Actress Seeks to Curb Lawyers’ Comments in Extortion Case

A lawyer for “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Tori Spelling asked a judge Wednesday for an order restricting what attorneys can publicly discuss about an extortion case involving the actress.

The request in West Los Angeles Municipal Court came two days after a preliminary hearing got under way for a woman and her lawyer accused of making Spelling pay $30,000 so they would keep a secret about the actress.

Karen Tublitz and Frances Jones face one count each of felony extortion and conspiracy, and Jones faces an additional misdemeanor charge of practicing law in California without a license, Deputy Dist. Atty. Rhonda Saunders said.

They face a possible two to four years in state prison if convicted, but are free without bail pending trial, Saunders said.

Both defendants have pleaded not to the charges, which were filed in March, and a preliminary hearing in the case began Monday, Saunders said.

But those proceedings were stunted when Tublitz’s attorney filed a motion claiming that talks his client had with Jones are protected by attorney-client privilege and should be excluded from the hearing.

A further hearing was set for Aug. 23.