LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- American magician
David Copperfield has been sued in Los Angeles by two companies that allege the
entertainer pulled out shows in Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf and seek 2.2
million dollars in damages, according to court sources Wednesday.
Viva Art International Ltd., a Los Angeles-based
company, and Maz Concerts Inc. of Ontario, Canada, both professional promoters,
filed suit Tuesday against Copperfield in a court here, alleging breach of
contract and other causes of action.
The two companies allege that Copperfield, who is
under sexual misconduct allegations in a separate case, did not go ahead with
the promised performances because of the ongoing criminal investigation.
The magician did not want to make public appearances
after the allegations surfaced against him because he would have had to face
questions from overseas news outlets, they contend.
Copperfield has been under investigation since
mid-October, when a woman who was in his audience claimed he flew her to the
Bahamas and raped her. He has denied the woman's claim.
According to the suit, the companies entered a
contract with Copperfield in September for 38 live performances in Jakarta,
Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok in October and November, and 10 performances
in the United Arab Emirates.
The companies previously promoted about 200 live
performances by Copperfield in Europe, bringing about a sense of trust on the
part of both sides, it said.
The firms agreed to pay Copperfield's company nearly
4.4 million dollars to cover his costs, and as of October 10, they had paid 2.2
million dollars to him, according to the court papers.
