Judge Orders Talks In 'n Sync Lawsuit

The judge presiding over the 'N Sync lawsuit has ordered the legal combatants to participate in settlement talks on Dec. 6 and 7. "She is aggressively scheduling settling conferences with the full force of her gavel," says 'N Sync attorney Adam Ritholz.

On Nov. 24, Orlando-based U.S. District Court Judge Ann Conway instructed the parties to begin settlement talks after she heard oral arguments on the preliminary injunction filed in October by Trans Continental, its head Louis Pearlman, and BMG Entertainment. The injunction is the first salvo in a suit that seeks to prevent the group's label switch from RCA to Jive.

In response to the October injunction, members of 'N Sync had filed a counterclaim and a $25-million-plus countersuit on Nov. 2. In the counterclaim, they called Pearlman "a con man ... who has become wealthy at their expense."

Furthermore, the papers allege that the financial deals the group signed with Pearlman gave him "or entities he controlled the ability to take as fees the vast majority of the group's income." Ultimately, the response claims that should the injunction be granted, such action "would likely destroy ['N Sync's] career."

Trans Continental's attorneys filed a motion yesterday asking permission to submit additional material for consideration before the judge announces her ruling on the injunction. No date has been set for the decision.

'N Sync's eponymous RCA is certified for U.S. sales of 7 million copies. The album has been on The Billboard 200 for over 18 months; this week it is No. 61 with a bullet.
<P align=right><i>-- Melinda Newman, L.A.