ANNIE LEIBOVITZ - LEIBOVITZ THREATENED WITH BANKRUPTCY

LEIBOVITZ THREATENED WITH BANKRUPTCY

Celebrity photographer ANNIE LEIBOVITZ has been threatened with involuntary bankruptcy by a lighting company over an allegedly unpaid debt.
The star snapper was sued by executives at B2Pro Lighting last year (08), who claimed she owed them $392,036 (£261,573) for rental services, damaged equipment and failure to deliver enough business to justify the discount rates they offered her.
A judge threw out part of the lawsuit last month (Apr09) but company bosses still claim she owes them $189,170 (£126,113), according to New York Post gossip column PageSix.
And lawyers for the company have now threatened Leibovitz will further legal action - they are preparing to file an involuntary bankruptcy petition against the star, who the newspaper claims is suffering financial difficulties.
Scott Markovitz, a lawyer for B2Pro, tells the publication, "We haven't filed anything yet, but we are doing our due diligence. We're in touch with Annie's people and they are co-operating, so hopefully it won't come to that."
Leibovitz is also facing a lawsuit from a stylist at Art Department Creative Services, who worked with the photographer on her recent big-budget Disney campaign featuring stars such as Scarlett Johansson. The stylist alleges Leibovitz owes more than $400,000 (£266,666) in unpaid bills.