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| 10/7/04 - 10/8/04 |
Lawyers Who Took on 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys Awarded
$15 Million By the staff of the Miami Daily Business Review An Orange County Circuit Court judge has ordered promoter Louis Pearlman of Trans Continental Records to pay $15 million to two of his former attorneys for their work in representing him against music groups ’N Sync and The Backstreet Boys. Attorneys Cheney Mason and William B. Pringle III sued Pearlman and his recording company in 2003, alleging breach of two contingency fee contracts. The agreement was based on the attorneys’ results in a settlement with the two bands. Mason and Pringle were two of the attorneys representing Pearlman in his legal disputes with ’N Sync and Back Street Boys at the end of 1990s. In 1998, four of the five Backstreet Boys slapped a $10 million fraud lawsuit against Pearlman. In 1999, ’N Sync jumped mid-contract to Jive Records, breaking its business relationship with Trans Continental Records. Settlements were reached in the cases handled by the two attorneys. The amount recovered in the boy band’s settlements is confidential, said litigator Tom Equals, who represented the plaintiffs and argued the case at trial. “The contingency fees were based upon percentages in the fee agreements,” said Equels. The court ruled on Oct 1 that Mason should get $9.1 million, with prejudgment interest in the sum of $3.2 million through Oct. 4, for a total of $12.3 million. The court also said that Mason and Pringle must be paid $2.5 million, with the prejudgment interest of $794,580 through Oct. 4, making a total of $3.3 million...
Elton Rocks the Osbournes "Be fabulous," the invitation instructed on the topic of dress. Elton John, the guest of honor and performer at "An Evening at Home With the Osbournes," always dresses with fabulous in mind, and he arrived Thursday night in a black suit with a zipper stretching across the back and down the left sleeve. The crowd also obliged. For men, it meant suits without ties; for women, it meant colorful outfits accented with major cleavage. About 250 people showed up, walking up the flower-lined stairs of the iconic Osbournes' Beverly Hills home -- made famous by the MTV reality show -- each paying $2,500 to benefit John's AIDS foundation and Sharon Osbourne's Colon Cancer Program at nearby Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. ...The moneyed attendees -- who included 'N Sync's Lance Bass, Quincy Jones, Robin Williams and Jennifer Love Hewitt -- sipped bubbly from Perrier Jouet and dined on miso-cured Alaskan butterfish and five-spice sirloin steak from Asia de Cuba, the trendy fusion restaurant just a few blocks away on the Sunset Strip. Will & Grace's Eric McCormack and Megan Mullally led a live auction, including the sale of an Aston Martin DB 9, purchased by Bass for $220,000. An estimated $1 million was raised by evening's end, to be split between the two charities.
Destiny's Child is the next act to be lovin' McDonald's NEW YORK - McDonald's has signed Destiny's Child, the group headed by self-described 'natural fat person' Beyonce Knowles, as the new faces of its global advertising campaign. The trio of Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, will appear in ads for McDonald's, as well as lend support to fundraising initiatives for Ronald McDonald House charities. ...Justin Timberlake helped launch the "I'm lovin' it" campaign for McDonald's in 2003, but had restricted his appearance in the burger chain's advertising, to a brief clip and singing the endline. But Destiny's Child were less reticent to lend their power to the brand, happily appearing alongside Ronald McDonald at a press conference to announce the deal...
Timberlake, Raptors thrill kids with surprise stop
at Toronto school TORONTO (CP) - Justin Timberlake (news) gave a group of Grade 8 students a thrill Thursday when he made a surprise visit to a Toronto Raptors basketball workshop held at a downtown elementary school.
Wearing black shorts and a white Raptors sweatshirt, Timberlake strode into the gymnasium after being asked to "even out the odds" in a game between students and members of the NBA team. "It seems a bit unfair it's four of you guys and only three of us," said Raptors guard Rafer Alston, who was joined by forwards Chris Bosh and Donyell Marshall. "We need another participant. We're gonna grab ourselves another player. We're gonna bring out Justin Timberlake to be on our team." The gym then erupted with screams of: "No way" and "Oh my god." The publicity stunt was arranged by McDonald's Canada as part of a marketing campaign to convince people that eating at the fast-food joint can be part of a healthy lifestyle. And, like Timberlake's commercial says, the kids were "lovin' it." Girls fanned themselves in the overly dramatic way only a teen heart throb can inspire. The boys, meanwhile, were keen to bone up on professional dribbling techniques. The 10-minute appearance was arranged in true sleuth form. The 30 kids were told they'd be participating in a noon-hour clinic with the Raptors' mascot to promote a healthy lifestyle. Men in fancy suits and dark shades stood guard at the gym's two entrances ensuring no one from the outside could enter. Media were given strict orders not to alert the public of Timberlake's impending arrival. After volunteer players from the Waterfront Public School class were selected, the action got underway to the soundtrack of Timberlake's commercial. "Don't be afraid of 'em," Timberlake told his shy teammates, who seemed overwhelmed by the TV crews hovering around them on the tiny court. The singer took few shots on net, taking care to give his young players a chance to touch the ball. After the short game, Timberlake was whisked away. Organizers told the kids he had a busy schedule and had to leave immediately. Students remained star-struck even after the teen heartthrob had left the building. "He's wicked. He's so cool," gushed a wide-eyed Rebecca Polard, 11. "I didn't believe it at first. I thought it was somebody acting like him. But it was really him. Oh my gosh, I had tears in my eyes." Twelve-year-old Osama, on the other hand, said he wasn't all that impressed with Timberlake's act of charity. "I'm not a fan of music," said the serious youngster, who was shy about giving him last name. The Raptors are his idols, he added with a firm nod.
Say goodbye to Justin Timberlake and hello to Destiny's
Child AREN'T YOU LOVIN' IT? Say goodbye to Justin Timberlake and hello to Destiny's Child on McDonald's "I'm lovin' it" ad campaign. The burger colossus said it will sponsor the group's worldwide tour next year and feature the trio in new commercials and special restaurant merchandising. Destiny's Child also will make appearances on behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities and other children's causes.
Joey to do Hilfiger show Fashionista Tommy Hilfiger hits town tomorrow with his fall collection, and the designer's bringing some celebrity pals to Macy's Downtown Crossing. Who, you ask? Joey Fatone of 'N Sync, actress Jamie-Lynn DiScala, and "Boston" Rob Mariano and his soon-to-be better half, Amber Brkich.
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