January 2, 2002 9:07

ORBISON WIDOW SUES

Barbara Orbison claims she is owed thousands by two documentary makers...

ROY ORBISON's widow has launched a $10million lawsuit against the two documentary makers in the US.

Barbara Orbison claims she is owed $42,500 (£29,000) by Barbara and Gregory Hall for her co-operation with two documentaries and an anthology of live performances by her late husband. According to the BBC, she says they "misrepresented" their relationships with television companies in the US in order to secure her contribution. The documentaries have already been shown on US television and a third is being planned.

"We want them to stop exploiting the documentary and terminate all their rights to license the documentary," Orbison said in a statement.

Roy Orbison died of a heart attack in 1988 at 52. He is considered a pioneer of early rock 'n' roll.