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Miller Brewing Sues Bates, Zenith CHICAGO--Miller Brewing in Milwaukee last week filed a federal lawsuit against Bates USA and its media arm, Zenith Media Services, both in New York, seeking nearly $7 million and charging the agencies with failing to broker the best broadcast prices, provide post-buy analyses or obtain proper credits for buys on shows that lacked promised ratings or demographics. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee, also accuses Bates of double-billing Miller for $936,997.37 in 1997. Zenith took over Miller's media buying in February 1995 and was terminated along with Bates, which handled advertising for Miller Genuine Draft, in March 1997. Miller's $260 million media account is now at Leo Burnett's Starcom Media unit in Chicago. "We've tried to work with them to get an amicable resolution, [but] they've declined to even acknowledge us," Miller representative Scott Bussen said. "It's almost mind-boggling to us." Zenith chief executive officer Rich Hamilton called the suit "utterly ridiculous and without merit. We will defend it with great rigor." Ackerman's Millweard Joining Barkley DALLAS--Tom Millweard, president of Ackerman McQueen in Oklahoma City, Okla., joins Barkley Evergreen & Partners, Kansas City, Mo., next month. Millweard will assume the chief operating officer title from Scott Aylward, who continues as BE&P president. DDB Needham Stays in U S West Hunt CHICAGO--DDB Needham here will remain in contention for creative responsibilities on U S West's $40-50 million account. The client has decided that DDB Needham Dallas' acquisition of telecommunications startup Level 3's account would not represent a conflict, a representative of the Denver-based company said. Needham is set to make its U S West presentation this week. Other finalists are Bozell Worldwide, Seattle, and Minneapolis shops Campbell Mithun Esty and Martin/Williams. Budget Readies Cut to 5 Finalists CHICAGO--Budget Rent a Car Corp. plans to select five finalists for its anticipated $35 million account this week, a company representative said. Lisle, Ill.-based Budget has met with 11 agencies: Chicago shops Ammirati Puris Lintas, Arian, Lowe & Travis, BBDO, Bozell, Cramer-Krasselt, Euro RSCG Tatham, Grant Jacoby, Laughlin/Constable, McConnaughy Stein Schmidt Brown and Publicis-Hal Riney & Partners; and Warren, Mich., agency Campbell-Ewald Advertising. Incumbent Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos in Boston was not invited to participate. New Jersey Governor Hires Doner Unit CHICAGO--Doner Public Affairs, the Tampa, Fla.-based political unit of W.B. Doner & Co., has been retained by New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. Although Whitman is not up for re-election this year, Doner will develop issue-oriented broadcast and direct marketing work for the Republican governor.

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