FILE – In this July 7, 2006 file photo, Boston Symphony Orchestra music director James Levine conducts the symphony on its opening night performance at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass. A New York judge dismissed two of the seven counts and part of a third in the lawsuit filed by the former Metropolitan Opera music director against the company last year. Levine was the Met’s music or artistic director from 1976-2016, then became music director emeritus. He was fired by the Met on March 12 last year after the company said an investigation found evidence of sexual abuse and harassment. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge on Tuesday dismissed portions of a lawsuit filed by former Metropolitan Opera music director James Levine against the company last year.
Levine was the Met’s music or artistic director from 1976-2016, then became its music director emeritus. He was fired in March 2018 after the Met said an investigation found evidence of sexual abuse and harassment. Levine sued three days later, claiming breach of contract and defamation and seeking at least $5.8 million in damages.
The Met moved last July to dismiss the defamation counts.
New York Supreme Court Justice Andrea Masley on Tuesday dismissed all but one of the defamation claims.
Breach of contract claims remain part of the suit.
Bettina B. Plevan, a lawyer for the Met, said the company was pleased.
Levine’s lawyer, Edward J.M. Little, said he was encouraged by the decision to uphold the one defamation claim.
“The Met didn’t just fire him,” Little said in a statement. “It defamed him on the way out after his 50 years of brilliant artistic genius that contributed greatly to what the Met became.”
© Copyright 2019 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
