There's a local PR angle to the legal squabble between Woody Allen and Dov Charney's American Apparel. Michael Cieply captures it at The Carpetbagger, the NYT's Hollywood blog.

Mr. Allen sued American Apparel last year for using his image, in rabbinical attire from the movie “Annie Hall,” on some of its billboards. Stuart Slotnick, a lawyer for American Apparel, upped the ante when he told the Associated Press this week that he plans in court to bring up Mr. Allen’s affair with the woman he later married, Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his companion at the time, Mia Farrow. Mr. Slotnick’s plan is to show that Mr. Allen’s image may not be worth what he thinks it is.

Leslee Dart, a founding partner of 42West, popped up in the news this week as a spokeswoman for Mr. Allen. But her associate Allan Mayer happens to be on the board of directors of Mr. Allen’s adversary, American Apparel.

In an email message on Thursday, Mr. Mayer said he kept himself and his company off the shoals of conflict by staying out of it.

”I informed the American Apparel board that Woody was a long-time client of my partner Leslee Dart and that as a result I would have to recuse myself from any board discussions regarding the case,” said Mr. Mayer. “And that’s what I’ve done.”