In a lawsuit filed in Las Vegas Clark County District Court, renowned flamboyant producer Chip Lightman, describes Donny Osmond as “underhanded, devious, fraudulent and greedy.” At issue is the abrupt dismissal, just two weeks ago, of Lightman as the producer of the Donny & Marie show at Flamingo Las Vegas. Lightman claims that the Osmond siblings are in breach of a renewed contract that Lightman says extended his role as producer of the show through Oct. 15, 2012. Lightman takes credit for resurrecting their careers and bringing Donny & Marie back to Las Vegas in 2008. The duo renowned for their clean lifestyle, now make $1.6 million a year, as well as 40 per cent each of ticket revenues over $250,000, for appearing in the “Donny & Marie Show” at the Flamingo, the lawsuit alleges. The suit alleges the siblings agreed in October 2010 to extend Lightman’s deal by another two years, but Donny allegedly later told him he could only carry on producing the show if he accepted a 50 per cent pay cut. The scorned producer decries what is depicted as Donny Osmond’s appetite for the finer things in life: “The clear goal of his actions has been to line his own pockets with ill-gotten gains to fund his lavish lifestyle of exotic cars, luxury hotel suites, and private jets – all off the backs and hard work of those who worked tirelessly to support his career, including Lightman and CLE.” “Despite Marie’s seemingly innocent nature, she too is liable for the fraud,” he alleges. Despite all the ill words, The Las Vegas Sun reports, Lightman has now made a statement to the media saying he wants this issue settled “amicably,” i.e. a nice cash settlement out of court.
source-HMG
