It was a good news/bad news day for Donald Trump.
The billionaire star of “The Apprentice” was chosen by the American Business Awards to receive the first lifetime achievement award. The prize is the business world’s version of the Oscars.
An hour later, lawyers were trooping up to his suite at Trump Tower for a lengthy grilling in a lawsuit accusing Trump and his partner, TV producer Mark Harmon, among others, of stealing the idea for the hit NBC show.
Trump took the legal bump in stride, a friend said.
The lawsuit claims that Los Angeles producer Mark Detha first conceived of the show in 2000, then entitled “CEO,” and included Trump as the show’s host. Detha said he pitched the show to producer Conrad Riggs, who allegedly stole it and took it to Harmon, cutting out Detha.
The American Business Awards will be held June 6 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.