Madonna gains halt to auction of items
NEW YORK: Madonna has persuaded a New York state judge to halt the auction of 22 personal items, including a pair of worn satin panties, a hairbrush containing her hair and a breakup letter from a former boyfriend, the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
Justice Gerald Lebovits, of the state Supreme Court in Manhattan, temporarily blocked the online auction of the items, which was scheduled for yesterday, and directed the auctioneer, Gotta Have It Collectibles, to explain on September 6 why he should not issue a preliminary injunction.
Lebovits issued his order on Wednesday, a few hours after Madonna sued, and made it public yesterday.
In a court filing, Madonna said the 22 items were among 128 being consigned for the auction, mostly by Darlene Lutz, whom she described as a longtime friend and art consultant.
The 58yearold singer said she was not trying to block the auction of all 128 items, but would face ‘‘irreparable harm’’ if many of her ‘‘extremely private and personally sensitive belongings’’ were sold.
‘‘It seems obvious that defendant Lutz betrayed my trust in an outrageous effort to obtain my possessions without my knowledge or consent’’, and make a profit ‘‘in complete disregard of my rights, especially my right to privacy’’.
In court filing yesterday, Lutz said she and Madonna had a ‘‘falling out’’ in 2004, which led to a legal settlement that should have resolved the singer’s latest claims.
Lutz’s lawyers said in another filing Madonna had waited too long to sue, and Lebovits should vacate his order. — Reuters