Berry loses

WASHINGTON (Reuter) The rhythm-and-blues artist Chuck Berry lost a Supreme Court appeal yesterday over lawsuits alleging that he videotaped women who used the lavatory at his restaurant in Wentzville, Missouri.

The court turned down the appeal by Berry, who faces lawsuits on behalf of hundreds of women alleging that their privacy rights had been violated at the Southern Aire Restaurant. Berry's hits include Roll Over Beethoven and Sweet Little Sixteen.

Berry sought to move the lawsuits from state to federal court, saying he was denied his civil rights because of racially motivated criminal prosecutions.