Suit says Warner Bros. contract unfairly limits worker options.

THE dotted line may be blurry.

Two computer programmers who ed for Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. have filed suit against the company, claiming that their contracts were extended in a manner that denied them retention bonuses.

Tony Adjuder and Brian Ivey are the named plaintiffs in the case, but according to the suit, as many as 250 programmers signed the same contract to work on a financial software development project at the Burbank-based entertainment firm. Ivey began work in August 2001; Adjuder started in January 2002. Both contracts had a completion date of June 30, 2003, but they were extended.

"We're claiming the contract is basically one that almost creates an indentured servitude situation if you want to obtain your retention bonus," said Richard Stavin, an attorney at Stavin & Associates in Encino, representing the plaintiffs. "The contract can be extended indefinitely and does not provide for cost-of-living increases or any increases whatsoever in the wage. And the way the contract is worded, if you leave your job, you forfeit your bonus."

Both programmers quit after their contract was extended, he said.

Scott Rowe, a spokesman for the subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., declined comment on pending litigation. The suit was filed Jan. 29 in Los Angeles Superior Court, and its claims include fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.

EBay Edge

The editor and co-publisher of the Metropolitan News-Enterprise, a downtown L.A. legal newspaper, lost his libel case against eBay Inc. after appealing its dismissal by a lower court.

Roger Grace sued eBay after a Hollywood memorabilia seller posted negative remarks about him on the site.

"I'm not concerned about some stupid remarks some young person who is selling old magazines put up about me," said Grace, whose company, Grace Communications Inc., owns the newspaper. "I'm concerned about the potential harm that can be done with people knowingly lying about others with impunity, if the point of view in the court of appeal prevails."

In its Feb. 5 ruling, the three-judge panel in 2nd Appellate District said eBay was immune from liability under a federal statute that says, "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher."

Grace claims the statute is intended for Internet service providers or search engines but not Web sites. He said he intends to petition for a re-hearing or to the California Supreme Court.

"We're pleased with the ruling and believe this definitively resolves the question of whether eBay enjoys the protection of the Communications Decency Act," said Jay Monahan, vice president of litigation at eBay. "This is the only time we've been sued with a claim of defamation, so it was important for us to confirm the CDA applies to us with respect to (such) claims."

Divorce Duo

Nachshin & Weston LLP, a six-attorney family law firm focusing on high net-worth and celebrity divorces, named two new partners this month.

Joseph Langlois, who was on the legal team representing Barry Bonds in his famed prenuptial case, has worked for the firm since 1994. Stephanie Blum has been at the firm since 1996.

Staff reporter Amanda Bronstad can be reached at [phone] ext. 225, or at [e-mail].