Lower Award Urged for Hudson’s Lover

Lawyers for the estate of the late Rock Hudson urged a judge Friday to slash to $1 million the $14.5 million a jury awarded the homosexual lover of the actor, who died of AIDS.

But a $10-million award was recommended by a lawyer for Marc Christian, 31, who sued Hudson and his personal secretary for conspiring to keep Hudson’s illness a secret so that the two could continue having sex.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bruce Geernaert said last week that he may reduce the jury’s $7.25-million award for punitive damages to $3 million and also said that he plans to reduce the $14.5 million in compensatory damages. The judge asked the lawyers to submit court briefs suggesting how they would arrive at a reduced award and said he would rule on the matter next Friday.

“Our honest evaluation of the compensable emotional distress plaintiff has suffered is $100,000,” wrote Thomas Todd, a lawyer for Hudson’s estate. “Nevertheless defendant’s estate does suggest . . . $1 million solely as a basis for concluding this litigation.”