A judge on Wednesday set an April 16, 2007, trial date for an embezzlement lawsuit filed by record producer Phil Spector against his former assistant.
The case will likely start after Spector has been tried on a murder charge in the 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson.
Spector, 66, has pleaded not guilty and is free on $1 million bail pending the Jan. 16 start of the criminal trial.
Superior Court Judge Lee Smalley Edmon set the date for the civil trial assuming the murder trial would be completed by then.
Spector claimed in the lawsuit that Michelle Blaine siphoned hundreds of thousands of dollars from his accounts. Blaine countersued, claiming she never stole from Spector but was given money to keep her from testifying in the death of Clarkson. She also alleged sexual harassment.
Spector has agreed to give a deposition in July regarding the lawsuit, attorney Timothy Reuben, who represents Blaine, told Judge Edmon.
A lawyer is expected to be present to advise Spector on which questions he can answer without affecting the criminal case, Reuben said.