A unanimous three-judge appeals panel rejected an attempt by Warner Bros to dismiss the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, finding clear similarities in character, dialogue, plot, and medical settings. The estate brought the action after formal negotiations for an official reboot collapsed over credit and financial guarantees. While the primary case against the studio proceeds, the court dismissed individual claims against producers Noah Wyle, John Wells, and R Scott Gemmill due to a lack of evidence that they knowingly breached contractual rights.
Key points
Warner Bros faces a Los Angeles Superior Court jury trial over allegations that it improp…: Warner Bros faces a Los Angeles Superior Court jury trial over allegations that it improperly bypassed contractual frozen rights provisions.
Michael Crichton's estate established a prima facie case that producers simply rebranded…: Michael Crichton's estate established a prima facie case that producers simply rebranded a discontinued reboot without proper attribution.
The decision shields individual creative executives from liability while keeping the stud…: The decision shields individual creative executives from liability while keeping the studio directly on the hook for potential contractual damages.
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US drama The Pitt is similar enough to medical series ER for a lawsuit against its producers to progress, a court in the US has ruled.
The widow of Michael Crichton, who created ER, argues The Pitt is effectively a reboot of the series, which has been made without proper permission or credit.
Sherri Chrichton says her husband's contract included a "frozen rights" provision that prohibited any spin-offs, sequels or reboots of ER being made without his express consent.
A three-judge panel said there are "clear and numerous similarities between The Pitt and ER," which means the case can go ahead. Warner Bros previously described the lawsuit as "baseless" and sought to have it dismissed.
Listing the similarities between the two shows, the court cited the emergency room setting, the fast pace, use of medical jargon, graphic depictions of injuries, and younger doctors fresh from medical school being trained.
"We find the details here suffice for a prima facie case," the judges said.
It means the case will now go to a jury trial in Los Angeles Superior…
The 40-year-old forward has brought an end to his historic 23-year international tenure following tensions with head coach Jorge Jesus. His departure closes a defining era that delivered the Euro 2016 and 2019 Nations League trophies to Portugal. While stepping away from country duties, he will continue competing for Saudi club Al-Nassr as he targets 1,000 career goals.
The United States Postal Service unveiled its second festival-themed release during an October 21 ceremony at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C. Featuring an intricate design created by a Houston-area artist with decades of experience, the release makes 20 million stamps available across the nation to honor the festival of lights. The issuance guarantees continuous first-class mailing validity even if future postal rates rise.
Appellate judges determined that substantial investment losses do not automatically shield an individual from court-ordered spousal payouts. The ruling penalizes a failure to provide adequate documentation regarding commingled funds and separate property. Consequently, the original property division remains fully enforceable despite claims of severe post-separation hardship.