Deborah Koons Garcia, the widow of Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, recently filed a civil suit seeking access to unpublished tapes of the rocker's musical performances.

The suit, filed in Marin County Superior Court, actually is against the limited liability corporation of which Koons Garcia is a part. The corporation is responsible for oversight of the Garcia estate.

Koons Garcia wants to see the set of previously recorded material known as the "Garcia Tapes" professionally restored. However, other members of the limited liability corporation, all Garcia beneficiaries, have sought to stop the process.

The lawsuit specifically seeks to clarify the original terms of the agreement that were part of the formation of the limited partnership. According to Koons Garcia, that corporation was to be dissolved by December 31, 2005.

The most recent lawsuit is just one more in what has been a prolonged battle among Jerry Garcia's beneficiaries. Among the prior issues are suits against Koons Garcia, one that seeks to maintain the original corporation and another filed by Garcia's daughter, Keelin Noel Garcia, that alleges poor financial oversight of the Garcia estate.

A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for April 13.