Yoko takes former Lennon aide to court
Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s former personal assistant have no plans to give peace a chance.
The pair are going to a federal court in Manhattan, where they are expected to trade accusations of greed and betrayal at a trial starting today.
Ono, 69, sued Frederic Seaman in 1999, claiming he exploited the ex-Beatle’s death by stealing priceless family photos and mementoes, then selling them to collectors.
As part of an alleged scheme code-named Project Walrus, Mr Seaman sought to “defame Mrs Lennon and falsely attempt to portray himself as Lennon’s only true confidante during the last years of Lennon’s life,” the lawsuit said.
Ono wants Mr Seaman to surrender the rights to 374 photos he took of Lennon, and turn over around £50,000 (€79,180) in profits from the sale of the rock legend’s manuscripts and revealing letters.
In one of those letters, Lennon scolded Paul McCartney, asking, “Do you really think most of today’s art came about because of the Beatles? ... When you stop believing it, you might wake up.”
A jury could hear Ono - who also seeks unspecified damages - testify as early as tomorrow.
“We’re delighted that we’re finally bringing this case to trial and are quite confident about the outcome,” said Ono’s lawyer Paul LiCalsi.
Mr Seaman, 49, declined to comment.
Defence lawyer Glenn Wolther said his client denies any wrongdoing, including an allegation that he violated a confidentiality agreement by talking about Lennon’s personal life in print.
According to Ono, Mr Seaman signed a confidentiality pact when he was hired in 1979 to be a “gofer” for the Lennons. His duties included caring for their son Sean and taking photos at family events, the lawsuit said.
Mr Seaman has argued that he took the photos on his own time and with his own camera - making him the rightful owner.
The case is only the latest chapter in a two-decade feud that followed Lennon’s murder outside his Central Park West apartment building in 1980.
Ono fired Mr Seaman in 1981 after she caught him wearing Lennon’s clothes and charging restaurant and nightclub sprees to her, the lawsuit said. She claims she was unaware he had been looting Lennon’s files.
In 1983, Mr Seaman pleaded guilty to second-degree larceny for stealing Lennon’s diaries. He was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to return all the property.
Ono’s “prior belief that everything stolen by Mr Seaman had been returned to her has been dispelled, and she fears that Mr Seaman will continue to exploit those personal and family items,” the lawsuit said.
