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ENTERTAINMENT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
- Cathy Schulman, et al. v. Bob Yari, et al. – Represented Academy Award winning producer Cathy Schulman and her producing partner, Tom Nunan, in their dispute with Bob Yari and his companies over, among other things, the profit distribution from the motion picture, “Crash.” During this litigation, Mr. Avanzado obtained a preliminary injunction to prevent Mr. Yari and his companies from removing the on screen and advertising credits for Ms. Schulman (as Producer) and for Mr. Nunan (as Executive Producer) on the motion picture, “The Illusionist.”
- Kevin’s Music LLC v. Mahee, et al. – Represented Kevin Costner’s music company (KML) in a lawsuit against an individual and his company who promised to promote KML and develop a commercial website for Mr. Costner’s music activities.
- Morgan Creek Productions (In Re Franchise Pictures Bankruptcy Proceedings) – Represented Morgan Creek Productions in connection with a dispute over the assets it obtained during the course of the bankruptcy proceedings of Franchise Pictures LLC and successfully resisted the efforts to “reform” the asset purchase agreement in a manner detrimental to MCP.
- Evolution Entertainment adv. Cary Elwes – Represented the producers of the motion picture, “Saw,” in defense of a breach of contract claim asserted by actor Cary Elwes over his acting agreement and a breach of fiduciary duty claim arising from his prior management agreement with Evolution Entertainment.
- Bennett Productions, Inc. adv. Victoria Vogel – Obtained summary judgment against a former model in her state court action against the production company for the high definition television program, “Bikini Destinations,” as well as its principal.
- Harris adv. Paradigm – Represented the executrix and the estate of Jeff Harris, a television writer, in defense of claims by his former talent agency for breach of contract.
- SEG v. Stillman – Represented CBS, television producer Mark Burnett and the production company for the reality television series, “Survivor,” against claims made by a former “Castaway” that the outcome of the program was “rigged.”
- Laurence Fishburne v. Cinergi Productions – Represented Laurence Fishburne in his action against the production company which produced the motion picture, “Die Hard With A Vengeance,” over an oral agreement to portray the “sidekick” role in that picture.
- Viacom & MTV Networks adv. Gess – Represented Viacom and its division, MTV Networks, in a lawsuit filed by a woman over a VH-1 news program concerning the “Girls Gone Wild” videos.
- MTV Networks adv. Burns – Represented Viacom and MTV Networks in a lawsuit by an actress over what she claimed believed to be an offensive editing of her role in a comedy sketch and successfully appealed the trial court’s denial of a special motion to strike under the anti-SLAPP statute.
- Sid Sapsowitz v. John Kluge, et al. – Represented an individual at trial against John Kluge, Stuart Subotnick and their company, Metromedia International Group, Inc., over his role in the sale of Orion Pictures and other assets to MGM, and obtained multi-million dollar verdicts and a finding of “malice, oppression and fraud” as a prerequisite to an award of punitive damages at trial.
- Showscan Entertainment adv. IMAX – Represented a large format film and entertainment company in multiple lawsuits in California and New York federal courts initiated by IMAX over the manufacture, sale and use of large format film projectors.
- CBS adv. Estate of Leonard Freeman – Represented CBS in its dispute with the estate of the creator of the television series, “Hawaii Five-O,” over “separated rights” and other issues under the collective bargaining agreement with the Writers Guild of America.
- CBS & Warner Bros. adv. Ralston – Represented CBS and Warner Bros. in a “separated rights” federal court action over the series, “Wild, Wild West.”
- CBS/CSI trademarks – Represented CBS and its distributors in a dispute over an alleged infringement of trademarks in the hit television series, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
- CBS & Endemol Productions adv. Rosenblum – Defended CBS and Endemol Productions in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois over the alleged infringement of the mark “Big Brother” in the reality television program of the same name.
- King World Direct adv. Marty Stouffer Productions – Represented King World Direct in a federal court action alleging copyright infringement and breach of contract arising from its distribution of wildlife television programming.
- CBS & 20th Century Fox Film Corp., et al. adv. Robert Conrad – Obtained a dismissal for CBS and Fox in an action filed by actor Robert Conrad alleging right of publicity and breach of contract claims arising from the use of his likeness on video and DVDs for the 1960s television series, “Wild, Wild West.”
- SDP Productions v. PAX – Represented a company affiliated with Vin DiBona, creator of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” for the collection of license fees and for copyright infringement over the cable television program, “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”
- International Family Entertainment, MTM Enterprises, Ice Capades, Inc. et al. adv. Beachport Entertainment Corp., et al. – Obtained a dismissal of claims by a producer of Ice Capades shows against International Family Entertainment, MTM Enterprises, Ice Capades, Inc. and individuals alleging breach of contract, rescission and fraud.
MEDIA & FIRST AMENDMENT
- Isuzu Motors Ltd. v. Consumers Union of U.S. – Represented Isuzu Motors Limited in its federal court action against the publisher of Consumer Reports over its 1996 story about the Isuzu Trooper and successfully defeated CU’s motion for summary judgment (Isuzu Motors Ltd. v. Consumers Union of US, 66 F. Supp. 2d 1117 (C.D. Cal. 1999)).
- American Dental Ass’n v. Khorrami – Represented the American Dental Association in its federal court action against a lawyer, Shawn Khorrami, for statements he made accusing the ADA of placing its own financial interests before those of dental patients on the issue of amalgam dental fillings and defeated a special motion to strike under the California anti-SLAPP statute.
- People v. Avila – Appeared for CNN in its efforts to permit cameras in courtroom proceedings in the state court murder prosecution of Alejandro Avila for the rape and murder of Samantha Runnion.
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
- Tannenbaum v. Ovitz – Represented television production executive, Eric Tannenbaum, in his suit against his former employer.
- Les Haber v. PolyGram Filmed Entertainment – Represented a senior marketing executive of a motion picture production company on his claims of age discrimination.
- Vin DiBona adv. Brustein – Defended Vin DiBona and his companies against the claims of a former employee.
CLASS ACTIONS
- AT&T adv. Heichman – Represented AT&T in a class action over the collection of local taxes on calling card calls which plaintiff alleged had no “nexus” to the taxing jurisdiction and successfully defeated the motion to certify a class and obtained judgment on the pleadings.
- Mobil Oil Torrance Refinery Litigation – Represented Mobil Oil Corporation in various actions against it arising from the operations of its Torrance Refinery.
OTHER COMPLEX BUSINESS CASES
- Applied Digital Solutions, Inc. adv. Hark Vasa – Represented a public company in Florida state court against claims by a former executive of a subsidiary over the purported failure to register timely the shares he received in connection with a merger transaction.
- Pacific Decision Sciences Corporation, et al. adv. Maudlin – Represented Applied Digital Solutions and Pacific Decision Sciences Corp. against claims by a former shareholder and employee arising from an employment trust.
- James Hennefer, et al. v. Butcher, et al. – Obtained a $33.6 million dollar judgment at trial on behalf of real estate entrepreneurs in their malicious prosecution action against a developer and his lawyers who had used multiple lawsuits to prevent the sale of competing property.
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