Lindsay Lohan blames miscarriage drama for failing to respond to fashion lawsuit

Lindsay Lohan has blamed her recent miscarriage for her absence from court in her ongoing legal battle with her former fashion collaborators.

The Mean Girls star has been locked in a bitter dispute with bosses at D.N.A.M. Apparel Industries after she filed a $1.1 million lawsuit against the clothing manufacturers last year (13), claiming she was cheated out of her share of profits when a 2009 business deal fell apart.

They countersued for breach of contract and fraud, blaming Lohan's "drug-addled image" and legal problems for making it impossible to sell her 6126 Collection to retailers.

Lohan had also been fighting for trademark infringement, insisting the brand belonged to her, but a default judgment was entered against her in December (13) after she failed to respond to D.N.A.M. executives' legal papers.

On Thursday (01May14), she appealed to a Los Angeles judge to give her another chance so she can continue to fight the claims.

Lohan, who completed a court-ordered 90-day stint in rehab last summer (13), sent a note to the judge to say sorry for her absence in the case, writing, "I apologize to the court in the delay in seeking relief but I have been overwhelmed since leaving rehab and dealing with my sobriety and a miscarriage."

The actress made the revelation about the loss of her child during the finale of her reality TV series Lindsay, which aired last month (Apr14), although she failed to name the father of the baby.