Celebrity News

Billy Joel sued for allegedly ripping off home renovation plans

Billy Joel is being sued for copyright infringement — but not over a song.

A contractor claims the Piano Man ripped off architectural designs for renovations to his sprawling Long Island residence by handing them off to another builder, according to a petition filed in Brooklyn federal court Wednesday.

For Joel and his wife, home is just another word for a 12,000 square-foot Oyster Bay manse on property that contains 29 waterfront acres, court papers state.

The “Uptown Girl” crooner hired home improvement contractor Berry Hill Development Corp. to renovate the property last year — which the company looked forward to as a “marquee” project, but was unexpectedly taken off the job, the suit claims.

Paul Laruccia, Berry Hill’s owners, says he was told that a structural engineer found defects in his work — and that he was no longer the contractor they’re looking for.

But Laruccia claims he already had architectural designs drawn up, which cost more than $126,700, and a portion of those costs have gone unpaid.

Joel moved forward with a different contractor that submitted architectural drawings to the Centre Island Building Department — which Laruccia alleges are “nearly identical” to the plans he had drawn up.

“To date, the defendants continue upon the site renovations of the Premises utilizing the works and plans owned by Berry Hill, without Berry Hill’s approval, license or permission to do so,” the lawsuit states.

And Laruccia says the “Movin’ Out” singer oughta know by now that he is accusing the legendary Long Island singer of ripping off his design, for which he says he obtained a copyright — he has sent a cease-and-desist letter and filed another lawsuit in Nassau County Supreme Court that have gone unanswered.

In addition to Joel, the suit also names Joel’s wife, the LLC through which the couple owns their properties and the current contractor for the renovation job.

Berry Hill is asking for unspecified damages.

A spokesperson for Joel said his LLC has had to pay to fix Berry Hill’s deficiencies — and that the price tag for that work was larger than the amount left on the contract with Laruccia.

“Billy and Alexis Joel will not stand by in the midst of such unjustifiable accusations that obscure the real issue which is the rightful termination of general contractor Berry Hill owned by Paul Laruccia,” the spokesperson said.

“Berry Hill was terminated from the project because of significant structural defects that affect the safety of the residence and Berry Hill’s attempt to now collect payment for deficient work is outrageous. ”