Madge in new battle

HAVING been granted a temporary restraining order against an auction house last month, Madonna is now demanding the return of her personal property.

The Material Girl has launched legal action against Gotta Have It! Collectibles and her former friend, art consultant Darlene Lutz, over their online sale of items, which comprises handwritten song lyrics, cassette tapes of unreleased recordings and an Evita headpiece among other things.

In the legal document Madge, 58, acknowledges that at the time Darlene took possession of her belongings it was lawful but after they fell out in 2004 she wasn’t aware that Darlene still had them. Yet apparently notice of an online auction changed that. “On several occasions plaintiff [Madonna] welcomed defendant Lutz into her homes,” states the wordy complaint. “Defendant also assisted with the packing up of plaintiff’s former homes. Upon information and belief, defendant gained possession of certain of plaintiff’s belongings when they were sent to defendant’s storage facility in order to aid in the sale of plaintiff’s former residences when plaintiff and defendant Lutz were friends.” The complaint adds the company “performed little or no due diligence to ensure that the consignors of the Madonna Memorabilia had any legitimate basis to consign for sale”.

While Darlene hadn’t responded to the complaint at the time of press she previously blamed Madonna for having a vendetta against her.