Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo leaving club Hyde on July 14, 2006 in Hollywood, California.

The New York Daily News reports that Jessica Simpson’s manager dad, Joe Simpson, was spying on Nick Lachey during the couple’s seven-month separation before the marriage officially ended.
He particularly wanted to know what Lachey was doing on a night last spring when both Nick’s soon-to-be girlfriend, Vanessa Minnillo, and Jessica’s friend and former assistant CaCee Cobb were all in the same nightclub. “Joe called the club people after hearing Nick was there and demanded to see the security videotape,” says an insider.
The club declined to cooperate. According to the source: “Joe was looking to incriminate Nick. He told the club, �If you ever want to see my daughter there, you’ll give me what I want.’” (A rep for the Simpson camp dismissed the story as preposterous.)
Meanwhile, PerezHilton reports that Simpson and Lachey (who had with him his new girlfriend, Minnillo) had an awkward run-in Friday night at the L.A. hot spot Hyde.
“Nick walked over to Jessica’s table, gave her a hug and said hello to her and to Ken Paves,” says a source. “It wasn’t the most comfortable situation but it was totally civil and everyone was cool and Jessica was nice.” Vanessa stayed behind at Nick’s table.