Singer's differing statements at issue in sex harassment trial

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Soul singer James Brown, accused of sexually harassing a former employee, spent a second day on the witness stand Wednesday as an attorney grilled him about what she called inconsistencies in his testimony. <br> <br> ``I&#39;m sticking by the truth,&#39;&#39; Brown said at one point as he was questioned about whether former employee Lisa Agbalaya arrived in Georgia with the singer and his entourage on a private plane from Las Vegas or at another time on a commercial flight from Los Angeles. <br> <br> ``The truth will out,&#39;&#39; Agbalaya&#39;s attorney, Shelly McMillan, said outside court. ``His testimony changes, the statement in his deposition is one thing, what he says at trial is another.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Brown said he often doesn&#39;t pay attention to the legal papers he signs, adding he trusts his attorneys and business advisers to protect him. <br> <br> Agbalaya, who is suing Brown for $1 million, says she was wrongfully fired as West Coast president of James Brown Enterprises Inc. after refusing the entertainer&#39;s advances during a visit to his home in August 1999. <br> <br> The 68-year-old godfather of soul testified Tuesday that he was surprised when Agbalaya arrived at his home after taking a commercial flight. On Wednesday he was confronted by Agbalaya&#39;s attorney about a Brown-signed response to pretrial questions. In it, he said Agbalaya traveled with his group on a private plane from Las Vegas, then went to his home. <br> <br> Brown&#39;s attorney, Debra Opri, later guided him through a pile of trial papers containing his replies to lawsuit questions. <br> <br> ``Have you ever seen this paragraph before?&#39;&#39; she asked. <br> <br> ``I don&#39;t remember.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Did you just sign it? <br> <br> ``Yes,&#39;&#39; Brown replied. <br> <br> The singer testified that Agbalaya came to his home in 1999 to ask for an $8,000 loan, which he approved. He said the money was taken from James Brown Enterprises Inc., his Augusta, Ga., based company. <br> <br> Agbalaya, a seven-year employee of the company&#39;s West Coast office, says she was fired after she rejected Brown&#39;s sexual overtures. Brown testified that Agbalaya was let go after his company closed the West Coast office. <br> <br> ``They closed the office because it did not make money,&#39;&#39; he said.