Paris Hilton No Longer Restrained

A three year protective order keeping socialite Paris Hilton away from Superman:Man of Steel co-producer Brian Quintana unceremoniously expired Saturday night. Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Timothy Murphy granted the restraining order on February 7, 2006 after Hilton failed to refute Quintana`s claims that she had harassed him.

The stay-away order was unusual even by Hollywood standards. The order prevented the hotel heiress from coming within 100 yards of her former pal except at parties. In a nod to the close quarters at events frequented by the socialites, their attorneys ironed out an agreement that permitted Hilton to come within twenty-five feet of Quintana when they found themselves at the same social function.

Quintana and Hilton became inseparable after he introduced her to his billionaire friend Stavros Niarchos at a November 2004 party hosted by Paramount Pictures producer Christine Peters. Hilton and Niarchos have dated on and off ever since.

In recent months the restraining order had little practical effect. Despite walking the red carpet separately, Hilton and Quintana were spotted together at the InStyle/Warner Bros. after party for the Golden Globe Awards. This past Thursday (two nights before they could legally hang out), the couple shared the VIP section at a pre-Grammy party where Timbaland and Rihanna performed.

The dueling duo were either celebrating the expiration of their Court order or this whole spectacle was one giant media stunt.