Lawsuit accuses 'Liar Liar' producers of dishonesty."Liar Liar" has suddenly become not so funny funny. Aaron Russo, who produced "Trading Places" and "The Rose," has filed a $55 million lawsuit against the producers of the hit Universal film starting Jim Carrey “James Carrey” redirects here. For the murder conspirator, see James Carey. James Eugene Carrey (born January 17, 1962) is a Canadian actor and comedian. , claiming they used his concept to create their film. In the lawsuit, Russo and his partner Heidi Gregg maintain that the producers - Universal Studios Inc., Imagine Entertainment and producer Brian Grazer graze 1 v. grazed, graz·ing, graz·es v.intr. 1. To feed on growing grasses and herbage. 2. Informal a. To eat a variety of appetizers as a full meal. - had access to a screenplay titled, "The Man Who Told the Truth (The Lie Story)," written by David Black David Black may refer to:
Russo and Gregg claim they owned the rights to the screenplay. Russo says he discussed the script with Grazer, a social acquaintance, during a 1993 pitch meeting at the Mark Hotel in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . Grazer, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Superior Court on Oct. 29, asked for a copy of the screenplay and was given one by Russo. The litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. is the latest example of that classic Hollywood phenomenon: Figuring out who should get credit. At any given time there are countless disputes among writers, producers and studios over whose idea led to what movie or TV show. "Ideas are stolen, scripts are stolen. It just exists," said Cheryl Rhoden, spokeswoman for the Writers Guild of America The Writers Guild of America is a term often referring to the joint efforts of the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, west. Jointly, the two guilds act as the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and West, who could not comment on the specifics of the case. According to the lawsuit, "The Man Who Told the Truth" is about an attorney who, because of his son's wish, is forced to tell the truth and deal with its consequences. Russo said Grazer was in possession of the screenplay from June 1993 to January 1994, when he telephoned the producer rejecting the proposed film on the grounds that it was not commercial. Grazer, the lawsuit said, returned the screenplay three months later. The lawsuit claims that after rejecting Russo's script, the defendants began developing their own project that went on to become "Liar Liar." That movie, released early this year, told the tale of an attorney who is a compulsive liar and is magically forced to tell the truth for a day by his son's wish. "This motion picture is substantially similar to and uses material elements of Russo's ideas disclosed to Grazer," the lawsuit alleged. "These similarities involved the story, characters, theme, mood, setting, pace and sequence. In fact, there are at least two scenes in 'Liar Liar' that are virtually identical to scenes disclosed by Russo." The film generated $182 million domestically at the box office. Imagine Entertainment President Michael Rosenberg Michael Rosenberg (born May, 1954 in New York) is one of the top Bridge players in the United States. He moved to Scotland as a child and returned to New York in 1990 where he lives with his wife Debbie, also a top player. declined to discuss the allegations, except to offer this comment: "No one ever sues a producer when a film isn't successful. Nobody ever sues before production begins or when you are in production or after the opening weekend. It's only when you are successful." Grazer declined to comment as did attorneys for Universal. |
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