Jagger Didn’t Steal ’85 Song, Jury Declares

A federal jury today ruled rock star Mick Jagger did not steal one of his hit songs from an aspiring reggae musician.

“It’s been a wonderful week in White Plains,” Jagger said with a smile after the verdict was read.

After two days of deliberating, a federal jury said the Rolling Stone’s lead singer did not steal his 1985 solo hit “Just Another Night” from Patrick Alley, a Jamaican-born musician from the Bronx.

“It was pointless,” Jagger said of the case. “Of course I’m relieved. My reputation is completely clear. If you are well known, people will take shots at you. I don’t think the song is similar to mine at all. There’s 12 songs with the title anyway.”

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The foreman of the jury would not comment on the ruling.

The jurors began deliberating at 3:30 p.m. Monday and quickly asked to rehear the copyright law. They also asked for two tape recorders and tapes of the final and earlier versions of Jagger’s and Alley’s songs.

Alley, who waited in the courtroom during deliberations, angrily lashed out at the rock star, whom he was suing for the estimated $6 million in profits from the album “She’s the Boss,” on which the song appeared. He claims that it was based on a song he wrote in 1979 and recorded for a small label in 1983.

“They’re all liars,” Alley said about Jagger’s attorneys. “Mick Jagger is a liar.”