NEW YORK - ACTOR-director Woody Allen has asked a New York City judge to block ex-wife Mia Farrow and his current wife from being called as witnesses at a trial this month.

Allen's lawyers filed papers in federal court in Manhattan on Monday to try to stop Los Angeles-based clothing company American Apparel Inc from calling witnesses including Farrow and Soon-Yi Previn, who is his current wife and Farrow's adopted daughter.

A lawsuit by Allen says American Apparel put his image on billboards without his authorization. Allen argues the witnesses are being called in a 'brutish attempt to smear and intimidate' him.

American Apparel lawyer Stuart Slotnick has said the company plans to make Allen's relationships with Farrow and Previn the focus of a trial scheduled in two weeks. -- AP