Selected Matters

  • James Franco:  Represent Mr. Franco in copyright infringement action regarding film.
  • Hank Azaria v. Craig Bierko:  Represent Mr. Azaria in copyright action regarding use of sportcaster voice.
  • Celador International, Ltd. v. The Walt Disney Company: Represented Celador International, Ltd. in a dispute over profits from the television show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” A federal jury awarded Celador, the creator of the show, $270 million in damages after finding that Disney’s subsidiaries, ABC Television, Buena Vista Television, and Valleycrest Productions had breached their profit sharing contract with Celador and their duty to deal fairly and in good faith with Celador. On September 27, 2010, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California awarded $50 million in prejudgment interest to Celador, bringing the total to $320 million in damages. (Representation was at prior law firm.)
  • Edie Films v. Fox Entertainment. Obtained summary judgment on behalf of profit participants in television series “Dharma & Greg.” (2009)
  • Estate of John Ritter v. St. Joseph’s Medical Center: Represented John Ritter’s family in wrongful death trial (2008).
  • Marathon Entertainment v. Rosa Blasi on behalf of Blasi, in Talent Agency Act dispute argued before the California Supreme Court (2007).
  • Wood Newton v. Harry Thomason, 22 F.3d 1455 (9th Cir. 1994). Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Thomason in right of publicity claim regarding television series “Evening Shade.”
  • Playboy Enterprises, Inc v. Terry Welles, 7F.Supp2d 1098 (S.D. Cal 1998). Represented Welles in defeating a preliminary injunction application in one of the first trademark infringement actions relating to the internet.
  • Charles P. Caudle v. Harry Thomason, 992 F.Supp.11 (D.D.C. 1997). Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Thomason in a case arising from the White House Travel Office matter.
  • Sean Hayes v. Vanguard Management. Labor Commission proceeding; on behalf of Hayes prevailed in a talent agency dispute, later obtaining summary judgment.
  • Sugar Ray Leonard. Represented Mr. Leonard in Labor Commission proceeding; prevailed in talent agency dispute.
  • Kevin Sorbo. Represented Mr. Sorbo in profit participation lawsuit regarding “Hercules.”
  • Lucy Lawless. Represented Ms. Lawless in profit participation lawsuit regarding “Xena.”
  • Aisha Tyler. Represented Ms. Tyler in Labor Commission proceeding; prevailed in talent agency dispute.
  • Meg Ryan. Represented Ms. Ryan in obtaining restraining order prohibiting harassment.
  • Clint Eastwood. Represented Mr. Eastwood in defamation action regarding unauthorized biography.
  • Hawaii Five-0: Representation of rights controlled by creator of series against former talent agent regarding rights.  Result – settlement during trial.
  • Visitors Bureau of Gaum: Representation in connection with claims regarding a film produced in Guam.
  • Kathy Morgan International: Representation of film sales agent in contract dispute.
  • Peter Brennan. Represented Mr. Brennan, the executive producer of “The Judge Judy Show,” in profit participation lawsuit.
  • Represented production company in a dispute with former employee over credit on a major motion picture.
  • Idea submission actions for television show creators against major networks.
  • Represented actors and actresses in Talent Agency Act disputes with former managers.
  • Arbitration for commercial director against commercial production company.
  • Representation of major motion picture director against studio regarding terms of directing agreement.
  • Representation of entertainment executives regarding employment issues.
  • Representation of creators of television series in WGA arbitration.
  • Representation of film production companies regarding various issues including rights, distribution agreements, profit participations and copyright issues.
  • Representation of clothes designers regarding trademark issues.
  • Represented The Ray Charles Foundation in a dispute pertaining to copyrighted songs composed by the late Ray Charles. (Representation was at prior law firm.)
  • Represented the band Poison in disputes relating to the copyrights of several of their songs. (Representation was at prior law firm.)

These selected matters are reported to provide the reader with an indication of the type of litigation in which we practice and does not and should not be construed to create an expectation of result in any other case as all cases are dependent upon their own unique fact situation and applicable law.