Spector is sued by L.A. hotel
A downtown Los Angeles hotel that housed Phil Spector and his defense team during his six-month murder trial last year is suing the record producer for $110,000 in unpaid hotel bills.
Spector stopped paying the bills for rooms four months into his stay at the Westin Bonaventure, a few blocks from the Criminal Justice Center where his trial was held, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Spector had an agreement to pay in advance every two weeks, according to the suit.
The Westin provided Spector with special accommodations, including “heavenly beds,” complimentary workouts for his attorneys and a secured “litigation war room” guarded with key-card access, said Shari L. Rosenthal, an attorney for the Westin.
Spector stayed at the hotel from February of last year until Sept. 29, three days after a jury deadlocked on his murder case, in which he was accused of shooting actress Lana Clarkson.
The producer rented four luxury suites at a discounted rate for his wife and himself, his attorneys, witnesses and guests.
The hotel made numerous efforts to “amicably arrange” for payment, according to the suit, but Spector refused to pay unless the sum was drastically discounted. The hotel is asking for more than $5,000 in accrued interest.
Clarkson was found shot to death in Spector’s Alhambra home Feb. 3, 2003. Prosecutors are expected to refile charges against Spector this fall.
Spector could not be reached for comment.
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