Lawyers for Westport’s Martha Stewart asked for a new trial today.They said one of the jurors who convicted her lied about an arrest on assault charges.

In a filing made in a New York federal court, Stewart lawyer Robert Morvillo said he would have sought to exclude juror Chappell Hartridge had he known about his past.

“These facts, in and of themselves, establish that Ms. Stewart is entitled to a new trial,’’ Morvillo wrote, according to news agency reports.

On the day of the guilty verdict, the juror said publicly that he believed the decision was “a victory for the little guys.”

Westport’s MediaReach has been retained to represent the video advertising network at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

The deal was announced today by Robert Harris, chairman of MediaReach and Myles McGrane, vice president operations, Javits Convention Center.

Under this initial agreement, MediaReach will assist the Javits Advertising Sales Department in selling time on the network for the 2004 New York International Auto Show.

An estimated 1.3 million visitors are expected to attend the auto show during its 10-day run from April 9 through April 18.

The Bridge Caf, a popular Riverside Avenue restaurant just off Post Road West, is the latest Westport eatery to close its doors. Its sudden departure follows by two months the similar quiet closing of Main Street’s longtime Onion Alley restaurant. Emily Laux Roche for WestportNow.com

Luxury retailer Tiffany & Co. today announced plans to open a Westport store in the fall on Post Road East at Main Street in the space formerly occupied by Eddie Bauer.
The former Eddie Bauer store at Post Road East and Main Street will be the new home of Tiffany & Co. WestportNow.com photo

The approximately 5,500-square foot store will offer an array of exclusive designs, including the jeweler’s celebrated diamonds in platinum and 18-karat gold settings, rare and lustrous pearls as well as jewelry and watches, an announcement said.

“We look forward to joining the vibrant Westport community and offering our current and prospective customers convenient access to excellence of design, quality, craftsmanship, and superior service that are the hallmarks of Tiffany’s great heritage,” said Beth O. Canavan, executive vice president.

While the announcement did not specify the building, a real estate source said it was the former Eddie Bauer store.

Westport’s Terex Corp. makes the latest list of Fortune 500 companies.

The manufacturer of a range of equipment primarily for the construction, infrastructure and surface mining industries is headquartered at 500 Post Road East.

It came in at No. 437 on the magazine’s list with 2003 revenue of $3.897 billion.

Fortune magazine’s Fortune 500 list is based on revenue.

Westport’s Ann Fudge is BusinessWeek’s cover story this week. BusinessWeek photoWhich female Westport CEO is on the cover of a national magazine this week? If you guessed Martha Stewart, you’d be right but thanks to Ann Fudge, it’s not the only correct answer.

BusinessWeek features Fudge in a cover story that states: “Ann Fudge’s two-year break from work changed her life. Will those lessons help her fix Young & Rubicam?”

In May, 2003, the 52-year-old Fudge was named chairman and CEO of what is now called Young & Rubicam Brands, as well as Y&R, its flagship ad agency. (See WestportNow May 13, 2003).

It was a news-making appointment ֖ she became the first black woman to head a large ad agency and the first appointed with a marketing background but no Madison Avenue experience.

And she did it after an almost two-year hiatus from the business world.

“In February, 2001, Ann Fudge did something that has become achingly common among high-powered career women. She quit,” reported BusinessWeek.

Westport’s Martha Stewart is asking for a little help from her friends to stay out of prison.

The Web site www.gawker.com said she sent a letter to about 100 of her closest pals asking them to write letters saying nice things about her to Manhattan Federal Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum, who could sentence Stewart to 10 to 16 months in June.

“Many people have inquired as to whether they can help by writing to Judge Cedarbaum about my sentence,” she wrote in the letters dated March 12 and bearing the address of her Turkey Hill Road South home.

“If you would be so kind to write such a letter, please include your opinion of my character, my work ethic, my integrity and my probity.”

Stewart requested that her friends back up their opinions with “any memorable experiences you have had with me.”

Westport’s Martha Stewart is off the board of her Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia company.

Stewart, who was convicted March 5 of obstruction of justice and conspiracy, will assume the position of founding editorial director, the company said today.

“I am taking this action today because it is in the best interests of MSO and because I think it’s the right thing to do,” Stewart said in a statement.

“I am heartsick about my personal legal situation—and deeply sorry for the pain and difficulties it has caused our employees.”

The conviction of Westport’s Martha Stewart in her stock fraud trial could endanger a $7.7-million pay package, including $2 million paid to film at her homes in Westport and elsewhere, according to New York Newsday today.

The newspaper reported that Stewart can be fired by the board of directors upon “conviction of a felony or willful gross misconduct, which in either case results in material and demonstrable damage to our business or reputation,” according to an employment contract signed in October 1999. STORY

Westport’s Martha Stewart met with her probation officers today as jurors began telling what convinced them to convict her. They said the testimony of longtime friend and fellow Westporter Mariana Pasternak was devastating.

Stewart spent about an hour in a federal building in Manhattan. As she left shortly after noon, she thanked those who had supported her in her trial that ended Friday with her being convicted of lying about a stock sale.

As she was getting into the front passenger seat of a sport utility vehicle outside a lower Manhattan courthouse, she said:

“I want to thank my readers, my viewers and the Internet users. I just want to thank everyone for their support.”

The remarks were her second since being convicted.

As Stewart left the courthouse on Friday after the verdict was announced, the Daily News asked her to comment on the fairness of the trial. She replied, “The unfairness of the trial, that’s the right comment.”