Courtney Love v. Dawn Simorangkir: A Brief History of Love's Ongoing Legal Tangles

Courtney Love is in the news, and -- surprise -- it's not about her music career. The rarely censored rock star is headed to trial after unleashing a storm of Twitter insults at fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir, who had requested payment from Love for some clothing.

In a flurry of Tweets that began on March 17, 2009, Love called Simorangkir (among other things) a drug user and a prostitute. Love's rants continued on Twitter, MySpace.com and Etsy.com for the next four days, attracting plenty of attention from her thousands of followers.

Simorangkir claims the episode damaged her reputation and destroyed her career, and she's suing Love for defamation. On Jan. 18, the case goes before a judge and jury, marking the first time a court will consider whether social media platforms like Twitter can be held to the same libel standards as traditional news media.

If past history is any indication, whether Love wins or loses this groundbreaking case, chances are we'll see her name on a docket again soon. Here's a quick look back at her colorful legal record.

Air rage incident in 2003: After allegedly being "verbally abusive" to Virgin Atlantic crewmembers on a flight to London, Love was arrested when the plane landed at Heathrow Airport. She was charged with disruptive behavior and endangering an aircraft, then released by London police.
Breaking windows in 2003: Later that year, Love was picked up by Los Angeles police after she allegedly broke windows at a house owned by Jim Barber, her ex-boyfriend and former manager. She was found to be under the influence of drugs and was charged with drug possession and disorderly conduct.
Fan assault in 2004: In March 2004, Love gave a surprise performance at a New York City nightclub, then surprised an audience member by hitting him in the head with a microphone stand that she threw from the stage. The victim, who was treated for head injuries at a local hospital, decided to press charges of reckless endangerment.
Probation violations in 2005: After the 2003 possession charges, Love was ordered to avoid drugs as part of her probation. She failed to comply and found herself back in court accused of three probation violations. A judge ordered her to rehab for 28 days.
Custody battle in 2009: In late 2009, Love's daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, was removed from her custody and a judge appointed legal guardians -- her aunt and grandmother -- for the then-17-year-old. Perhaps presaging her current legal drama, Love turned to Face book to lash out at her daughter. "I hate to sound cold but any kid of mine who pulls this s*** has lost her position," she wrote. "She was deceptive, she lied and she's lying to herself ... My daughter is not always honest."
Nirvana catalog settlement in 2010: Management firm London & Co. sued Love in 2008 on the grounds that she had not shared profits from the sale of Nirvana's music catalog, rights to which Love had controlled since Kurt Cobain's suicide in 1994. In 2010, Love paid $1 million to settle the suit.