LUIS MIGUEL - MIGUEL LOSES UNFAIR DISMISSAL LAWSUIT

MIGUEL LOSES UNFAIR DISMISSAL LAWSUIT

Latin pop star LUIS MIGUEL has been ordered to pay a minimum of $800,000 (GBP400,000) to his former keyboardist ARTURO PEREZ, after he was found guilty of unfair dismissal. The 37-year-old was accused of sacking Perez in 2005 after he was forced to miss two of the singer's concerts due to health reasons. And a judge in Mexico ruled in favour of Perez earlier this week (ends18Jan08), claiming Miguel had violated the law with his actions. Perez says, "It's always humiliating when you lose your job like that. After he fired me I never heard from him again. As an artist I think he's Mexico's best, but as a person, my perception of him has changed." According to Perez's attorney Alejandro Velasquez, the final figure could rise to more than $1 million (GBP500,000), reports Mexican newspaper El Universal. He adds, "In two or three months, we'll know the final result."