It's not going well for Phil Spector at all. As previously reported, the legendary producer is to go on trial later this year accused of the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, but he is now also being sued for $5million over the alleged sexual harassment of a former assistant. Michelle Blaine claims Spector harassed her, appeared naked in front of her, and on one occasion asked her to find him a prostitute. But it's not quite as simple as that - no, Spector sued Ms Blaine last year claiming that she had embezzled money from his accounts.
Blaine handled both Spector's personal and business interests. The first person to visit her employer after his arrest, Blaine claims that Spector repeatedly proposed marriage in an attempt to prevent her from testifying at the upcoming criminal trial. She says that the producer gave her a $700,000 house, and offered her a raise when she tried to quit her job, but, as aforementioned, Spector subsequently accused her of stealing his money, and saying that money she used to buy the house was a loan, and not a gift.
Spector's lawyer Bruce Cutler says: "She stole this money and her final lie is now that it's hush money. It's all a lie".
Blaine's lawyer Tim Reuben says: "We believe there is very, very powerful evidence that Michelle Blaine acted not only appropriately but that she was very, very badly treated by Mr Spector".
Spector is, of course, due in court in September over those murder charges. He denies shooting Clarkson at his home in Alhambra, California, in February 2003.