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Entertainment Law
Finance Contract
Bond

Intertainment Licensing GmbH v. Franchise Pictures, et al.

Published: Oct. 26, 2004 | Result Date: Aug. 16, 2004 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: SACV011025AHS Verdict –  $121,690,000

Judge

Alicemarie H. Stotler

Court

USDC Central


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Scott A. Edelman
(Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP)

Michael S. Adler
(Tantalo & Adler LLP)

Michael P. McNamara


Defendant

Bill Price

Jon C. Cederberg
(Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP)


Experts

Plaintiff

Robert W. Wunderlich
(technical)

Tekla Morgan
(technical)

Facts

The subject suit arose from a dispute over film financing. The plaintiff was provided budgets for films like "Whole Nine Yards," "Art of War," "3000 Miles to Graceland," "The Pledge," etc. The budgets were inflated by millions of dollars. For example, Intertainment was provided a budget of $55 million for "The Pledge" when the true production budget was $37 million. Collectively, the budgets submitted to Intertainment were inflated by more than $188 million.

Result

The jury awarded $77 million in compensatory damages against Franchise Pictures and zero dollar against the remaining defendants, who, the jury found each participated in fraud and against each of whom the jury awarded punitive damages. The court held all defendants to be jointly and severally liable for the full award. The jury also awarded a total of $29 million in punitives against all defendants collectively.

Deliberation

1.5 days

Length

20 days


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