ATLANTA – The two members of the country duo Sugarland avoided a nasty public trial with the group’s founding member, settling a lawsuit over claims that she was owed an estimated $14 million of the band’s profits after she left to pursue a solo career five years ago.

Sugarland, which last week was named the Country Music Association’s vocal duo of the year, was due to go to trial today with founding member Kristen Hall over claims she was owed one-third of the band’s profits even though she quit the band in December 2005.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten signed a court order Friday saying the parties reached a settlement. Terms were not disclosed, but Batten gave both sides until Dec. 13 to complete the agreement.

Hall sued Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush in 2008, claiming that she should have been given a third of the group’s profits — a sum her attorneys said could exceed $14 million.

The complaint said Hall, who founded the band in 2002, set the stage for the group’s success by acting as its manager, marketing officer and tour organizer in its early years. It said she used her personal credit cards to pay for the band’s expenses, and that she “collaborated generously” on the debut album, which sold millions of copies.

Broomstick-riding teams take page from ‘Harry Potter’

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NEW YORK – More than 40 broomstick-riding teams competed in the two-day Quidditch world cup tournament in New York City on Saturday and Sunday.

Long a fictional fixture of the Harry Potter novels and movies about teenage wizards, the sport features players who fly on broomsticks.

But in real life, the rules have been adapted to a ground game for “muggles” — humans without magical powers.

Teams from around the world competed in a Manhattan park with rules similar to the sport created by J.K. Rowling in her books. The matches call for chasers, beaters, keepers, seekers and a snitch. Goals must be scored and the snitch caught.

Queen leads ceremony in memory of war dead

LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II led a solemn annual ceremony to honor the country’s war dead Sunday, as her grandson Prince William flew out to Afghanistan to meet with troops and attend a memorial service there.

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Thousands of veterans, officials and onlookers gathered near central London’s Cenotaph war memorial to mark Remembrance Sunday, which is held every year on the nearest Sunday to the anniversary of the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. It now pays tribute to the dead in all conflicts, including World War II, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Those attending observed a traditional two-minute silence, broken by a single artillery blast and the Royal Marines’ rendering of “The Last Post.”

The queen led a ceremony to lay wreaths at the foot of the war memorial. She was followed by other royals dressed in military uniforms, including Prince Philip and Prince Charles.

Ferrell movie stays on top

LOS ANGELES – Will Ferrell’s dastardly schemes continue to succeed, with the animated “Megamind” staying at the top of the box office.

The DreamWorks Animation 3-D comedy, featuring Ferrell as the voice of a super villain, made just over $30 million in its second week in theaters, according to Sunday studio estimates. “Megamind” also features the voices of Brad Pitt, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill.


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