Judge allows lawsuit againt Johnny Depp to proceed

A judge is allowing a woman to move forward with her lawsuit against Johnny Depp stemming from the treatment she alleges she received from his bodyguards at an Iggy & The Stooges concert in Hollywood in December.

Robin A. Eckert is accusing Depps strongmen of bear-hugging her from behind, then dragging her out of the VIP area in an attempt to confiscate her iPhone. She alleges that she now suffers from trauma, chronic pain and insomnia as a result.

According to The Los Angeles Times, Depps lawyers are confident that she consented to any assault and battery by first assaulting Depp that night, and that the actor had reason to fear for his safety. Eckert, who is 53 and claims that she has a disability and uses a cane, doesnt exactly seem like a lethal weapon. This should be a doozy once it actually reaches court.

• Actress Tatum ONeal (Paper Moon) is 49.
• Jonas Brothers star Kevin Jonas is 25.
• Actress Judy Reyes (Scrubs) is 45.
• Singer Bryan Adams is 52.
• Actress Tilda Swinton is 52.
• Reality TV star Kris Jenner is 57.
• Actor Armin Shimerman is 63.
• Playwright Sam Shepard is 69.
• Musician Art Garfunkel is 71.
• Actress Elke Sommer is 72.

Lifes a tort

In other legal news: The lawsuit filed by a man who heckled Bristol Palin in L.A. has been thrown out and hes been ordered to pay her legal fees.

Palin was riding a mechanical bull at a bar for her reality show, Lifes A Tripp, when Stephen Hanks yelled out, Did you ride Levi like that? and, Your moms a whore! When Palin confronted him and asked why he hated her mom, Sarah Palin, so much, he continued his diatribe. Then Palin fired back with, Is it because you are homosexual?

The clip ran on ads for the show, and Hanks sued, saying he never gave consent for his appearance and that she defamed him. A judge disagreed. Trippy!

The worst noel

Edison Research has made gr! oundbreaking scientific inroads into the worst Christmas songs of all time with its report on the Least Liked Holiday Songs Of 2012.

The Beach Boys The Man With All The Toys is high on the list, as is Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. But the No. 1 worst song is Jingle Bells by the Singing Dogs you know, that one where they bark their way over snowy hills and dales.

Barbra Streisands version of Jingle Bells also ranks high, at No. 4, so insert your own singing-dog joke if you must.

Got scoops or Bay Area celebrity sightings? Email scoop@sfexaminer.com.

• No Doubt has pulled its Looking Hot video over claims of racism from American Indians. But the real travesty is how horrible the song is.
• Designer Marc Jacobs and celeb couple Michelle Williams and Jason Segel are among those whose homes were ruined by Superstorm Sandy.
• John Cusacks production company is working on a biopic of Rush Limbaugh that will star the actor.
• Hey, gangsta: Tony Montanas Scarface mansion in Santa Barbara is now available for rent at only $30,000 a month.
• Amanda Bynes tells the world, via Us magazine, Im 26, a multimillionaire, retired. Please respect my privacy. Okey-dokey.