations in a trial pitting the former reality TV star Chyna against Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge on Friday threw out part of the case against Kim Kardashian in former reality TV star Blac Chyna’s lawsuit while the jury deliberates on the elements that remain.
Judge Gregory Alarcon ruled that Chyna’s attorney Lynne Ciani did not provide any statement during the trial from Kardashian that was defamatory toward Chyna.
The case against Kardashian for interference with a contract remains alive. The jury is deciding on that and both defamation and contract-interference cases against Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner.
Jurors went home Friday without reaching a verdict after their first full day of deliberations. Their instructions had to be revised after the Kim Kardashian decision, and attorneys and the judge gave answered several questions that they submitted. They’re scheduled to resume Monday morning.
Chyna’s lawsuit alleges that the women falsely told television producers and executives that Chyna had violently attacked her then-fiancé Rob Kardashian in December 2016 in an attempt to get her reality show, “Rob & Chyna,” canceled.
Ciani argued during closing arguments Thursday afternoon that the women had no reason to believe the attack had occurred, as testimony, photos and video from the time showed no significant injuries to Rob Kardashian.
“He didn’t have a mark on him,” Ciani said. “There was no call to the police, no trip to the hospital, not even a Band-Aid.”
Kardashian attorney Michael G. Rhodes argued during his closing that the women had every reason to believe the accounts of the attack from Rob Kardashian and from Kris Jenner’s longtime boyfriend Corey Gamble, who broke up the dispute and was a key defense witness.
“Do you remember how Rob looked on the stand yesterday? His pain was real,” Rhodes said. “This is a real family. Yeah, they’re famous, but they’re real people. He got really badly hurt here.”
Ciani provided clear examples of statements via text messages and emails from Kris Jenner, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, telling the show’s producers and the E! network, which the show appeared on, about the abuse allegation.
But the case she made against Kim Kardashian was more vague.
After Alarcon read the jury its instructions Thursday, Rhodes pointed out that there was no potentially defamatory statement in them from Kim Kardashian.
Ciani was angered by the assertion, but the frustrated judge rebuked her, saying she had agreed to the jury instructions before the trial began.
A similar argument emerged in court Friday over Alarcon’s unusual method of jury selection. Instead of choosing 12 jurors and four alternates, the judge had the lawyers select 16 jurors, then chose by random drawing after closing arguments which four were the alternates.
The judge again pointed out to Ciani that she had agreed to the process before trial.
In the civil case, nine of the 12 jurors will need to agree on whether three of the Kardashian defendants either knowingly lied about Chyna abusing Rob Kardashian, or spread the word about it with reckless disregard for the truth. The same number will need to decide whether each of the four illegally interfered with Chyna’s contract with the E! network.
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This story has been corrected to show the first name of the attorney for the defense is Michael, not David.
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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton