'N Sync Scores Small Victory As Legal Battle Begins
11.24.99 15:00 EST
It seems that round one of 'N Sync's legal fight with estranged manager Louis J. Pearlman goes to the boy band.
'N Sync and Pearlman were present (and dutifully ignored each other) in an Orlando courtroom on Wednesday as things got rolling in the $150 million lawsuit that BMG Entertainment and Pearlman's Trans Continental Media filed against 'N Sync and its new record label, Jive Records, last month (see "'N Sync Hit With $150 Million Lawsuit").
The boy band scored an early legal victory as Judge Ann Conway denied Pearlman's request for an injunction against 'N Sync for now and said she will be inclined to deny the injunction. According to an attorney for the group, the judge is studying the facts further, but 'N Sync for now is free to continue their recording career with Jive Records.
However, Pearlman and BMG's lawsuit against 'N Sync hasn't been thrown out, and following the hearing, both parties met with a magistrate to discuss a possible settlement.
In one strange turn of events, Pearlman's lawyer admitted that he did not know how much the ex-manager had actually made off the group, but that the figure was at least $7 million. Since 'N Sync has made only $7 million collectively, that would mean Pearlman's portion of the cut is at least 50 percent and not the one-sixth he had originally claimed.
