R. Kelly Makes Nice with Neighbors
R. Kelly is letting his guard down.
The "Trapped in the Closet" crooner has decided to end his legal battle with the town of Olympia Fields, Illinois, a community of 4,700 residents just south of Chicago where he owns a mansion, after officials sued him for building a guardhouse on his property without obtaining the necessary permits.
Call it a successful rear-guard action on the part of the Olympia Fields.
The 40-year-old Kelly dropped his countersuit, which claimed the town improperly rejected his request to erect a structure to provide extra security given his status as a "nationally known, Grammy Award-winning recording artist."
As part of the settlement, the R&B superstar agreed to pay more than $20,000 in fines and attorneys fees. Kelly also tore down the guard shack.
In return, Olympia Fields officials dropped the suit that launched the war, and both sides agreed to put the feud behind them.
Kelly's lawyer said the artist decided to make amends because he "wants to be a good neighbor."
The Chicago native, whose full name is Robert Kelly, filed the court challenge originally in the hopes that a judge would grant him an exception for safety concerns.
Kelly, of course, isn't out of the legal woods yet.
He's still waiting for a trial on 14 counts of child pornography to get underway. The "Bump 'N Grind" performer was indicted back in 2002 and has pleaded innocent to the charges.
After several years of legal wrangling, the trial appeared to be on track to kick off last summer. However, a judge ruled that prosecutors could present as evidence a salacious videotape that purportedly shows Kelly having sex with a 13-year-old girl, and the case was postponed again. No word yet on a new date.
The Big Picture
Gossip Curl Looks like Leighton's sailing the Good Ship Lollipop as she shows off a Shirley Temple 'do
More PhotosMost Commented
- Bitch-Back! Breaking News—Johnny's a Hottie (916)
- Rob and Kristen "Relaxed" Together in NYC (674)
- Rob Flies Back to L.A. With Kristen (593)
- Truth, Lies & Ted: Twilight Special (478)
- Why Won't Sarah Palin Go Away? (453)
- Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment—or His? (447)
- Is New Moon Even Good? (428)
- Review: New Moon Is Either Just Fine or Way Mopey, Depending On Who You Are (370)
- Bitch-Back! Is There Drama on the Gossip Girl Set? (345)
- Ridiculous Twilight Hookups in an "All Taken" Cast (348)
Top 10 Stories
- The Real Reason Oprah Quit Oprah: Sarah Palin!
- Beyoncé Is Yours on Thanksgiving
- Justin Bieber: Blame Twitter for His Broken Foot
- Adam Lambert on Early Show: I'm Not a Babysitter
- Dancing Finale: Did Donny Really Beat Marie?
- Uh-Oh, John Mayer's Ego May Explode
- Carrie Ann Inaba Trades Judges' Chair for Hospital Bed
- Dancing With the Stars: A New Winner Raises the Disco Ball
- J.Lo's Ex: There's "Maybe One Spanking," but I'm Not Selling a Sex Tape
- Nicole Richie Back in Her Own Bed
Fashion Police
First Lady of FashionMichelle is glamorous and elegant in a strapless gown at the White House's first state dinner
More Photos
Latest Movie Reviews
Get Your E! News Now
1 Comments
-
Show the next 1 - 0 of 1 comments
Now loading...