FIRST OFF . . .

The American Federation of Musicians, Local 47, filed suit Thursday in Superior Court against the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Society, on behalf of Paul Shure and Janet Lakatos, the former concertmaster and principal violist of the orchestra, respectively. The union’s suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages on six counts, including breach of contract, fraud and deceit, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy. Shure and Lakatos, longtime members of the orchestra, did not have their contracts renewed for this season, allegedly owing to personal conflicts with music director Iona Brown. Attorney Nancy Abell of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker, an outside counsel for the orchestra, said the orchestra’s executives had not seen a copy of the suit, but added that”the terms and conditions of musicians employment--including provisions on re-engagement--are set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the orchestra. The chamber orchestra has not breached that agreement or any other employment agreement.”