Smallscreen News

Court bans Jon Gosselin media appearances at odds with TLC

By Philippa Bourke Dec 11, 2009, 1:15 GMT

Jon Gosselin consults with his accountants from CBIZ. Jon meet with accountants about his alleged impending divorce from his wife. - Tom Meinelt-Jason Winslow/Splash

Jon Gosselin has failed to appear in court in Maryland for a hearing on his legal wrangle with TLC.

In breaking news, the Associated Press reports the judge ruled Gosselin must stop making media appearances that conflict with his contract.

The hearing went ahead without the dad from the defunct Jon & Kate Plus 8, who was last reported planning to counter-sue TLC for $5 million after it took him to court for allegedly breaching his contract.

TLC drew attention to a pool party Gosselin hosted at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

Montgomery County circuit judge Michael D. Mason made the ruling following a one-day hearing in which Gosselin's lawyers presented no evidence. He ordered a trial to start on April 19.

Gosselin, who banned TLC from filming his children and put the kibosh on a revised show it planned, was represented by Mark Heller. He said: 'Jon will vigorously defend against this baseless action - and we are confident that through the course of litigation it will clearly be evident that Discovery and TLC exploited, manipulated and abused the Gosselins' vulnerability and financial hardship.'