LEGAL FILEAnother Lawsuit: Pop star Michael Jackson...

LEGAL FILE

Another Lawsuit: Pop star Michael Jackson was sued for $20 million in U.S. District Court in Manhattan Tuesday by the father of two Brazilian youths who were allegedly hit by a van leased by Jackson. Attorney John Durst said that the two youths, who were 14 and 16 at the time of last October’s accident, were Jackson fans who had waited to see him outside a toy factory in Sao Paulo. When Jackson left the factory, the van in which he was riding struck the boys, Durst alleged, with one of them suffering a fractured femur and requiring three operations. The suit also alleges that Jackson visited the youths at a hospital after the accident and promised to pay their medical expenses, but that the family received no compensation and was merely exploited for public relations purposes. A Jackson spokesman was unavailable for comment.

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Barker Suit Update: A Los Angeles judge on Tuesday dismissed some portions of former “The Price Is Right” model Dian Parkinson’s $8-million lawsuit against game-show host Bob Barker and others, but left intact the suit’s main allegations of sexual harassment and employment discrimination. Parkinson had sued Barker, Mark Goodson Productions Inc. and several of the show’s executives in June, alleging that Barker repeatedly coerced her into having sex with him between 1989 and 1993. Superior Judge Edward Ross dismissed show executive Jonathan Goodson from the lawsuit, ruling that he was unaware of the alleged situation. Ross also dismissed allegations that the show’s producers conspired against Parkinson, and said he will dismiss allegations that Barker conspired against Parkinson and violated her civil rights, unless her lawyers can bolster their charges within 30 days. Barker admits having a fling with Parkinson, but says it was consensual.

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Burt Vs. Loni Again?: Attorneys for Burt Reynolds said Tuesday they will file a civil damage lawsuit today against Loni Anderson, the actor’s ex-wife. The attorneys provided few details, except to say that the suit would be connected to the two actors’ divorce settlement, and concerned their son. Reynolds and Anderson filed for divorce in Florida in June 1993.

TELEVISION

New Cable Classic: An adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic love story “Wuthering Heights,” starring Ralph Fiennes (“Schindler’s List,” “Quiz Show”) as Heathcliff, will have its U.S. premiere Dec. 5 on cable’s Turner Network Television. The movie, which also stars Juliette Binoche (“Damage,” “Blue”) as the heroine Cathy, was filmed on the English moors and released theatrically in the United Kingdom.

THE ARTS

Stage Theft: A 48-foot truck-trailer carrying a set for Verdi’s “Aida” from San Francisco to Opera Pacific in Orange County was stolen from a parking lot in Ontario sometime Saturday night. The show, scheduled to open this weekend at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, will go on, according to company officials who are trying to obtain scenery from other opera companies and have already made some changes in their staging. Opera Pacific is asking the public to call Interstate Consolidation at (213) 720-1771 with any information. The cab has Oregon license plate YABW949 and the trailer has Oregon license plate HP40153. There is a $2,500 reward for the set’s return.

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New Arts Center: A parade of 400 children marching through the streets of Skid Row will mark today’s opening of the $2.5-million Mark Taper Center/Inner-City Arts, which will provide 4,300 inner-city children with arts education, both during the school day and as part of a latch-key program. Mayor Richard Riordan will preside over the center’s 11 a.m. opening ceremonies, which will also feature the comedy trio Culture Clash, Laker forward George Lynch and a Brazilian percussion band. The new 16,000-square-foot center--which features individual studios for drama/dance, music, language arts, visual arts and media arts, as well as a separate ceramics building and an outdoor courtyard--is located at 720 S. Kohler St. The arts program had been operating out of temporary trailers at the 9th Street School.

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One Hurdle Remains: The House on Tuesday once again approved a $168-million 1995 budget for the National Endowment for the Arts, a 2% cut from this year’s funding. The NEA budget, part of the $13.6-billion Interior Department bill, had received previous approval from the House, but went to a House-Senate conference committee last week after the Senate had voted for a deeper, 5% cut targeted toward controversial visual arts and performance programs. The conference committee threw out the Senate’s proposal, and sent the House’s version back to both houses. Senate approval is still needed for the $168-million budget, which is for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.