■ Punk musician Travis Barker has sued companies linked to a plane that crashed in South Carolina, injuring him and killing two friends. Barker, a former Blink-182 drummer, sued the plane's owners, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., and an airplane-maintenance company, seeking more than $25,000 in damages. Barker's suit claims that the companies improperly operated and maintained the Learjet that overshot a runway and caught fire Sept. 19 in South Carolina. The crash killed two pilots, Barker's assistant, Chris Baker, and Barker's bodyguard, Charles Monroe Still Jr. Barker is asking for damages for pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of earnings, and medical and legal expenses. Still's mother, Thelma Martin Still, joined Barker in the lawsuit and is suing the companies for damages including grief and sorrow, funeral expenses and loss of earnings. Barker and celebrity disc jockey DJ AM were both injured in the crash. They were on their way back to Los Angeles the night of the crash.
■ Singer Britney Spears made another cameo in the midst of her comeback -- this time in a Los Angeles courtroom. Spears, 26, appeared unexpectedly Friday for a hearing in her conservatorship. A court spokesman said after the hearing that Spears appeared to give an update on her new album, Circus, and details of her tour and other promotions. Her father, Jamie Spears, has had control over his daughter's personal and financial affairs since February. The court made the arrangement permanent last month, but Spears can petition to end the arrangement. The court spokesman says she did not make that request Friday. As part of that deal, her father and attorney gained greater control over her professional career. Jamie Spears appeared in court with his daughter and emerged from a courtroom with her after a two-hour closed session.
■ County officials in Wisconsin are holding the bag after a movie shoot involving Johnny Depp as famous bank robber John Dillinger. During filming of Public Enemies -- Wisconsin's first film under the governor's new movie incentives -- state highway traffic was diverted away from the center of Columbus, 70 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The detour road couldn't stand the load -- and collapsed. Dodge County was left with a $116,000 repair. It's filed a claim against the city of Columbus that could lead to a lawsuit. Columbus Mayor Nancy Osterhaus says that talks are continuing between the city, county and film studio NBC Universal, with hopes that they might split the bill for the March mishap.
Deaths
■ Tom Gish, 82, in Pikeville, Ky. He was a weekly newspaper publisher who shined the spotlight on corruption and environmental degradation in his corner of southeastern Kentucky with his award-winning The Mountain Eagle of Whitesburg for 50 years.
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