Developer, Wayne Newton in Nasty Legal Fight

Plans to turn Wayne Newton's sprawling Las Vegas estate into a celebrity museum have shifted into an ugly legal battle citing mismanagement, animal abuse, and sexual harassment. The company that purchased the rights to convert Newton's home into "Graceland West" filed a lawsuit this week in Las Vegas against Newton, his wife, and her 76-year-old mother that claims the family unreasonably delayed the project to ensure it never opens. The Newton family claims the lawsuit is a preemptive strike because they had planned to sue the company for breach of contract after multiple construction delays.

The family plans to file a counter lawsuit challenging the allegations made by CSD, LLC. The lawsuit seeks to have the Newton family immediately vacate their lavish estate, Casa de Shenandoah, and allow the $50 million project honoring the Las Vegas legend's music career to move forward. Construction plans for the museum called for an exhibition space, theater, zoo, visitors' center, and other attractions. The lawsuit claims Newton sexually harassed a young female employee hired to train his 55 horses by repeatedly kissing her on the mouth. It also claims Newton's home was in a "sad state of disrepair," with his horses and penguins uncared for. Newton's lawyer dismissed CSD's allegations as "salacious" lies. (More Wayne Newton stories.)