LAWSUIT AGAINST UMG OVER FIRE DISMISSED

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought against Universal Music over recordings lost in a 2008 fire. Initially filed by five plaintiffs, the ruling was against the one remaining complainant, Jane Petty, an ex-wife of Tom Petty.

U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt ruled that Petty had failed to present enough evidence in her six claims against UMG.

Initially, Hole, Soundgarden, the Tupac Shakur estate and Steve Earle were part of the lawsuit and all voluntarily dismissed their claims against UMG after it was determined they did not suffer any losses.

The lawsuit was filed after a New York Times Magazine article was published about the Hollywood backlot fire that destroyed more than 100,000 audio recordings.

"Judge Kronstadt's decision fully dismisses the Soundgarden litigation and entirely rejects the only remaining plaintiff's arguments," UMG said in a statement. "As we have said all along, the New York Times Magazine articles at the root of this litigation were stunning in their overstatement and inaccuracy.”