JIMMY DEAN - JIMMY DEAN GAINS SMALL VICTORY OVER SARA LEE

A judge has barred food company SARA LEE from advertising its JIMMY DEAN sausage products, as being endorsed by the country music singer, according to US District Court documents.

Judge SAM CUMMINGS ruled earlier this month (FEB05) in Lubbock, Texas, ordering Sara Lee to stop using any personal endorsement by the 76-year-old on its packaging, pending the resolution of a lawsuit he filed last year (04).

Sara Lee, which dropped Dean as a spokesman in 2003, said it stopped putting the singer's personal guarantee on its packaging about a year ago, citing business reasons.

Sara Lee spokeswoman JULIE KETAY says, "It's not on our packaging, but we still maintain we have the right to use it."

The company bought the JIMMY DEAN MEAT COMPANY in 1984 for $15 million (GBP7.8 million)..

BIG BAD JOHN singer Dean sued Sara Lee last year, saying the continued use of his personal endorsement on products violated his right to privacy.