Spector Drops Lawyer Suit

Mon., Dec. 19, 2005 2:05 PM PST by Julie Keller

Phil Spector's Christmas wish: Less time in court.

The embattled music producer, who is getting ready for what is sure to be an intense murder trial, has dropped his lawsuit against former attorney Robert Shapiro.

In July 2004, the eccentric rock 'n' roll mastermind took to the courts to blast the former O.J. Simpson Dream Teamer for allegedly shafting Spector to the tune of $1 million.

The complaint claimed Spector paid Shapiro a million-dollar retainer to handle the murder case, but the laywer and his two firms--Christensen, Miller, Fink, Jacobs, Glaser, Weil & Shapiro and the Law Offices of Robert L. Shapiro--did "very little legal work" as legal counsel. What was done, the suit alleged, was "incompetently performed." The complaint said Shapiro's team used Spector's "legal plight as an opportunity to unabashedly line their own pockets."

Shapiro retaliated by saying that Spector's assertions were bunk and asked a judge to dismiss the case, saying his law firms gave Spector "the best possible foundation to defend against his pending charges." Shapiro said Spector signed off on a nonrefundable retainer and had no one to blame but himself for switching lawyers midstream and losing the money.

Spector fired Shapiro in February 2004 and replaced him with a legal team headed by another celebrity defense attorney, Leslie Abramson, of Menendez brother fame.

While Spector seemed pretty fired up at the time of the filing last year, somewhere along the line, he changed his tune and had his lawyers dismiss the case last week in Los Angeles Superior Court. Because the dismissal was filed "without prejudice," the door is open for Spector to pursue another action in the future.

In any case, the Shapiro team is thrilled with the move. "We're very happy because the case has been completely dismissed and Bob Shapiro has been completely vindicated," attorney Eric Early, who represents Shapiro, told City News Service.

Spector's camp could not immediately be reached for comment--but he and his lawyers have other things to worry about.

The Wall of Sound is facing a murder charge for the death of B-movie actress Lana Clarkson in February 2003. Spector has pleaded not guilty. He is due back in court Jan. 26 for a hearing, and the trial is set to kick off Apr. 24. Spector is also facing a wrongful-death lawsuit from Clarkson's parents; a hearing in that matter is scheduled for Tuesday, but it won't go to trial until after the murder case.