Malibu : Newton-John Faces Lawsuit

Olivia Newton-John, accused last year of having spoiled the beach while building a new beachfront home, now has more problems with some of her Malibu neighbors, who claim the project has damaged their properties.

In a lawsuit filed last week in Santa Monica Superior Court, the Seacliff Estates Homeowners Assn. asked that a judge halt construction of the $2-million home the actress-singer and her husband, Matt Lattanzi, are building in the exclusive Paradise Cove area.

Neither Newton-John nor Lattanzi could be reached.

In December, environmentalists complained that tons of dirt and sand were illegally piled on the beach during construction of a sea wall on the property, and that a permit to complete the work had expired.

The state Coastal Commission has since issued an emergency permit to complete the sea wall. However, the commission could decide to cite the couple for violations when they seek a regular permit for the work, as required by law, sometime in the next few months.