Puppi, Jerry Buss Settle Palimony Suit

Puppi Buss, 39, who filed a $5-million palimony suit against Los Angeles Laker owner Jerry Buss, has settled out of court, according to her attorney Marvin Mitchelson.

The famed palimony attorney refused to reveal details of the settlement except to say, “My client is satisfied.” He said she settled out of court to avoid a jury trial, which was to begin today.

Buss could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Orlan Friedman, said he could not comment on the case because the records had been sealed as part of the agreement.

In the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in 1987, Puppi Buss said that she had traveled and lived with Buss on and off for 15 years, cared for him when he was ill, and took Buss’ last name at his request. She had sought an interest in the Lakers, the Los Angeles Kings--which Buss once owned--the Great Western Forum and other Buss holdings estimated at more than $250 million. Mitchelson filed a similar suit on behalf of Veronica Buss, who claimed that Buss married her while he was still wed to someone else. That case also was settled.