Actor Modine cleared in brush fire

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (AP) -- A jury has ruled that Matthew Modine doesn't have to pay for damages to a neighbor's property from a fire he started outside his Hudson Valley home.
Modine, who sold the house last year, said he started the fire in April 2003 to clear brush on his property.
Nigel and Julia Widdowson were seeking $43,000 for damage to more than 100 trees on their wooded estate in Millbrook, 78 miles north of New York City.
Modine's lawyer, Rose Cotter, argued during a four-day trial that there was no permanent damage and showed photos of the trees growing back.
The Dutchess County jury returned the verdict last week.
Modine, 46, has appeared in films including "Full Metal Jacket," "Married to the Mob," "Any Given Sunday" and "Transporter 2."