Novelist Must Pay Lawyers' Fees In Dispute Over Film

Novelist Clive Cussler, who lost a suit against Crusader Entertainment, the studio that took his book Sahara to the big screen, now has a big bill for lawyers' fees. The movie starred Penelope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey, and it got lost in the sand dunes, making back less than $70 million of its reputed $160 million in costs. Mr. Cussler sued the company, alleging that it had breached an agreement giving him script approval, and the studio countersued, claiming he had not been honest about book sales. The judge in the case told the author he is responsible for attorney fees totaling nearly $14 million.