HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Jon Gosselin's legal showdown with TLC kicked off Thursday, but the reality star was nowhere to be found.
Gosselin, 32, did not attend the morning Maryland hearing, which moved on without him, according to the Associated Press.
The judge reportedly said Gosselin's lawyers don't plan to call any witnesses.
In October, TLC sued the Jon and Kate Plus 8 star for violating his contract by allegedly making paid and unpaid TV appearances without the cable network's permission.
Gosselin responded by filing a $5 million countersuit last month, accusing TLC of damaging his career and reputation. The counterclaim was filed in District Court in Rockville, Md., where TLC's parent company, Discovery Communications, is based.
The turmoil between Gosselin and TLC heated up when the network revealed plans to rebrand the show Kate Plus 8. The showbiz dad responded by trying to halt filming of his children, which resulted in TLC suspending production on the series.
The reality star's attorney, Mark Heller, contends there's no reason for the network to stand in the way of Gosselin earning a living, particularly since the series has since been rebranded without his client's involvement.
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