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Sorry I haven't blogged for a while...been too busy. But here's a reminder of why I love this world so much (also known as 'providing blog entry by copy and paste').



Letterman challenges harassment restraining order

"Lawyers for US comedian David Letterman have asked a judge to throw out a restraining order granted to a New Mexico woman who claims the late-night TV host is communicating with her through coded messages on his show.

Santa Fe District Court Judge Daniel Sanchez signed an order last week requiring the star of the CBS Late Show with David Letterman, which is taped in New York City, to stay at least 100 metres away from Colleen Nestler and to refrain from contacting her.

Ms Nestler claimed in her petition for a restraining order that Letterman had caused her bankruptcy, mental cruelty and sleep deprivation since May 1994.

She asked that in addition to being barred from approaching or contacting her that Letterman be ordered to not "think of me, and release me from his mental harassment and hammering".

Her court request was accompanied by a rambling, six-page typed letter in which Ms Nestler said Letterman and other TV personalities, including Regis Philbin and Kelsey Grammer, had secretly communicated with her through the public airwaves.

"The claims made are obviously absurd and frivolous," Letterman's attorney Jim Jackoway said in a statement.

"This constitutes an unfortunate abuse of the judicial process."

Ms Nestler wrote that she began sending Letterman "thoughts of love" in 1993 and that he responded to her on his show through the use of code words, gestures and "eye expressions" conveying his desire to marry her and train her as his co-host.

The restraining order signed by Judge Sanchez sets a court date for January 12, but Letterman's lawyers have asked for an expedited hearing on the matter.

Besides asserting that Ms Nestler's petition was without merit, they argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over Letterman, that Ms Nestler failed to serve him with necessary paperwork and that she failed to meet other procedural requirements.

"While Ms Nestler may deserve compassion and assistance, allowing her to bring claims against Mr Letterman is not in her interests or the interests of justice," his lawyers wrote in their motion to quash the restraining order.

"Celebrities deserve protection of their reputation and legal rights when the occasional fan becomes dangerous or deluded."

Neither Ms Nestler, who is representing herself, nor the judge could be reached for comment.

Judge Sanchez told the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper that he had read Ms Nestler's application and did not make a mistake, but declined to comment further."

-Reuters