By IAN BAILEY -- Canadian Press

VANCOUVER -- Sarah McLachlan has disputed the claims of the man who is suing her, saying it's frustrating to have to sit silent while awaiting her chance to tell her side of the story to a judge.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity," the superstar singer told reporters in a news conference outside B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Asked what she found so frustrating, she responded: "That I have to wait and be patient."

Darryl Neudorf is suing McLachlan, saying he didn't receive sufficient cash or credit for helping her develop four songs on her 1988 debut album Touch.

Neudorf has been testifying this week, explaining that he viewed McLachlan as a sister, but was hurt when his contribution was not recognized.

McLachlan has attended each day of the trial, which is well into its third week, as her songwriting talents have been questioned.

When asked what she would rather be doing, she said "Would you have my list? I have a long list."

McLachlan described the period when she was making Touch as "incredibly exciting."

She was 19 and had just moved from Halifax to do her first record with Nettwerk Productions in Vancouver.

"I was moving to a big city. I had a fantastic opportunity. I remember being thrilled."

The soft-spoken Neudorf, who continued his testimony Wednesday, was recruited to be part of that opportunity.

Neudorf, 34, claims that he was asked by Nettwerk co-founder Mark Jowett, an old friend, to help develop songs for McLachlan, whose songwriting skills were shaky.

Touch's cover notes credit McLachlan for solo writing of all but two cuts on the album. Work on the other two is shared between McLachlan and Darren Phillips, who has testified for Neudorf.

Neudorf, a former drummer with the band 54-50, is credited for helping co-ordinate pre-production work on the album, production assistance and "inspiration."

The songs central to the suit are Vox, Sad Clown, Steaming and Strange World.

"These are serious allegations against myself and Nettwerk," said McLachlan.

"We should be here to defend them. I need to be here to hear the case, and frankly, while people are giving their testimony."

McLachlan said Nettwerk had been prepared to settle out of court. Mediation in the dispute failed.

"(The dispute) is going to have some closure one way or another. I am looking forward to that," she said.

The singer joked that the experience has provided some fuel for her creativity and said she might even get a song out of it.

"There are a few songs in (this experience) actually," she said smiling. "I have been very prolific lately."

McLachlan's comments came as her lawyer, Jennifer Conkie, continued a second day of tough cross-examination of Neudorf.

Conkie, who spoke softly, was sarcastic during her questioning. Neudorf was rarely flustered and replied equally softly. At some points, he even chuckled at some of Conkie's suggestions.

Conkie criticized Neudorf's basic suggestion that he was the experienced tutor working with an awkward student whose "meanderings" occasionally yielded worthwhile music.

At one point, she asked Neudorf if he thought her client was some kind of "simpleton"

"Absolutely not," said a startled Neudorf. "In no way am I saying that."

During an exchange over who did what in developing the chorus for the song Vox, Conkie attacked Neudorf's claim that he deserved some credit for the chorus because he flagged it when McLachlan offered it as one of several options.

"It sounds like you describe Ms. McLachlan as a talented player and singer who has this numerous pool of meandering notes from which you pluck songs," said a skeptical Conkie.

Neudorf agreed.