Novelist suffers scare at O.J. trial

Novelist and celebrity crime writer Dominick Dunne was briefly hospitalized Monday after being stricken with abdominal pain during testimony in O.J. Simpson's trial.

The 82-year-old Vanity Fair columnist turned to CNN producer Paul Vercammen about 10 a.m. and said he was in pain and gestured to his lower abdomen.

Dunne, who disclosed earlier this month that he has bladder cancer, was rushed to Valley Hospital.

"He's grateful to the court marshal (who noticed Dunne was in distress) who called the paramedic," Linda Deutsch, special correspondent for The Associated Press and a friend of Dunne, told me.

Dunne told Deutsch: "Tell them not to worry. I'm fine. They're going to check me out, and I'll go back to the hotel and watch the trial there today."

Deutsch said Dunne was checked by paramedics in the hallway before he was wheeled away on a gurney and taken by ambulance to the hospital.

He was treated for an infection and released after a few hours.

Don't count him out. He told Deutsch that if he feels up to it, he'll be back in court today.

His first two visitors at the hospital? The wives of O.J. attorneys Yale Galanter and Gabriel Grasso.

Simpson's sister, during a break in court, told Deutsch that she's "praying for Dominick."

Dunne's first-person reports have appeared in Vanity Fair for more than 25 years, most of them covering high society and celebrity trials. They include the trials of Simpson, Claus von Bulow, Michael Skakel, William Kennedy Smith and the Menendez brothers.

During dinner on Friday, Dunne told me he had planned to return to New York at the end of the week for medical tests and another round of stem cell treatment.

Get-well wishes can be sent to: http://dominicksdiary.com/

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Thanks to my colleague Doug Elfman for offering to give up this space today to allow me to stay on top of Dunne developments. Doug's VegasLand blog has the latest on the conditions of DJ AM and former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker after their plane crash Friday. DJ AM was to perform Monday at Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace. The blog is at http://www.lvrj.com/blogs/elfman/

SIGHTINGS

Tennis star Serena Williams, at the House of Blues Foundation Room on Sunday with rapper Common, who performed later at the House of Blues. ... At Caesars Palace over the weekend: Ashley Olsen joined her new boyfriend, Justin Bartha, on the set of his new movie "The Hangover" as the production shot on the roof of Caesars Palace on Sunday night. ... Tyra Banks, dining in Restaurant Guy Savoy on Saturday at Caesars Palace. It has been rumored that she is shooting the first episode of "America's Next Top Model" at the casino and resort in November. ... Banks dined at Border Grill at Mandalay Bay before attending the Janet Jackson concert Friday. ... At Simon at Palms Place on Sunday in separate parties: Kid Rock and Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt of "The Girls Next Door."... "High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale, with sister Jennifer and girlfriends at "Love" on Saturday at The Mirage. ... Jackson and her dancers, arriving at the House of Blues Foundation Room after her concert at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Friday. ... "Entourage" cast members Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara and Emanuelle Chriqui at SushiSamba's grand opening on Friday at the Palazzo.

Photos are popping up of Nick Lachey and Sarah Larson, George Clooney's ex, playing softball together over the weekend in Tacoma, Wash. There were many photos, but none of Lachey's girlfriend, Vanessa Minnillo.

THE PUNCH LINE

"You fell in love with your wife because she looks like John Madden." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Signs You're Watching Too Much Football.

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.