U Got The Suit

Caesars Palace reneged on a deal to bring Sheena Easton to Cleopatra’s Barge as a resident performer, costing producer Joseph Battig more than $1 million, according to a lawsuit filed by the spurned showman against the resort hotel in Las Vegas May 16.

Easton reportedly was to have begun performing six nights a week for one year beginning Nov. 2, but Caesars informed Battig in September it was ending the agreement, according to the complaint.

Battig claims he stood to net more than $1 million, with tickets to the 175-seat venue ranging from $57 to $60, with Caesars taking $3 per ticket plus alcohol sales. Easton is not named in the breach-of-contract lawsuit.

Attorneys for Battig, according to business journal VegasInc, said that he contracted with Easton through agent Steve Levine at International Creative Management and, in reliance upon the agreement, paid her $60,000 up front.

The suit says that Easton returned $25,000 but withheld $35,000 of the guarantee payment, according to VegasInc.

Battig also alleges negligent misrepresentation and seeks unspecified damages in the suit, filed in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas.