Fred Astaire’s Widow Sues CBS Records : Lawsuit: She contends the firm underpays royalties on her husband’s recordings and those of other artists.

Fred Astaire’s widow sued CBS Records Inc., contending the firm provided false and incomplete royalty statements on sales of her husband’s work.

The breach-of-contract and commercial-appropriation lawsuit, filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that the world’s second-largest record company underreports and underpays royalties to entertainers.

“Reports such as these are not acceptable in other industries, and won’t be tolerated here,” said Thomas A. White, a Beverly Hills-based record industry consultant who manages the Astaire music assets.

CBS Records executives could not be reached in a telephone call made after business hours to seek comment.

White said CBS Records’ license to distribute the records has been terminated.

The lawsuit demands return of an estimated 50 to 100 master recordings, including the soundtracks to such Astaire films as “Easter Parade,” White said.

Astaire albums sell hundreds of thousands of copies a year worldwide, he said.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Astaire’s widow, the former Robyn Smith, cites 17 allegedly unfair business practices by CBS. It seeks at least $50,000 in damages and an injunction prohibiting CBS from selling Astaire’s recordings.