Judge throws out suit over found paintings

New York — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a New York writer who claimed he was entitled to compensation for helping the family of a Parisian art dealer recover paintings that were stolen by the Nazis.

Hector Feliciano sought $6.8 million in finder’s fees for his role in recovering the works by Matisse, Monet, Leger and Bonnard for the family of Paul Rosenberg, the art dealer.

State Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Ramos in Manhattan dismissed the case last month at the request of Feliciano’s lawyer, Michael Dowd.

Feliciano, author of 1994’s “The Lost Museum: The Nazi Conspiracy to Steal the World’s Greatest Works of Arts,” said he had an oral agreement with the widow of Rosenberg’s son that guaranteed him financial compensation for tracking down the paintings.

Feliciano contended that he was entitled to 17.5 percent of the total value of the paintings, estimated at $39 million.

The widow, Elaine Rosenberg, denied promising payments to Feliciano.

Dowd was hired last month to replace Feliciano’s original lawyers, who had failed to meet deadlines to produce documents for the case. Ramos ruled that Feliciano had waived his right to depose witnesses or get documents from the opposing lawyers.

On Feb. 14, Dowd requested that the lawsuit be thrown out, saying his predecessors’ mistakes had hindered his case.

“It became clearer and clearer to me that we were going no place,” Dowd told The New York Times in Monday editions.

Winans, Chapman to be hosts for Dove Awards

Nashville, Tenn. — CeCe Winans and Steven Curtis Chapman will host the 34th annual Dove Awards April 10 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

“These two artists represent the best in Christian music, for both their commercial success and their artistic integrity,” John W. Styll, president of the Gospel Music Assn., said Monday.

The GMA says it will partner with StarOne Networks to produce a live pay-per-view Webcast.

PAX TV will broadcast the show on April 19. It also will be shown on the Trinity Broadcasting Network April 25 and April 26.

The Gospel Music Assn. is a trade organization formed in 1964 to promote Christian music. Its 5,000 members nominate and vote for the Dove Award winners.

MTV names Metallica as its third ‘mtvICON’

New York — MTV is celebrating the two-decade career of Metallica by naming the heavy metal group as its third “mtvICON.”

The Grammy-winning band will be the subject of a tribute by other artists and celebrities on May 3 in Los Angeles; the event will premiere on MTV three days later.

“This tribute special will not only celebrate their long and legendary career, but will underscore their importance to today’s music landscape and their vast influence on other artists,” Tom Calderone, executive vice president of music and talent programming at MTV and MTV2, said Monday.

MTV has previously honored Janet Jackson and Aerosmith.