Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Producer settles suit over crime drama
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Most Popular
Most Shared
Yemen launches offensive against al Qaeda
| Video
10:44am EST
Pending home sales tumble 16 percent in November
10:08am EST
Obama to unveil counterterrorism reforms
| Video
6:27am EST
Blair to face Iraq war inquiry, big demand for seats
10:54am EST
Democrats in final push on healthcare overhaul
9:33am EST
U.S. growth prospects deemed bleak in new decade
03 Jan 2010
Study finds quitting smoking raises diabetes risk
04 Jan 2010
Plunging home prices pull Manhattan buyers back in
3:29am EST
Buffett warns Kraft on Cadbury bid
10:09am EST
FACTBOX-Major differences in US Senate, House health bills
8:00am EST
Pictures
Pictures of the year: Entertainment
A look at the year's best entertainment photos. Slideshow
Producer settles suit over crime drama
Matthew Belloni
Tue Jan 5, 2010 2:36am EST
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The legal wrangling over the troubled crime drama "Black Water Transit" has taken another turn, with the film's backer quietly settling a $3.1 million lawsuit brought by a producer on the eve of trial.
Entertainment | Film
Ascendant Pictures and principal Chris Roberts filed suit in February 2008 against David Bergstein's Capitol Films and other entities for breach of contract, claiming Bergstein kicked him off the indie project without paying agreed-upon producers' fees.
"Ascendant got cut off at the knees and wasn't able to do anything," said Glen Rothstein, the company's attorney. "They basically told us to take our ball and go home."
A trial in the case had been scheduled to begin Monday, but Bergstein personally negotiated a settlement with Ascendant lawyers during the holidays, and a request for dismissal of the case was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Bergstein, whose banner is now Pangea Media Group, did not respond to requests for comment. Rothstein would not reveal the value of the settlement. Sources said Bergstein agreed to pay Ascendant a substantial sum but less than $1 million.
The settlement is the latest strange turn for "Transit," a noirish thriller set in post-Katrina New Orleans directed by Tony Kaye ("American History X") and starring Stephen Dorff and Laurence Fishburne. Bergstein unveiled the project at Cannes in 2007, but it has not been released and instead has spawned a stack of litigation.
The indie impresario is said to have rejected delivery of the film because he considered it unreleasable. He sought to recoup the film's budget, said to have ballooned to $48 million, from completion bond company CineFinance. That disputed was settled. The film's insurance carrier, US Specialty Insurance, later sued Capitol, asking a court to rule that it wasn't required to cover any losses on the film.
Last month, Bergstein's Westwood-based shingle sued insurance broker Aon for $20 million to recover losses incurred on the film. Bergstein argues in that case that Aon negligently sold Capitol a policy that did not cover injuries of an "essential element" during preproduction and that Capitol lost millions when star Samuel L. Jackson had to drop out of the film because of a back problem (he was replaced with Fishburne).
Capitol also was sued in November by New York hedge fund D. B. Zwirn, which provided Bergstein and partner Ron Tutor with the money for their movies from 2004-07 and demanded reimbursement for about $120 million that was used to acquire Capitol, ThinkFilm and other entities.
On Wednesday, a day before the request for dismissal of the Ascendant case was filed, Capitol was sued by print advertising house XL Laboratories for $50,000 in unpaid fees. In that complaint, XL alleges, among other things, that Capitol engaged its services without making it aware of four pending federal court cases against the company.
Entertainment
Film
More from Reuters
Pending home sales tumble 16 percent in November
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes fell more than expected in November because of the end of a rush to beat the initial expiration of a popular tax credit, a survey showed on Tuesday.
Factory orders rose 1.1 percent in November
Democrats in final push on healthcare overhaul
Buffett warns Kraft on Cadbury bid
Berkshire voted no on Kraft share issue for Cadbury
Obama to unveil counterterrorism reforms
| Video
» More Top News
Buffett warning shadows bid
Kraft revised its $16.4 billion bid for Cadbury amid Warren Buffett's warning not to overpay. Full Article | Quote
Factbox: How the new offer works
Scenarios: What could happen next
DEALS
Obama's next step ...
President Obama wanted to focus on job creation after the holidays. A failed Christmas Day bombing changed that. Full Article | Video
Breaking down the bureaucracy
Q&A: Homeland Security in the spotlight
U.S.
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Analyst Research
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Labs
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts.com
Buyouts Europe:
Buyouts Conferences:
Venture Capital Journal
ECVJ
International Financing Review
International Securitisation Report
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Tuesday, 5 January 2010 Abbas weighs summit to revive stalled peace talks
Huge tomb found at Egypt's Saqqara pyramid
Karzai orders parliament to delay recess for cabinet
UK may ban Islamist march in military memorial town
|
UK parties launch election race, promise lean times
|
Iraq will file lawsuits against Blackwater
U.S. seeks to pressure Iran, Revolutionary Guards
|
Five killed and three missing in Swiss avalanches
|
Nigerian opposition demands proof of Yar'Adua's health
|
Malawi denies bail to men arrested for gay wedding
|
Tech showcase looks to regain wow factor
|
US 'militants' deny planning Pakistan attack
Justice Department urges FCC to free spectrum
|
Ex-Ga. state senator takes office as Atlanta mayor
Afghan attacks kill 4 US troops, British soldier
Destructive tsunami crashes over Solomon Islands
Houston mayor calls swearing-in milestone for gays
Spain's EU webpage hijacked by Mr Bean
|
Karzai to lawmakers: Stay on job for Cabinet vote
Top China dissident appeals subversion conviction
Court officer, gunman killed in Las Vegas shootout
Malaysia appeals 'Allah' for Christians ruling
Agency seeks investor for ground zero tower
Watch lists grow; more screening on flights to US
Security breach at Newark airport investigated
Obama ends Hawaiian holiday, returns to Washington
Staff quits after Ala. congressman switches to GOP
US officially lifts HIV/AIDS travel ban
Threats against U.S. judges, prosecutors jump
GM launches new small car in India, eyes growth
German retailer Metro unveils China plans
India's Reliance raises $574m via share sale
Engineering giant Bosch to invest $400m in India
Pakistani rupee at new record low, stocks end higher
Blagojevich to appear on TV's Celebrity Apprentice
|
CBS morning host Rodriguez expecting second child
Dubai ruler officially opens world's tallest building
Knightley and Waltz to star in Freud movie
Emile Hirsch joins celeb climb of Kilimanjaro
UK PM Brown named GQ's worst-dressed man of year
Dubai to inaugurate world's tallest skyscraper
U.S. seeks to pressure Iran, Revolutionary Guards
French rocker Hallyday's daughter hospitalised
US-TECH Summary
U.S. embassy reopens in Yemen after threat
|
NASA's Kepler space telescope finds 5 new planets
Afghanistan's NATO force needs top civilian: UN
Lenovo, Qualcomm team up on Skylight "smartbook"
New Year freeze, avalanches leave trail of death across Europe
U.N. can't back more Afghan elections without reform
|
Iraq: Key figures since the war began
Tiger Still In The Game: EA Sports Keeps Woods For Online 'Course'
Skype to offer video service on LG, Panasonic TVs
'Google phone' fever high on eve of Android event
Philippine massacre suspect pleads not guilty to murder
|
Abbas says peace talks depend on Israel ending settlements
US manufacturing sector sees acceleration
Artie Lange Taken To The Hospital For Undisclosed Ailment
Freescale promises bargain-price tablet this year
Tehran professors denounce violence on protesters
Facebook blocks social network 'suicide' website
Apple to unveil tablet in January: report
Apple tablet computer may ship in March: WSJ
Justice Department urges FCC to free spectrum
Germany knows nothing of alleged CIA murder plot
|
Mr Bean 'invades' Spain's EU website
Skype to offer video service on LG, Panasonic TVs
NATO official: US spy work lacking in Afghanistan
Wall Street cool on rumored Google phone launch
|
Taiwan lawmakers ban some US beef imports
Obama poised to unveil counterterrorism reforms
Lavish Chinese police wedding sparks outrage
US overhauls terror watchlists
Skype to offer video service on LG, Panasonic TVs
|
Philippine massacre suspect pleads not guilty to murder
Lenovo, Qualcomm team up on Skylight smartbook
|
Vietnam condemns China's island tourism plans
EA Sports moves forward with Tiger game rollout
|
Pandas headed to Shanghai for 2010 Expo
Americans' job satisfaction falls to record low
Global Weather-Celsius
Apple to unveil tablet in January: report
|
US health spending grew to $2.3 trillion in 2008
China river oil spill pollution 'serious': govt
Court upholds Moussaoui's 9/11 life prison term
Destructive tsunami crashes over Solomon Islands
US uncovers third gatecrasher at India state dinner
Winter system drops record snow, chills the South
Manhattan's new top prosecutor promises humility
Seoul shares end lower on autos, Kumho issues
S.Korea won posts biggest daily pct rise in 6 mths
Pakistani c.bank sells 15.7 bln rupees of T-bills
China pulls out of $40 billion Australia gas deal
S.Korean auto issues tumble on stronger won
Philippine inflation rises to 4.4 pct in December
South Korean won extends gain to more than 1 pct
Taiwan to meet banks over FX mkt activity -dealers
US rally boosts Asian markets
PREVIEW-Taiwan Dec exports may have climbed more than 45 pct y/y
Avatar headed to No. 2 at all-time box office
|
Rapper Game finds mentor, friend in Williams
|
Films overcome obstacles on way to awards spotlight
|
Film box office overtakes 2009 DVD, Blu-ray sales
|
Kara DioGuardi balances songwriting, TV work
|
Rockers Lifehouse try new slant with Mirrors
|
"Avatar" headed to No. 2 at all-time box office
Persistence pays off for Empire songwriter
|
Billion-dollar 'Avatar' strikes box office paydirt
Welsh band Los Campesinos! grows up, finds Romance
|
Billboard CD reviews: Susan Boyle, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen
|
Films overcome obstacles on way to awards spotlight
Billboard CD reviews: Susan Boyle, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen
China book heroine a role model for ambitious women
Entertainment producer, composer William May dies
"Gossip Girl" actor cast in "Apparition" horror
Kara DioGuardi balances songwriting, TV work
Rockers Lifehouse try new slant with "Mirrors"
Singer Sandro, the 'Argentine Elvis,' dies at 64
Quake in Atlantic near S.Sandwich Islands: USGS
Nestle buys Kraft N. American pizza unit
Karzai to try again with new cabinet line-up
|
Japan finance minister wants to go after budget battle
|
Israel to build more homes in East Jerusalem
|
Iraqi militant leader linked to hostages freed
|
Iran renews execution threat against protesters
|
WFP suspends operations in much of southern Somalia
|
Greece vows tougher deficit cuts as EU visit looms
|
Berlusconi backs spy chief in espionage scandal
|
South Sudan vote could lead to war, says top adviser
|
Microsoft announces retail prices for Office 2010
|
NATO official: US spy work lacking in Afghanistan
Iran accepts Clinton non-deadline on nuclear talks
Authorities assess damage after Solomons quake
Italy class-action suit planned against Microsoft
|
1,000 people homeless on Solomons after tsunami
GOP's Steele: Obama terrorism policy inconsistent
Tuna nets 176,000 dollars in Tokyo new year auction
Nokia files new patent suit against Apple
|
Tech showcase looks to regain wow factor
|
Suspect in Philippine massacre pleads not guilty
AP sources: Bomber at CIA base was a double agent
China zoo keeper killed by lion: state media
Obama to announce new airline safety measures
Deep freeze brings travel chaos to north China
Polycom teams with IBM in consumer videoconference
|
Ore. man accused of snipping bus passenger's hair
Basketball star Yao Ming to become a father
Japan finance minister quiet on resignation rumour
Speculation builds Japan finance minister may quit
Exit strategy still premature -S.Korea fin min
Agricultural Bank of China plans IPOs: state media
Oscar contenders raise some questions
|
ESPN to launch 3D TV network in June
|
Oscar contenders raise some questions
Producer settles suit over crime drama
Producer settles suit over crime drama
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights