Martha Stewart to testify in trial over her brand (update Martha Stewart denies wrongdoing)

Source: AP-Excite

UPDATE below.

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO

NEW YORK (AP) - Eight years after Martha Stewart was released from prison for lying about a stock trade, the home diva is now facing another legal mess that may not be easy to clean up.

Stewart, 71, is scheduled to take the stand in New York State Supreme Court Tuesday. She is at the center of a bitter legal battle between two of the nation's largest retailers - Macy's Inc. (M) and J.C. Penney Co.

Macy's sued the media and merchandising company Stewart founded for breaching an exclusive contract when she signed a deal with Penney in December 2011 to open shops at most of its stores this spring.

Macy's, which has sold Martha Stewart products including towels and pots since 2007, is trying to block Penney from selling those products.

FULL story at link.


UPDATE>>>>> http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130305/DA4R7NO01.html

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO

NEW YORK (AP) - Home decor and food guru Martha Stewart testified in court on Tuesday that she did nothing wrong when she signed an agreement to open shops within most of J.C. Penney's stores across the country.

Stewart testified in New York State Supreme Court in a trial over whether the company she founded breached its contract to sell cookware, bedding and other items exclusively at Macy's when she inked the deal with Penney.

Stewart's appearance, which followed a lineup of other top brass including the CEOs of both Macy's Inc. (M) and J.C. Penney Co., attracted a lot of attention from the media. So much so that the judge opened up the jury box to make room for the expanded audience, and spectators had to wait behind a roped line to enter the courthouse.

During four hours of testimony, Stewart, who founded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., denied Macy's allegations that she did anything unethical and said she was only looking to expand her brand.



Martha Stewart arrives to court in New York, Tuesday, March 5, 2013. Macy's Inc. is suing the media and merchandising company Stewart founded for breaching an exclusive contract when she signed a deal with J.C. Penney in December 2011 to open shops at most of its stores this spring.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)



FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130305/DA4QTP180.html

---

Television personality Martha Stewart attends Macy's 150th anniversary celebration at Gotham Hall on in this Oct. 28, 2008 file photo taken in New York. Stewart, 71, is scheduled to take the stand in New York State Supreme Court Tuesday March 5, 2013. She is at the center of a bitter legal battle between two of the nation's largest retailers _ Macy's Inc. and J.C. Penney Co. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)