Pitchfork

Jennifer Chiba, the former live-in girlfriend of late songwriter Elliott Smith, has-- according to court documents filed October 16-- been denied an appeal seeking 15% of Smith's earnings on the basis that Chiba, who claimed to be the late Smith's manager, offered little in the way of proof that she was acting in this capacity. Had the decision gone the other way, Chiba would've made over a million bucks from Smith's estate.

Chiba, who filed the initial lawsuit in July 2004, claimed that she was acting as Smith's manager and agent and was therefore entitled to the money. A California appellate court ruled that Chiba was acting as an unlicensed agent and, therefore, wasn't owed anything for those duties. The court did acknowledge Chiba's "co-habitative agreement" with Smith and suggested that she'd probably have more success going with that angle (and not the managerial tack) should she choose to appeal again.

In other, happier Elliott Smith news, that photo book we reported on back in May finally comes out this month via Chronicle Books. And this year's New Moon collection on Kill Rock Stars is still most excellent.