Record industry wins piracy lawsuit
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- A New York federal judge has granted a request by record companies for a hefty judgment against a 20-year-old woman for downloading copyrighted songs.
The White Plains Journal reported Saturday that U.S. District Judge Stephen Robinson granted record companies' motion to cite Michelle Santangelo for failing to file a response to their lawsuit.
The young woman's mother, Patricia Santangelo, became a "cause celebre" for her fight against music piracy lawsuits filed against Internet users who were downloading the songs through an Internet file-sharing Web site. She was allegedly one of the illegal users, although she called herself an "Internet-illiterate parent," the report said.
The mother of five decided to fight the lawsuit, saying she didn't download the music. She made the TV rounds and garnered public support. The record companies did drop their suit against her, but they then filed a motion for default judgment against her daughter; the Journal said she had admitted in a deposition that she was the file-sharing culprit in the house.
The record companies will receive $30,750 in damages from Santangelo and another $500 in court costs.
Helen Mirren among AFI honorees
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Helen Mirren, Clint Eastwood and "Little Miss Sunshine" continued to roll up accolades at the American Film Institute Awards in Los Angeles.
The stars were among the slate of movies and television programs hailed at the big event Friday.
The AFI said in a release that Mirren closed the show with a tribute to director Robert Altman, who died in 2006. Mirren was in the cast of Altman's "Gossford Park" and was honored Friday for her performances as a pair of queens: Elizabeth II in the film "The Queen" and her namesake Elizabeth I in the television production "Elizabeth I."
Eastwood was among the directors honored while the surprise hit "Little Miss Sunshine" made the Top 10 films. Other movies on the list included "United 93," Happy Feet," "Borat" and Eastwood's "Letters From Iwo Jima."
Television honors went to newcomers "Friday Night Lights" and "Heroes" as well as stalwarts like "South Park," "West Wing" and "24."
O'Hurley in Vegas 'Spamalot' production
LAS VEGAS, Nev., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- John O'Hurley will wear the crown when the hit Monty Python musical "Spamalot" opens in Las Vegas this spring.
O'Hurley is best known as oddball boss J. Peterman from "Seinfeld," but he will put his skills as a song-and-dance man to work in the medieval musical at the Grail Theatre at Wynn Las Vegas.
O'Hurley is no stranger to musicals and dancing after starring in "Chicago" and "Dancing With the Stars."
Wynn said in a news release a number of the Broadway production staff would be part of the Vegas show, including director Mike Nichols and Tony-winning costume designer Tim Hatley.
Previews for the show take place in March, with tickets for the regular run priced between $49 and $99.
Toni Braxton sues manager for Arista split
NEW YORK, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Singer Toni Braxton is suing her manager in New York federal court for allegedly cheating her out of millions when she signed with his record label.
The suit against Barry Hankerson alleges he "placed his own financial interests ahead of Braxton's" when he induced her to leave Arista Records to sign with his Blackground Records in 2003.
The suit said Braxton was unable to get a full accounting of her record sales with Blackground and that Hankerson blocked her from recording songs for the 2006 World Cup and the film "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," the New York Daily News said Saturday.
The lawsuit also contends Hankerson purposely stirred up trouble between Braxton and Arista to hasten her departure from the label where she has sold some 20 million albums.
