‘You Light Up My Life’ songwriter settles lawsuit

‘You Light Up My Life’ songwriter settles lawsuit

NEW YORK — The Academy Award-winning songwriter of “You Light Up My Life” has ended his six-figure fight with a former fiancee he accused of conning him out of cash and pricey gifts by hiding the fact that she was already married.

A Manhattan judge last week approved a settlement between composer Joseph Brooks and Joaly Gomez, who said Brooks knew she wasn’t single.

The settlement terms weren’t specified, but court records show Brooks previously agreed Gomez could keep most of a disputed $550,000 unless they struck a deal to share it.

Brooks, 71, sued his 23-year-old ex-fiancee in October, seeking at least $2 million in damages and the return of the money, a $60,000 engagement ring, a $70,000 Mercedes-Benz and other presents. Gomez was a “young schemer” who “tried to sucker a ’sugar daddy,”’ Brooks’ lawyer, William Rome, said in court papers.

Brooks said he learned Gomez wasn’t single only when he spotted a marriage certificate in her handbag in October, 18 months into their relationship.

But Gomez said in court papers that Brooks knew all along about her marriage. He even steered her to a lawyer in June to arrange her divorce, she said.

Throughout their relationship, “there were no secrets as to each party’s obvious agenda,” wrote Gomez’s lawyer, Rosemarie Arnold. Brooks met Gomez in October 2007 by placing an ad looking for “pretty girls” for “companionship” and initially paid her $1,000 an hour for it, Arnold wrote.

She said that as the relationship progressed, he gave Gomez $1 million as a gift — but then borrowed $500,000 of it to help him make bail after he was charged in June with a series of casting-couch rapes.

Brooks has pleaded innocent and is awaiting trial on rape, sexual abuse and other charges. He’s accused of sexually assaulting 11 women who came to his Manhattan apartment to audition for supposed movie roles.

He promised Gomez he would return the money but didn’t, Arnold wrote.

Arnold declined to comment Friday. Rome didn’t immediately respond to telephone and e-mail messages.

Brooks won the Oscar for best original song for the Debby Boone ballad “You Light Up My Life.” He also wrote and directed the 1977 romantic comedy of the same name. It concerns a comedian who dreams of being an actress and has a one-night stand with a director.

Diddy’s clothing line sues over NYC store scaffold

NEW YORK — The company behind Sean “Diddy” Combs’ clothing line says it has a looming problem at its flagship New York City store — a scaffold that has been hanging over the shop for more than three years.

The company behind the rap impresario’s Sean John label sued its Manhattan landlord on Wednesday.

The company, Christian Casey LLC, says the scaffold obscures the Fifth Avenue store’s window displays, discouraging shoppers and cutting revenue in half.

The company wants at least $2.5 million in damages from its landlord and freedom from its more than $660,000-a-year lease.

A Delaware corporate services firm listed as an agent for landlord 475 Fifth 09 LLC declined to take a telephone message from The Associated Press on Thursday.

No charges for Tyson in scuffle with photographer

LOS ANGELES — Mike Tyson and a photographer won’t face charges after their scuffle last month at Los Angeles International Airport, city prosecutors said Thursday.

The decision prompted authorities in Arizona to say they won’t pursue any probation violations against Tyson in a 2007 drug case.

Los Angeles prosecutors found insufficient evidence to charge Tyson or photographer Tony Echeverria after they were arrested on Nov, 11, spokesman Frank Mateljan said.

Echeverria said a blow by the former heavyweight champion knocked him to the ground, and he was treated for a cut on his forehead.

Tyson was traveling with his family when he was mobbed by photographers. His attorney Shawn Chapman Holley said at the time that Tyson was protecting his infant daughter after Echeverria collided with her stroller.

The lawyer said Thursday the city attorney’s office made the right decision by not charging Tyson.

“The city attorney’s decision today is a small victory for those who continue to be harassed, annoyed and even stalked by the paparazzi,” Chapman Holley said.

Attempts to reach Echeverria for comment were unsuccessful.

Tyson also won’t face any probation violations in his 2007 cocaine possession case in Arizona, said Zach Dal Pra, deputy chief of the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department.

Arizona authorities said after Tyson’s arrest in Los Angeles that they were watching that case to see if the former boxer should be sent to jail.

However, Dal Pra said Thursday his office would have to show evidence of a newer crime to revoke the probation.

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion ever in 1986 when he won his title as a 20-year-old. His life since then has been marred by accusations of domestic violence, rape and cocaine use. He played himself in the 2009 hit film “The Hangover.”

Regis returns next week after hip replacement

NEW YORK — Regis Philbin is set to return to his daytime talk show next week after successful hip replacement surgery.

Philbin has been on the disabled list since the Dec. 1 operation. He makes his return to “Live! With Regis and Kelly” on Monday.

He hasn’t been completely out of sight: The 78-year-old Philbin called in to pal David Letterman’s show this month to deliver a “Top Ten” list.

Today’s birthdays

TV host Jack Hanna (“Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild”) is 63. Actress Wendy Phillips is 58. Actress Gabrielle Carteris (“Beverly Hills, 90210”) is 49. Actress Tia Carrere is 43. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is 42. Model Christy Turlington is 41. Actor Taye Diggs is 39. Drummer Scott Underwood of Train is 39. Singer Doug Robb of Hoobastank is 35. Actor Dax Shepard (“Employee of the Month”) is 35. Sax player-guitarist Jerry DePizzo Jr. of O.A.R. is 31. Actress Kate Bosworth is 27.