Sony’s House of Headaches

Sony Corp. and its new president, Nobuyuki Idei, not only are stuck with the former home of departed movie chief Peter Guber, but also an unhappy tenant.

Last week, Sony acknowledged that its film unit three years ago bought Guber’s former home on Brownwood Place in Bel-Air. Sony spent $5.5 million for the mansion and can’t unload it.

Three weeks ago, Los Angeles furniture dealer Julio Paz moved in. He pays $10,000 a month under a two-year lease, not nearly enough to cover payments and taxes on a $5.5-million house.

Paz says he’s been nagging Sony to fix several maintenance problems that started when he noticed sewage backing up into the Jacuzzi and shower.

Other problems Paz says he’s been complaining about include a lack of phone service in a bedroom--which he says a repairman told him was caused by rats chewing on phone wires on the property-- and frayed tennis court nets.

Sony declined comment.

To Sony’s credit, Paz says, the studio maintenance staff responded quickly in fixing an earlier plumbing problem that ruined a bathroom carpet.

The purchase of the home--which Sony acknowledges happened when recently ousted Sony Corp. of America President Michael P. Schulhof renegotiated Guber’s contract in 1992--is said to have irked Idei and other Sony executives. Guber spent Sony’s money. (Sony officials said Sunday they are reducing their financial commitment to Guber’s new company.)

Sony did acquire one unusual asset with the house: a large “Flotarium” described in its users guide as the “Rolls-Royce of flotation tanks” used for relaxation.

Beauty and the Bar

Arguably, all lawyers are ugly. But there are degrees.

“Beauty, Productivity and Discrimination: Lawyers’ Looks and Lucre,” is the title of a working paper from economics professors Jeff E. Biddle of Michigan State and Daniel S. Hamermesh of the University of Texas. The two studied the effect of beauty on the success of law school graduates. Among the findings:

* Good-looking lawyers graduating from law school in the 1970s after five years of practice earned more than their “worse-looking classmates.”

But “there is no impact of beauty on earnings among 1980s graduates.”

* “Attorneys in the private sector are better-looking than those in the public sector.”

* Good-looking male lawyers attain partnership early.

Sole Complaint

Another stink in the advertising world has been resolved.

Under pressure from the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Combe Inc. agreed to modify its ads for Odor Eaters insoles. The council had asked the company to substantiate claims that foot odor is caused by “sweaty acid” and that the company neutralized foot odor with Arm & Hammer baking soda better than any of Dr. Scholl’s products.

The company agreed to modify its ads so they don’t imply that no Dr. Scholl’s product can neutralize smelly feet.