Jon Gosselin's Legal Nightmare

As his trial with TLC approaches, the reality star is worried about what his former pals will say on the witness stand
- Kelly Will, BettyConfidential.com

As Jon Gosselin prepares to face off against TLC in court on December 14, his allies and new enemies are being called on to testify as witnesses for the TV network, which produces Jon and Kate Plus 8. While Jon is reportedly filing a $5 million countersuit against TLC, an insider tells BettyConfidential that Jon’s biggest concern is what Michael Lohan will say on the stand.

“Jon really allowed Michael into every bit of his life,” the insider says. “Michael came to the house, met the children and was the force behind getting Jon to put the brakes on the TLC show being renamed Kate Plus 8.”

The source says Michael put many ideas into Jon’s head, including comparing Kate and the kids to Dina, Lindsay and his other children. “Michael was giving Jon specific advice about his family with warnings about working peacefully with Kate, and how to try to avoid a public battle like he has with Lindsay,” the insider says.

“Michael told Jon to look at his family and make them the real priority now, ending the show for their sake. He was quick to use Dina and Lindsay as references and he willingly offered advice to Jon about how to avoid the mess he's dealing with now. But most of his advice backfired for Jon.”

As BettyConfidential reported last week, Jon has cooled his friendship with Michael, who had hoped to star in a TV show together with Jon called Divorced Dads’ Club, but now that he’s been frozen out, there’s no telling what Michael will say on the stand. As we’ve seen lately in his outbursts about his daughter Lindsay, Michael is a loose cannon. And that’s just what Jon is worried about.

But Michael’s not the only one who potentially has an axe to grind. Kate Major, the former Star magazine reporter who quit her job when she fell for Jon earlier this year, is also set to be deposed for TLC’s breach of contract lawsuit. Legal papers filed by TLC’s lawyers (and obtained by RadarOnline) claim that Kate has documents relating to Jon’s TV appearances that were in violation of his TLC contract.

Read Jon Gosselin Wants to Apologize

All we can say is watch out, Jon. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and after Kate was dumped by Jon in favor of Hailey Glassman, she did several TV interviews where she blasted the follicly challenged, paunchy father of eight.

While Jon’s countersuit is expected to argue that TLC’s contract is restrictive and prevents him from earning a living, it is clear that the network is not happy about losing millions on its lucrative Jon & Kate Plus 8 franchise, and in an affidavit related to the court case, TLC exec Edward Sabin made clear that he believes Jon is solely to blame.

“TLC will not quit until they have proven that Jon was wrong in pulling the show, that he breached his contract multiple times and they have a TV show again with Kate and children,” the insider tells BettyConfidential. “They want their show back!”

Tell us, would you watch Kate Plus 8 or is your TV going to be a Gosselin-free zone?

Magazine and newspaper reporter Kelly Will has written celebrity columns for the New York Times, the New York Daily News and the New York Post. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/misswill.

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