FIRST OFF . . .

Paul Newman appeared in a Bridgeport, Conn., courtroom on Thursday, cracking jokes and trying to correct his counsel’s grammar. Newman was testifying in a lawsuit brought by Julius Gold, a delicatessen owner, claiming Gold was promised a share of the actor’s celebrity food business. Newman said he never promised Gold money or stock in his salad dressing business, which Newman called “a lark.” Referring to a decision to use the actor’s picture on the salad dressing labels, Newman said: “This salad dressing had developed a personality and it seemed right somehow,” in a self-mocking way. At one point, Newman objected to the phrasing of a question by his own lawyer and was told by Judge Howard F. Zoarski he could not do so. Gold, who owns Gold’s Delicatessen in Westport, claimed he was promised 8% of the food business. But Newman said he never made any promises to Gold. He said Gold had been at several “tasting” parties to introduce the products, “but I don’t think he made a contribution.”