Judge Refuses to Move Universal Music Suit

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has denied Universal Music Group’s bid to move a lawsuit filed by rock band Garbage to a New York court. Judge Marvin M. Lager ruled this week that it would be unreasonable to have the band battle two related lawsuits in different states. Garbage filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles in January asking to be released from its record contract with Universal. The band invoked a contract clause that allows it to go elsewhere if the head of the Almo Sounds label--which signed the band and was distributed by Universal--left the company. Universal filed a lawsuit against the band, saying lead singer Shirley Manson was still under contract to Universal-affiliated Radioactive Records in New York. Lager ruled that despite a provision in Manson’s contract requiring disputes to be handled in New York, moving the trial there would “offend concepts of judicial economy.” A Universal spokesman declined to comment.