Bertram Fields

Bertram Fields has represented some of the biggest names in entertainment, from the Beatles to John Travolta and Tom Cruise. The press-savvy attorney is fond of bragging that his clients have included every major Hollywood studio -- except one. "I would not represent Disney," he said flatly. "I don't want to be in a situation where I can't sue them."

Veteran lawyer Bertram Fields drew sharply contrasting portraits during his closing argument Tuesday of two entertainment titans who have spent millions waging a fierce legal battle over the film "Sahara." Clive Cussler, 75, author of the popular Dirk Pitt adventure series, spent nearly every day of the 13-week trial in a downtown courtroom and several days taking "a pounding" on the witness stand, Fields said. "You really got to know him," Fields told the jury of nine women and three men.

His name is nowhere in Monday's 60-page indictment of celebrity gumshoe and alleged wiretapper Anthony Pellicano. But the shadow of 76-year-old lawyer Bertram Fields, who for years employed Pellicano as an investigator, looms over the case. Listed throughout the indictment are a host of alleged victims, including such prominent names as actor Sylvester Stallone and comic Garry Shandling, who battled with Fields' clients.

His name is nowhere in Monday's 60-page indictment of celebrity gumshoe and alleged wiretapper Anthony Pellicano. But the shadow of 76-year-old lawyer Bertram Fields, who for years employed Pellicano as an investigator, looms over the case. Listed throughout the indictment are a host of alleged victims, including such prominent names as actor Sylvester Stallone and comic Garry Shandling, who battled with Fields' clients.

Two controversial members of Michael Jackson's defense team--a lawyer who blundered in court and a private investigator whose tactics and public comments drew fire--have resigned from the case as Jackson continues to battle allegations that he sexually molested a young boy. Meanwhile, new details emerged Tuesday about a potential second child molestation victim who has been interviewed by police and social service workers during the last two months.

Bertram Fields is withdrawing from the case he made famous: the multimillion-dollar battle over Winnie the Pooh royalties. For nearly three years, the Los Angeles entertainment attorney has been a thorn in the side of Walt Disney Co. as he fought on behalf of a mother and daughter who hold the merchandising rights to the honey-loving bear and his forest friends. They contend that Disney has cheated them out of hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty payments.

Veteran lawyer Bertram Fields drew sharply contrasting portraits during his closing argument Tuesday of two entertainment titans who have spent millions waging a fierce legal battle over the film "Sahara." Clive Cussler, 75, author of the popular Dirk Pitt adventure series, spent nearly every day of the 13-week trial in a downtown courtroom and several days taking "a pounding" on the witness stand, Fields said. "You really got to know him," Fields told the jury of nine women and three men.

1. "Tootsie." "Dustin Hoffman, in drag as Tootsie, is at home entertaining an elderly man who has fallen in love with him/her. They are having drinks when Bill Murray, Hoffman's roommate, walks in. Murray, who knows Tootsie is a man, takes in the scene, turns to Hoffman and, after a long pause, says, 'You slut.' " * 2. "Treasure of the Sierra Madre." "Bogart is in a trench. A Mexican bandit is a few feet away. The bandit shouts, 'We are the Federales.'

Pellicano trial: An article about the Anthony Pellicano trial in Monday's Calendar section said, "It was 'Waiting for Godot' week at the Pellicano trial," and added that "Godot wasn't a Brechtian invocation of God but of esquire Bertram Fields, famed Hollywood mega-lawyer, and Pellicano's benefactor." "Waiting for Godot" was written by Samuel Beckett, not Bertolt Brecht.

More on Michael: Having sued the London Daily Mirror for libel and breach of contract on Monday, pop star Michael Jackson on Tuesday won a 14-day injunction to stop the newspaper from publishing a photograph it says proves he is disfigured. The picture reportedly was taken at a concert in Munich last month. Earlier Tuesday, Jackson's lawyer told BBC radio that the 33-year-old singer is willing to appear in court to prove he is not disfigured.

Bertram Fields is withdrawing from the case he made famous: the multimillion-dollar battle over Winnie the Pooh royalties. For nearly three years, the Los Angeles entertainment attorney has been a thorn in the side of Walt Disney Co. as he fought on behalf of a mother and daughter who hold the merchandising rights to the honey-loving bear and his forest friends. They contend that Disney has cheated them out of hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty payments.

Bertram Fields has represented some of the biggest names in entertainment, from the Beatles to John Travolta and Tom Cruise. The press-savvy attorney is fond of bragging that his clients have included every major Hollywood studio -- except one. "I would not represent Disney," he said flatly. "I don't want to be in a situation where I can't sue them."

1. "Tootsie." "Dustin Hoffman, in drag as Tootsie, is at home entertaining an elderly man who has fallen in love with him/her. They are having drinks when Bill Murray, Hoffman's roommate, walks in. Murray, who knows Tootsie is a man, takes in the scene, turns to Hoffman and, after a long pause, says, 'You slut.' " * 2. "Treasure of the Sierra Madre." "Bogart is in a trench. A Mexican bandit is a few feet away. The bandit shouts, 'We are the Federales.'

Two controversial members of Michael Jackson's defense team--a lawyer who blundered in court and a private investigator whose tactics and public comments drew fire--have resigned from the case as Jackson continues to battle allegations that he sexually molested a young boy. Meanwhile, new details emerged Tuesday about a potential second child molestation victim who has been interviewed by police and social service workers during the last two months.

A Los Angeles judge overseeing a long-running dispute over Winnie the Pooh royalties declined to unseal documents that explain why veteran entertainment attorney Bertram Fields abruptly withdrew from the case last month. The documents were protected by attorney-client privilege, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ernest Hiroshige wrote.

Michael Cimino has lost a Directors Guild of America arbitration over his right to make a final cut of "The Sicilian"--clearing the way for producer David Begelman's Gladden Entertainment Corp. to finish the film. Cimino had sought the arbitration after filing a lawsuit to block Begelman from cutting the film to two hours.