Date Set for First Leg of Spector's Civil War

Phil Spector is getting ready for another date.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lee Smalley Edmon set an Apr. 16, 2007, trial date in the lawsuit the notorious music producer filed in September against a former assistant for allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from him.

Spector's murder trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 16 after multiple postponements. In the last year his name has also been found on no less than four civil filings--the family of slain actress Lana Clarkson has filed a wrongful death suit against the 65-year-old Wall of Sound creator; Spector sued his first criminal attorney, O.J. defender Robert Shapiro, to get his million-dollar retainer back; he sued his assistant; then his assistant countersued for sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

The suit against Shapiro was discreetly dropped late last year.

Michelle Blaine, 41, responded to Spector's accusations that she helped herself to a $450,000 loan from his pension plan and took between $500,000 and $1 million from his various personal accounts by accusing him of making unwanted sexual advances and trying to force her into marriage so that she wouldn't be able to testify at his criminal trial (spousal privilege and all).

Spector's camp has denied there was ever a proposal.

Blaine has also stated in her suit that her boss gave her $700,000 to buy a house and told her she'd never have to pay him back, and allowed her to draw money from his accounts instead of giving her paychecks.

Bruce Cutler, Spector's criminal attorney, has called Blaine's story "a baldfaced lie, told by a liar and a thief."

On a motion from Spector's camp, Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Victor Greenberg ordered Blaine's assets frozen Dec. 13, a decision which she has since fought.

On Thursday Greenberg delayed a ruling on whether to reverse his previous order, saying he still couldn't be sure whether or not Blaine stole money from her employer.

He stated that his decision would be made easier if Spector's lawyers could obtain statements from witnesses who may have heard Blaine admit that she had stolen money from him.

"If Miss Blaine in fact made admissions to stealing, that will weigh heavily in the court's decision in this case," Greenberg said. "If Mr. Spector was in fact involved in all these transactions and says he had no knowledge, his credibility is damaged."

Blaine's attorneys have turned over records from Spector's accountant which supposedly show that he knew how his assistant was going to spend the money, Los Angeles City News Service reported. According to the documents, some of the money was for an indie film about a teacher trying to reach out to underprivileged kids that Spector hoped would "rehabilitate his tarnished image."

The next hearing on the issue is scheduled for June 28.

Blaine recently talked to the Los Angeles Times about how her relationship with Spector changed during the four years she worked for him before she was fired last fall, going from his assistant to his protector once the media started in on him after Clarkson's death in 2003.

"He's such a tormented soul," she said, revealing that he kept two copies of his murder book--all the evidence compiled against him--and read them constantly. Blaine also said that she didn't quit because, simply, she "needed the money."

According to court documents Spector takes five medications a day for sleep and "emotional stability," the Times reported. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer also seems to have found another shoulder to lean on, now that relations have soured and curdled with Blaine. His latest assistant, Rachelle Short, is now his fiancée.

Without going into much detail, Spector's attorneys are maintaining that Blaine's charges against their client are just a tactic to cover up her shady financial transactions.

Spector lost a motion last week to have any civil proceedings that involve Blaine delayed until after his murder trial is over, but he seems to have gotten his wish with regard to the embezzlement case anyway. However, if he's learned anything over the past couple of years, it's this: all court dates should be marked on the calendar in pencil.