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Judge Upholds $7.3M Award To Woman Who Discovered Lady Gaga

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/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 Parsippanny-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.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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