LOHAN'S PARENT TRAP

22 minutes ago

Lindsay Lohan's next performance might be a very limited engagement.
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The 19-year-old teen queen is expected to be called as a key witness in her parents' messy divorce trial which commenced Wednesday in State Supreme Court in Nassau County, New York.

According to published reports, the Mean Girls star might be permitted to testify via videotape, but even if she does take the stand, she won't have much of an audience.

A Long Island judge ruled in favor of closing the court proceedings to the media and public for a second time Wednesday after lawyers for both Dina and Michael Lohan petitioned for privacy in order to shield Lindsay and her younger siblings from negative testimony about their parental units.

Judge Robert Ross had originally closed the trial to the press and public last month, but reconsidered his decision after the New York Daily News and Newsday filed requests to keep the trial open.

"The unruly elements of this family's story need not be left for the public to analyze," Ross said in his written decision to keep the trial behind closed doors.

Lindsay's brother, 17-year-old Michael Jr., is also expected to be called as a witness, but her younger siblings will reportedly be spared.

Dina Lohan arrived in court Wednesday in a formfitting black dress, surrounded by five burly bodyguards, while Michael Lohan, who is currently doing time in Nassau County Correctional Center for attempted assault and other misdeeds, arrived in handcuffs, accompanied by court officers.

The on-the-outs couple's formerly flame-haired daughter has been vocal in her support of her mother.

"He doesn't even deserve my respect," Lindsay said of her father in an interview in the April edition of W magazine.

Last month, the actress blew off the London premiere of Herbie: Fully Loaded in order to jet home to be by her mother's side.

"My mom has always been a great support, and she has put so much of her own life into my career. I do worry about her," Lindsay told People magazine.

"I don't think any girl wants to see her parents in this situation."

As a famous girl, Lindsay also doesn't want to see her father get a cut of her earnings. Michael Lohan is suing Dina Lohan for half of the 15 percent she's paid to serve as her daughter's manager, which would add up to millions of dollar per year.

"He didn't do anything for my career except go out and not come home at night and make my mom and me stay up and wonder where he was and then show up three days later," Lohan told W magazine. "So I don't think he deserves anything."

As for what she deserves, Dina Lohan is suing her soon-to-be ex for $1 million in damages and full custody of their three minor children.

Meanwhile, Michael Lohan has been attempting to make the most of a fractious situation by shopping a proposal for a reality series titled: Living with the Lohans: Starting Over or Over?

Surprisingly, his daughter is not wholly opposed to the idea.

"As sick as it sounds, a reality show might help. At least then people could get to the truth," she told W.

One thing's for certain--whether or not the reality show ever gets off the ground, the Lohans' divorce proceedings won't be featured.

In his decision to close the courtroom, Ross called attempts by Michael Lohan and others to capitalize on the family's hardships "cruel, intolerable and dysfunctional."

Apparently, he's indifferent to the fact that those are qualities that add up to Grade A reality television.