A summary of Southern California-related business litigation developments during the past week.

Book Tape Company Sues Authors: Dove Audio Inc., which distributes books on audiotape, sued the authors of the self-help book “Life 101” on grounds that they breached a contract for an abridged version of the book on tape. In the federal suit, the Studio City firm alleges that authors Peter McWilliams and John Rodger and the book’s publisher, Prelude Press Inc., agreed in July to allow Dove to distribute a tape of the book, which has sold 135,000 copies in hardback since its release in June. The suit contends that the authors accepted a $3,500 advance on the tape deal, under which the authors were to receive 10% to 15% of net profits from sales. In October, after distribution of the tape began, the authors told Dove no contract existed and that the tape’s sales were improper, the suit says. It seeks to make the agreement enforceable. The authors contend that the contract is invalid because Dove could not meet its obligation to distribute the tape within 30 days. (Case No. 91-0043. Filed Jan. 3, 1990).