Adam Kidron, Marvelous Pictures, Ltd., et al. v. Jeffrey Franklin, Stephen Waterman, et al.
Published: Aug. 20, 1994 | Result Date: Jul. 8, 1994 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC066993 – $53,525,000
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Steven M. Goldberg
(Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP)
Bert H. Deixler
(Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP)
Experts
Plaintiff
Ron Glazer
(technical)
Defendant
Arnold Morgen
(technical)
Facts
Plaintiff Adam Kidron created and spent a number of years developing a television series entitled "Catwalk." In 1990 and 1991, Kidron negotiated and then entered into a joint venture with Defendant television producers Jeffrey Franklin and Steven Waterman for the purpose of further developing and exploiting Catwalk. The parties were to share and exercise all creative and business controls over the show jointly and equally and were to split all fees and profits generated from the show 50/50. Two seasons and 48 episodes of the show were actually made. The show's first season aired in national syndication, and its second season was shown (at least in part) on MTV. The show has generated in excess of $25,000,000 in revenue. The amount actually expended to produce the show was disputed at trial. (Plaintiffs contended that Defendants could not justify or explain millions of dollars in alleged expenses for the show; Defendants said all their listed expenditures were legitimate.) It was undisputed that the show was not profitable and that expenses exceeded revenues by at least $16,000,000. In/or about May of 1992, before production ever began on the first episode, Plaintiff Adam Kidron was no longer a participant in the show.
Settlement Discussions
Plaintiffs contend that no offers or demands were exchanged prior to this verdict.
Damages
(Plaintiff claimed) $33,000,000 economic; emotional distress (to be evaluated by the jury); and unspecified punitive damages.
Deliberation
3.5 days; 1.5 days
Poll
varied
Length
5 weeks
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