Mick Fleetwood lawsuit under way in Portland

PORTLAND – After four years of legal wrangling, a lawsuit pitting Mick Fleetwood against the British Broadcasting Corp. over access to archival recordings of Bruce Springsteen and others got under way Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The lawsuit contends the BBC reneged on an agreement to let Fleetwood’s company, Bee Load Ltd., release CDs of radio performances from the BBC archives featuring Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, among others.

Bee Load contends the BBC suffered from seller’s remorse after entering into a contract with Bee Load, which was set up by Fleetwood, Fleetwood Mac’s drummer, and Fleetwood’s accountant, Joe McNulty of Cape Elizabeth.

In the end, the BBC released some of the recordings without sharing the profits in violation of the contract, Bee Load contends.

Bee Load filed its lawsuit in 2003 in Cumberland County Superior Court because Bee Load lists Portland as its primary place of business. The BBC contended the case properly belonged before London’s High Court.

A judge in England earlier this year ruled in BBC’s favor on most issues, but left a few matters to be resolved at trial.

The case ended up in bankruptcy court when Bee Load filed for protection under U.S. bankruptcy law after being billed $125,000 after losing a legal motion in England. The case is scheduled to be heard by Judge James Haines over a period of several weeks.