Judge Reduces Redgrave Award of $100,000

A federal judge Wednesday threw out a $100,000 jury award to actress Vanessa Redgrave, ruling that the Boston Symphony Orchestra could not be held liable for damages to her career that might have occurred after it canceled her performance in a 1982 concert series.

Instead, U.S. District Judge Robert Keeton said the orchestra must pay Redgrave $27,500, slightly less than the amount she would have received for the performance, a narration of Stravinsky’s “Oedipus Rex” with the symphony.

He also ordered Redgrave, 48, to pay the orchestra’s court costs. A symphony spokesman said those costs have not been determined.

Symphony ‘Gratified’

Nelson J. Darling Jr., president of the orchestra’s board of trustees, said the symphony is “gratified” by the judge’s decision and noted that the amount it was ordered to pay is less than its original out-of-court settlement offer of $31,000, which would have covered her expenses as well as the $27,500 salary.

Redgrave’s attorney, Daniel J. Kornstein, said that he had not spoken with the actress about the latest ruling but that he was sure she will appeal the decision.

In a trial last November, Redgrave sued the orchestra for $1 million, claiming that her civil rights had been violated. The actress, who has strongly supported the Palestine Liberation Organization, alleged that she had been fired for her political views and that the symphony was trying to stifle them.

Publicity Blamed

She also sought $166,000 for lost income that she claimed resulted from the publicity surrounding the canceled concert series.

The orchestra argued that it fired Redgrave because of threats of violence if she appeared.

The jury decided that Redgrave’s civil rights had not been violated but agreed that her career had been damaged and awarded her $100,000. She appealed the decision.

On Wednesday, Keeton confirmed the jury’s decision that Redgrave’s civil rights had not been violated, saying that the orchestra fired Redgrave because of concern about the physical safety of the audience and the musicians, fear of disruption and pressure from patrons.