US magician David Copperfield sued by show promoters
8/11/2007 17:15
American magician David Copperfield has been sued in Los Angeles by two
companies that allege the entertainer pulled out shows in Southeast Asia and the
Persian Gulf and seek US$2.2 million in damages, according to court sources
yesterday.
Viva Art International Ltd, a Los Angeles-based company, and Maz
Concerts Inc. of Ontario, Canada, both professional promoters, filed suit
Tuesday against Copperfield in a court in Los Angeles, alleging breach of
contract and other causes of action.
The two companies allege that
Copperfield, who is under sexual misconduct allegations in a separate case, did
not go ahead with the promised performances because of the ongoing criminal
investigation.
The magician did not want to make public appearances after the
allegations surfaced against him because he would have had to face questions
from overseas news outlets, they contend.
Copperfield has been under
investigation since mid-October, when a woman who was in his audience claimed he
flew her to the Bahamas and raped her. He has denied the woman's
claim.
According to the suit, the companies entered a contract with
Copperfield in September for 38 live performances in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur,
Singapore and Bangkok in October and November, and 10 performances in the United
Arab Emirates.
The companies previously promoted about 200 live performances
by Copperfield in Europe, bringing about a sense of trust on the part of both
sides, it said.
The firms agreed to pay Copperfield's company nearly US$4.4
million to cover his costs, and as of October 10, they had paid US$2.2 million
to him, according to the court papers.
Xinhua
|
