Harrison doctor to settle lawsuit

The doctor accused of forcing Beatle George Harrison to autograph a guitar as he lay dying has agreed to dispose of the guitar to settle a lawsuit by Harrison’s estate, attorneys involved in the case said.

The Harrison family had filed a $10-million federal lawsuit against Dr. Gilbert Lederman, claiming he coerced the failing Harrison to autograph his son’s guitar and sign autographs for his two daughters. The former Beatle died of cancer Nov. 29, 2001.

Under terms of the settlement, the Harrison family will give Lederman’s son a replacement guitar and drop the lawsuit. The signed guitar and the autographs “will be disposed of privately,” the attorneys’ statement said without elaborating.