Article online since: 2007-10-26 06:27:28
Written by: anca axenia
Illusionist David Copperfield has lost his magic touch--now he's being sued for cancelling Southeast Asia tour dates at the last minute.
Copperfield scrapped the shows after learning he was at the center of a new FBI probe into a rape claim against him.
FBI agents reportedly seized computer equipment in a raid on a warehouse Copperfield owns in Las Vegas last week.
The 51-year-old was due to perform in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in the coming weeks, but cancelled on Sunday.
And now promoters at Viva Art International Limited and MAZ Concerts Inc. have filed a civil lawsuit in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County for breach of contract.
Viva & MAZ bosses have demanded the return of several million dollars that were paid into an escrow account for Copperfield's performance in Southeast Asia.
Copperfield has reportedly refused to return any portion of the sum.
The magic man is under investigation by a federal grand jury in Seattle for sexual improprieties. An unnamed woman claims Copperfield raped her in the Bahamas.
