Michael Shawn Dies; Choreographer

Michael Shawn, a leading Broadway choreographer who sued the producers of “Legs Diamond” claiming that they fired him because he had AIDS, has died at age 45 of complications from the disease, hospital officials said today.

Shawn learned that he was infected with the AIDS virus in late 1987 shortly before he became the choreographer for “Legs Diamond.” He was dismissed from his job and sued the producers for $2.75 million in a case that many thought at the time could provide a legal precedent for AIDS discrimination cases. But the case was settled out of court.