$7.3M award owed to woman who discovered Lady Gaga upheld

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- A federal judge in New Jersey has upheld a $7.3 million award owed by Lady Gaga's first producer and former boyfriend to the Hollywood songwriter with whom he promised to split profits for discovering her.

U.S. District Court Judge Jose Linares ruled Wednesday against producer Rob Fusari's argument to reduce the amount a jury last year awarded to Wendy Starland.

Starland testified during the trial the Parsippany-based Fusari had asked her to find an "edgy, bold" performer people wouldn't be able to take their eyes off. She brought back Lady Gaga after spotting her during a New York City performance in 2006, when she was Stefani Germanotta.

Lady Gaga said in a deposition in 2011 she believed Fusari and Starland had a verbal agreement to split their share from her career.
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