Courtney Love Sues Boyfriend’s Ex-Wife
Courtney Love filed a civil lawsuit against Lesley Barber, the ex-wife of her former boyfriend Jim Barber, an executive at Hole’s past label, Geffen Records. The suit, filed in the Santa Monica West District Branch of Los Angeles Superior Court on Dec. 15, states that Ms. Barber blames Love for the breakup of her marriage and has since “terrorized” Love as well as her friends and family.
Love is suing Barber on several counts including assault, battery, trespassing, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy. Love’s attorney Martin Singer said that Barber’s harassment has gone on for the past twenty months. According to the lawsuit, the charges against Barber include “stalking, prank phone calls and the making of terroristic threats.” Barber allegedly verbally threatened to “burn down” Love’s house as well as “plant cocaine” in her car. In one specific incident on June 4, the suit alleges that Barber drove her Volvo directly at Love, running over her foot. As a result of the injury Love claims that she was not able to complete training required for a lead role in John Carpenter’s sci-fi/horror film Ghost of Mars and subsequently will not appear in the film or receive the $1.5 million fee.
The suit also states that as recently as last month Barber trespassed on Love’s property, frightening Love and Kurt Cobain’s eight-year-old daughter, Francis Bean Cobain. Also listed as possible defendants in the case are any persons or parties who may have assisted Barber in committing the charges made against her — in one instance Barber allegedly hired private investigators who trespassed on Love’s property.
The suit estimates damages to be in excess of $1 million, but a jury at trial will determine damages.
