Courthouse Steps

CASE CAPTION: Kaye Switzer and Sandi Spreckman v. Big Ticket Pictures Inc., Big Ticket Television Inc., Paramount Pictures Corp. and Paramount Television Group, L.A. Superior Court #BC327050.

CAUSES OF ACTION: Breach of written contract, constructive fraud and an accounting.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: The plaintiffs are producers who worked on “The People's Court” TV series for 10 and 12 years, respectively. In September 1994, they conceived and developed a concept for a new courtroom series featuring Judge Judy Scheindlin. In August 1995, they entered into a written agreement with Doug Llewelyn and Big Ticket Pictures, then a subsidiary of Spelling Entertainment, relating to the production of the series. The plaintiffs were hired as producers and were entitled to back-end compensation of 10% of the show proceeds, minus costs, when they actively worked as producers, and 5% otherwise. The plaintiffs were abruptly terminated during the first season after the defendants obtained the plaintiffs' substantial knowledge and expertise in producing such a show. Paramount acquired Big Ticket and Spelling in 1999. The plaintiffs haven't been paid their share of the profits. The plaintiffs sued Spelling and Big Ticket in 1997 to get their share. Since then, the defendants have again manipulated accountings for the series and have refused to properly account for profits. An independent audit report dated Jan. 15, 2004 confirmed that defendants changed their accounting methods to double the amount of deductions attributable to losses during the show's first season. The defendants have also consistently deducted improper fees and costs.

RELIEF SOUGHT: At least $3 million.

PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL: Martin D. Singer and Charles J. Harder of L.A.'s Lavely & Singer (310-556-3501).

CASE CAPTION: Jamie Jones, Delious Kennedy, Alfred Nevarez and Anthony Borowiak, individually, and dba All-4-One v. Tim O'Brien dba Brookhill Records Corp. dba Blitzz Records dba Blitz/Atlantic Records dba CKC dba Songcase Music; Christine O'Brien; and Atlantic Recording Corp., L.A. Superior Court # BC326889.

CAUSES OF ACTION: Breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy to induce breach of fiduciary duty; breach of contract; unjust enrichment; quantum meruit; and an accounting.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: The plaintiffs are a Grammy-winning quartet. The group, then ranging in age from 19 to 22, signed with O'Brien and Brookhill Records in 1993, and became very successful. Accountings, however, were infrequent and hopelessly inaccurate. O'Brien and his daughter, Christine, managed the group despite not having a contract to do so and O'Brien paid himself a 10% fee for touring and merchandise. The plaintiffs didn't become aware of O'Brien's thievery until January 2002, when they learned of their record sales from a Recording Industry Association of America website. O'Brien now lives on an 80-acre estate in Kentucky paid for by the group's earnings, while the plaintiffs, who have sold more than 15 million units, are in some cases forced to hold down second jobs.

RELIEF SOUGHT: At least $4 million.

PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL: David Berke of Beverly Hills (310-788-9001).

CASE CAPTION: Kaye Switzer and Sandi Spreckman v. Big Ticket Pictures Inc., Big Ticket Television Inc., Paramount Pictures Corp. and Paramount Television Group, L.A. Superior Court #BC327050.

CAUSES OF ACTION: Breach of written contract, constructive fraud and an accounting.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: The plaintiffs are producers who worked on “The People's Court” TV series for 10 and 12 years, respectively. In September 1994, they conceived and developed a concept for a new courtroom series featuring Judge Judy Scheindlin. In August 1995, they entered into a written agreement with Doug Llewelyn and Big Ticket Pictures, then a subsidiary of Spelling Entertainment, relating to the production of the series. The plaintiffs were hired as producers and were entitled to back-end compensation of 10% of the show proceeds, minus costs, when they actively worked as producers, and 5% otherwise. The plaintiffs were abruptly terminated during the first season after the defendants obtained the plaintiffs' substantial knowledge and expertise in producing such a show. Paramount acquired Big Ticket and Spelling in 1999. The plaintiffs haven't been paid their share of the profits. The plaintiffs sued Spelling and Big Ticket in 1997 to get their share. Since then, the defendants have again manipulated accountings for the series and have refused to properly account for profits. An independent audit report dated Jan. 15, 2004 confirmed that defendants changed their accounting methods to double the amount of deductions attributable to losses during the show's first season. The defendants have also consistently deducted improper fees and costs.

RELIEF SOUGHT: At least $3 million.

PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL: Martin D. Singer and Charles J. Harder of L.A.'s Lavely & Singer (310-556-3501).

CASE CAPTION: Jamie Jones, Delious Kennedy, Alfred Nevarez and Anthony Borowiak, individually, and dba All-4-One v. Tim O'Brien dba Brookhill Records Corp. dba Blitzz Records dba Blitz/Atlantic Records dba CKC dba Songcase Music; Christine O'Brien; and Atlantic Recording Corp., L.A. Superior Court # BC326889.

CAUSES OF ACTION: Breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy to induce breach of fiduciary duty; breach of contract; unjust enrichment; quantum meruit; and an accounting.

COMPLAINT ALLEGATIONS: The plaintiffs are a Grammy-winning quartet. The group, then ranging in age from 19 to 22, signed with O'Brien and Brookhill Records in 1993, and became very successful. Accountings, however, were infrequent and hopelessly inaccurate. O'Brien and his daughter, Christine, managed the group despite not having a contract to do so and O'Brien paid himself a 10% fee for touring and merchandise. The plaintiffs didn't become aware of O'Brien's thievery until January 2002, when they learned of their record sales from a Recording Industry Association of America website. O'Brien now lives on an 80-acre estate in Kentucky paid for by the group's earnings, while the plaintiffs, who have sold more than 15 million units, are in some cases forced to hold down second jobs.

RELIEF SOUGHT: At least $4 million.

PLAINTIFFS' COUNSEL: David Berke of Beverly Hills (310-788-9001).