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Power Lawyers 2023: Hollywood's Top 100 Attorneys
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Business
Cox, Fox and CBS Reach $48M Settlement in TV Ad Price-Fixing Litigation
Under the proposed deal, the companies will also help plaintiffs bolster their case against other major broadcasters who haven't yet settled.
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Business
Comedian Bobby Lee Sues Wondery Over Canceled ‘TigerBelly’ Podcast Contract
The complaint alleges that the Amazon-owned podcast company terminated their contract in response to a market slowdown.
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News
Judge Plans to Dismiss $500M Suit From 1968 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Stars
The court found the nude scene, which showed an actor's buttocks and an actresses' bare breasts, isn't "sufficiently sexually suggestive." A lawyer for the actors said he'll appeal the ruling.
BY Winston Cho
THR, Esq's Latest News
Cox, Fox and CBS Reach $48M Settlement in TV Ad Price-Fixing Litigation
Cox Communications, CBS and Fox have reached a $48 million deal to settle a long-running TV advertising antitrust complaint and will “provide meaningful cooperation” to help plaintiffs in their case against the remaining defendants, according to a May 26 filing. Those defendants include Meredith, Nexstar, Raycom, Scripps, Sinclair, TEGNA and Tribune. The litigation began in […]
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Comedian Bobby Lee Sues Wondery Over Canceled ‘TigerBelly’ Podcast Contract
Comedian Bobby Lee is suing Wondery for breach of contract after the audio company allegedly canceled a multiyear ad sales and distribution deal for his podcast, TigerBelly, that he co-hosts with Khalyla Kuhn. The complaint, filed in Los Angeles on Thursday on behalf of Lee’s TigerBelly company, alleges that Wondery was “under pressure to cut […]
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Judge Plans to Dismiss $500M Suit From 1968 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Stars
Paramount won’t have to face a lawsuit accusing the studio of sexual abuse over a nude scene in the 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alison Mackenzie signaled on Thursday that she’ll dismiss the suit, finding claims that the movie depicts sexual acts are a “gross mischaracterization” of the scene. […]
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Actors Settle Case On Inclusive Hair and Makeup Styling On Film and TV Sets In Canada
Canadian actors have settled an arbitration case to get makeup artists and hairstylists on predominantly white film sets trained in how to style hair or do makeup for performers of color, including those who are Black and Indigenous. ACTRA, the country’s actors union, last year filed a grievance against the Canadian Media Producers Association, representing […]
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Shaquille O’Neal Sued Over Astrals Crypto Ownership and Promotion
Shaquille O’Neal has been sued again over his cryptocurrency promotions, this time in connection to his Astrals Project. A proposed class action filed in Florida federal court on Tuesday alleges that O’Neal violated securities laws by selling unregistered Astrals tokens. Investor Daniel Harper claims that the former NBA star “should have known of potential concerns […]
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TikTok’s Lawsuit Against Montana Is a Test Case Amid National Ban Debate
TikTok is suing Montana to overturn a law aimed at stopping the app from being downloaded within the state. The complaint filed on May 22 in federal court claims that a ban of TikTok violates the First Amendment by “unconstitutionally shutting down the forum for speech for all speakers on the app.” The Chinese-owned video […]
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‘Rust’ Armorer Moves to Dismiss Charges For “Improper Political Motives” and Destruction of Evidence
The former armorer for Rust is looking to seize upon dysfunction from New Mexico prosecutors to dismiss involuntary manslaughter charges faulting her for the fatal shooting of the movie’s cinematographer when the revolver Alec Baldwin was holding discharged. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed argues in a motion filed on Thursday that prosecutors tainted the investigation, didn’t have the […]
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Force Majeure: Why the Phrase on Hollywood’s Mind Isn’t in Most Writers’ Suspension Letters
When it comes to work stoppages in Hollywood, what exactly is an act of God? It’s a question that sent studios scrambling amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but even now there’s not much clarity around so-called force majeure events. Shortly after the WGA strike went into effect, writers’ reps began receiving calls and emails notifying them […]
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As Horses Co-Owner Elizabeth Johnson’s Abuse Claims Go Public, Will Aghajanian Files Lawsuit
The chef co-owners of Hollywood hotspot Horses are escalating their battle for control of the restaurant, with Will Aghajanian taking his wife Elizabeth Johnson to court. Aghajanian alleges in a complaint filed on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court that Johnson is trying to oust him from their business after she cut him out of […]
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Andy Warhol Ruling Limits Fair Use for Copyrighted Images, With Far-Reaching Hollywood Implications
Andy Warhol wasn’t allowed to use a photographer’s portrait of Prince for a series of pop-art images, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a decision limiting the reach of the fair use defense to copyright infringement claims. Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the majority in the 7-2 decision, found that the Lynn Goldsmith’s […]
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Chef Co-Owners of Hollywood Hotspot Horses Trade Assault and Animal Abuse Accusations
A chef at Hollywood hotspot Horses has been granted a restraining order against her husband and restaurant partner after she accused him of physical, emotional and financial abuse over the last decade, detailing incidents in which he allegedly tortured and killed up to 14 animals. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge extended Liz Johnson’s temporary […]
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Rupert Murdoch Owed $125M Over Theranos Fraud (But Isn’t Likely Getting That Back)
Elizabeth Holmes may owe Rupert Murdoch $125 million, but he may not have much luck getting much of his money back. A federal judge ordered Holmes on Tuesday to pay $452 million to investors she duped to build her hoax blood-testing business. Among the investors she bilked was Murdoch, who was one of Theranos’ largest […]
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Priscilla Presley Settles Battle Over Daughter Lisa Marie Presley’s Estate
An estate battle challenging the will of Lisa Marie Presley has settled, a rep for her mother Priscilla Presley confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. Terms of the deal, which is subject to court approval, weren’t disclosed. The agreement resolves a petition from Priscilla Presley filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in January questioning the “authenticity […]
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Martin Scorsese Sued Over $500,000 Fee to Exec Produce WWII Film
Martin Scorsese and his production company, Sikelia Productions, are being taken to court for allegedly reneging on a $1 million deal to executive produce a World War II movie. U.K.-based production company Op-Fortitude, created to make the film, alleges that Scorsese accepted a $500,000 initial payment to personally assemble an all-star cast for Operation: Fortitude […]
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Disney Asks Florida Judge to Dismiss Board’s Suit as Moot
Disney is asking a Florida judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, arguing that the complaint was made moot by a state law and trial courts can’t issue opinions that are merely advisory. Underlying all of this is a fight for control over what was known has the Reedy […]
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Disney Hit With Investor Suit Over Alleged “Cost-Shifting Scheme” In Streaming Division
Disney’s lofty subscriber growth and profitability targets for its streaming service have drawn a lawsuit from investors who claim that the entertainment giant misled them about the extent of its losses. A suit filed on May 12 in California federal court accuses Disney of engaging in a fraudulent scheme designed to hide Disney+ costs and […]
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