Firm underestimated repairs, 50 Cent says

Hartford, Conn. — Rapper 50 Cent said Tuesday that he never would have bought a Connecticut mansion once owned by boxer Mike Tyson had he realized it would require millions in repairs and renovations.

The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, testified in Hartford Superior Court as part of his lawsuit against BVH Integrated Services, a Bloomfield-based engineering firm.

50 Cent testified he hired the firm to inspect the 52-room, 48,000-plus-square-foot Farmington mansion in 2003 when he was buying it from Tyson’s ex-wife.

The company was to make a visual inspection to determine how much it would cost to repair the roof, decks, driveway and other aspects of the property.

The company’s estimate was for about $500,000, but 50 Cent spent about $6 million on repairs and renovations.

Lawyers said about $3 million of that was spent on maintenance repairs that should have been included in the firm’s estimate.

BVH attorney Michael Byrne said his client shouldn’t be liable for the difference because 50 Cent wanted “extravagant and costly upgrades.”

‘Nashville’ contestant sues John Rich

Nashville, Tenn. — A former “Nashville Star” contestant who filed assault and harassment charges against country star John Rich is now suing the singer.

In a lawsuit filed Monday in Circuit Court, Jared Ashley cites the assault and harassment allegations and contends that Rich and Rich’s attorney defamed him by falsely telling the media that Ashley demanded $2.9 million to drop the charges.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Rich is part of the hit duo Big & Rich.

He turned himself in to Nashville police last week to face assault and harassment charges and was released on $3,000 bond.

Rich denied all the charges.

A representative for Rich said Tuesday that the singer declined to comment.

Broken trophy: Centuries of bad luck?

Los Angeles — If one broken mirror means seven years of bad luck, “Dancing With the Stars” champs Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas could be facing centuries of misfortune.

When the dancing partners opened their respective mirrorball trophies after a cross-country trip, each was broken.

Ballas says the trophies broke during a flight from New York.

ABC says the mirrorballs are being repaired. Johnson, 17, and Ballas were crowned winners of the hit show’s eighth season last month.

Kelly Ripa goes to N.J. for dad’s swearing-in

Blackwood, N.J. — Daytime talk show host Kelly Ripa is scheduled to be present today when New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine swears in her father as Camden County clerk.

Democrat Joe Ripa is filling the job until the November election. Ripa says he’ll run in the fall for a full five-year term. He’s replacing James Beach, who’s now a state senator.

Ripa is a former bus driver and union administrator who became a Camden County freeholder in 2004.

His famous daughter maintains a high-profile presence in southern New Jersey, where she appears in advertisements for Cooper University Hospital and has helped raise money for her father’s campaigns.

Kelly Ripa is most famous for her syndicated morning show with Regis Philbin, “Live with Regis and Kelly.”

Thornton ex-wife defends daughter

Miami — Actor Billy Bob Thornton’s estranged daughter, charged with neglect in the death of her infant goddaughter, was a longtime friend of the baby’s mother and is “very distressed” about the situation, the woman’s mother said Tuesday.

Thornton’s first wife, Melissa Parish, told The Associated Press that her daughter Amanda Brumfield is “very sad about what happened” to 1-year-old Olivia Garcia.

Brumfield told investigators the girl acted normally after she fell from a playpen and hit her head, according to police documents. But detectives believe that story was inconsistent with the girl’s injuries, and she was charged Friday with child neglect causing harm or disability.

An autopsy determined the girl had a fractured skull and brain injury, and the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.

‘Hannah Montana,’ Miley Cyrus returning

New York — Miley Cyrus still wants the best of both worlds.

After three seasons of “Hannah Montana,” the teen superstar isn’t ready to let go of her Disney alter ego.

Disney Channel spokeswoman Hope Diamond says Cyrus has signed up for a fourth helping of the family friendly sitcom.

Diamond says the 16-year-old singer-actress will film the fresh episodes early next year.

In between now and then, Cyrus will shoot the Nicholas Sparks drama “The Last Song” and do a concert tour.

Cyrus co-stars with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, on “Hannah Montana,” and recently appeared in the hit movie adaptation of the TV show.

On Sunday’s MTV Movie Awards, she claimed the trophy for best song from a movie for her tune, “The Climb.”