Courthouse Steps

CASE CAPTION: Corrinne Mann v. Alex Baldwin, El Dorado Pictures Inc. and Does 1 through 20, L.A. Superior Court #BC00595.

CAUSES OF ACTION: Breach of contract; an accounting; declaratory judgment; fraud; breach of fiduciary duty; and aiding and abetting.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: The plaintiff Mann entered into a joint venture agreement with actor Baldwin to produce film, TV and other entertainment projects. The parties were each to receive credits in screen and advertising media, as well as 50% of any producer fees and profits. Baldwin unilaterally terminated the joint venture with the plaintiff and took over control of projects. He also promised, among other things, that as a flat buyout for the time that the plaintiff put into the film project “Second Nature,” she would receive half of the producing fees. The film aired on the TNT cable channel in June 2003 and the plaintiff has been informed that $250,000 in producer fees was paid, but she has received no money.

RELIEF SOUGHT: Compensatory damages, and exemplary and punitive damages to be determined at trial.

PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL: Ken Nathanson and Craig J. Englander of Beverly Hills' Sherman & Nathanson (310-246-0321).

CASE CAPTION: Kate Jackson and Granny Enterprises Inc. v. Biotech Corp. and Gregory J. Kelly, L.A. Superior Court # BC300988.

CAUSES OF ACTION: Breach of contract; violation of Calif. Civil Code Sec. 3344; misappropriation of right of publicity; unfair competition; fraud; and declaratory judgment.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: The parties entered a written agreement in April 2002, under which Jackson agreed to perform services as spokesperson for hair products manufactured by Biotech called NuHair and Shen Min. The agreement called for an initial 60-day period and then gave Bio four 1-year options to renew. The agreement also called for a minimum of $250,000 per year, plus royalties, to be paid to Jackson. After the initial period, the defendants continued to run Jackson's commercial and required her to make personal appearances. An addendum to the agreement was negotiated to increase the number of days that Jackson was required to render services. Even though Jackson should have been paid, the defendants withheld payment during a period of 9 months while the addendum was being negotiated. In the addendum, the defendants expressly acknowledged that they had exercised the option to renew the agreement for a year beyond the initial period. The defendants had also represented that they had sufficient funds to purchase media time for the commercials and to pay Jackson. This was false and although the defendants continued to use Jackson's services, they notified her in May 2003 that they refused to execute the addendum and contended that they never exercised the option. The defendants have also fabricated interviews with Jackson that never took place to promote the products. They are using her name and persona without permission.

RELIEF SOUGHT: Preliminary and permanent injunctions, and at least $1 million and unspecified punitive damages.

PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL: Martin D. Singer and Allison S. Hart of Los Angeles' Lavely & Singer (310-556-3501).

CASE CAPTION: Erik Estrada v. White Tiger Films and Wayne Eric, L.A. Superior Court # BC300894.

CAUSE OF ACTION: Breach of written contract.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: White Tiger asked actor Estrada to appear in a film tentatively titled “Four Corners of the Mafia” as the patriarch Cesar Romano. The parties entered into a pay-or-play agreement in May 2003 that called for White Tiger to pay $75,000 as a fixed amount. On July 25, White Tiger informed Estrada that the picture was cancelled. He wasn't paid.

RELIEF SOUGHT: $75,000.

PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL: William J. Briggs and James R. Sterling of Los Angeles' Lavely & Singer (310-556-3501).

CASE CAPTION: Corrinne Mann v. Alex Baldwin, El Dorado Pictures Inc. and Does 1 through 20, L.A. Superior Court #BC00595.

CAUSES OF ACTION: Breach of contract; an accounting; declaratory judgment; fraud; breach of fiduciary duty; and aiding and abetting.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: The plaintiff Mann entered into a joint venture agreement with actor Baldwin to produce film, TV and other entertainment projects. The parties were each to receive credits in screen and advertising media, as well as 50% of any producer fees and profits. Baldwin unilaterally terminated the joint venture with the plaintiff and took over control of projects. He also promised, among other things, that as a flat buyout for the time that the plaintiff put into the film project “Second Nature,” she would receive half of the producing fees. The film aired on the TNT cable channel in June 2003 and the plaintiff has been informed that $250,000 in producer fees was paid, but she has received no money.

RELIEF SOUGHT: Compensatory damages, and exemplary and punitive damages to be determined at trial.

PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL: Ken Nathanson and Craig J. Englander of Beverly Hills' Sherman & Nathanson (310-246-0321).

CASE CAPTION: Kate Jackson and Granny Enterprises Inc. v. Biotech Corp. and Gregory J. Kelly, L.A. Superior Court # BC300988.

CAUSES OF ACTION: Breach of contract; violation of Calif. Civil Code Sec. 3344; misappropriation of right of publicity; unfair competition; fraud; and declaratory judgment.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: The parties entered a written agreement in April 2002, under which Jackson agreed to perform services as spokesperson for hair products manufactured by Biotech called NuHair and Shen Min. The agreement called for an initial 60-day period and then gave Bio four 1-year options to renew. The agreement also called for a minimum of $250,000 per year, plus royalties, to be paid to Jackson. After the initial period, the defendants continued to run Jackson's commercial and required her to make personal appearances. An addendum to the agreement was negotiated to increase the number of days that Jackson was required to render services. Even though Jackson should have been paid, the defendants withheld payment during a period of 9 months while the addendum was being negotiated. In the addendum, the defendants expressly acknowledged that they had exercised the option to renew the agreement for a year beyond the initial period. The defendants had also represented that they had sufficient funds to purchase media time for the commercials and to pay Jackson. This was false and although the defendants continued to use Jackson's services, they notified her in May 2003 that they refused to execute the addendum and contended that they never exercised the option. The defendants have also fabricated interviews with Jackson that never took place to promote the products. They are using her name and persona without permission.

RELIEF SOUGHT: Preliminary and permanent injunctions, and at least $1 million and unspecified punitive damages.

PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL: Martin D. Singer and Allison S. Hart of Los Angeles' Lavely & Singer (310-556-3501).

CASE CAPTION: Erik Estrada v. White Tiger Films and Wayne Eric, L.A. Superior Court # BC300894.

CAUSE OF ACTION: Breach of written contract.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: White Tiger asked actor Estrada to appear in a film tentatively titled “Four Corners of the Mafia” as the patriarch Cesar Romano. The parties entered into a pay-or-play agreement in May 2003 that called for White Tiger to pay $75,000 as a fixed amount. On July 25, White Tiger informed Estrada that the picture was cancelled. He wasn't paid.

RELIEF SOUGHT: $75,000.

PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL: William J. Briggs and James R. Sterling of Los Angeles' Lavely & Singer (310-556-3501).