Phil Spector Civil Suit Bound for Mediation

Pasadena - While convicted murderer Phil Spector serves a prison sentence for killing model/actress Lana Clarkson, lawyers for the woman's mother and the music producer will try to resolve a wrongful death lawsuit though mediation.

Donna Clarkson's lawsuit was filed in February 2005 in Pasadena Superior Court, but it was put on hold pending the outcome of Spector's criminal case. He was sentenced in May 2009 to 19 years to life in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder in a retrial.

Clarkson's attorney, Roderick J. Lindblom, said lawyers met with Pasadena Superior Court Jan Pluim last week and agreed to mediation with a third party, but that they have yet to pick anyone to hear the dispute.

Pluim gave the lawyers until Oct. 22 to complete mediation, or he will have them come in a week later and set a date for trial.

Lindblom said the case may be transferred to the downtown civil courthouse, if it goes to trial and the lawyers estimate it could last several weeks.

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified monetary damages, states that Spector killed Clarkson, 40, at his Alhambra home.

"This shooting occurred after defendant Phil Spector grabbed, hit, fought with, restrained and otherwise prevented the departure from his home, and injured decedent Lana Clarkson," the lawsuit states.

Spector, now 70, initially told police he "didn't mean to shoot" Clarkson, then later demonstrated how she supposedly killed herself, according to grand jury transcripts released in 2005.

Spector, a 1989 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee known for his layered "Wall of Sound" recording technique, has worked with the Crystals, the Ronettes, the Ramones, Gene Pitney, the Righteous Brothers, Bruce Springsteen and the Beatles.