Dalton's Discovery

Actor Timothy Dalton, who is starring in Columbus — The Discovery, has filed a $25 million lawsuit against the movie's producers, Alexander and Ilya Salkind, for breach of contract and fraud. Dalton's suit charges that the defendants failed to provide bank guarantees for his salary ($2.5 million), that they hired a new director without telling him (breaking a contractual agreement), and that they fraudulently promised him ''star casting'' — Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman, and Anjelica Huston (none of whom are in the film).

Actors Judd Hirsch and Harry Shearer, whose licenses were suspended in separate instances late last summer after they were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, are both suing California's Department of Motor Vehicles. Hirsch's suit claims he was not given due process, Shearer's that he was not given a fair trial.

Gab queen Joan Rivers has been slapped with a copyright infringement suit over several items in the Joan Rivers Classic Collection mail-order catalog. New York costume jeweler Ciner Manufacturing claims Rivers lifted copyrighted designs for earrings and bracelets, then advertised them as replicas of more expensive pieces.

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