Michael Moore Sues Weinsteins Over 'Fahrenheit 9/11'

hollywoodreporter.com ^ | Feb. 7, 2011 | Matthew Belloni

[Free ThinkerNY]

Filmmaker Michael Moore has sued Harvey and Bob Weinstein, accusing the brothers of “Hollywood accounting tricks” and “financial deception” that cheated him out of at least $2.7 million in profits from the hit documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. In a lawsuit filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, Moore says the Weinsteins and an affiliated entity called the Fellowship Adventure Group agreed to split profits from the film 50-50 but then diverted monies to hide them from Moore.

The suit for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and constructive fraud claims that in 2008 Moore conducted an audit of the 2004 film, which grossed $222 million worldwide, and “discovered substantial irregularities in the accounting” that resulted in a “gross underpayment to [Moore],” the lawsuit says.

Those irregularities include an alleged secret deduction of $2.5 million in revenue that the Weinstiens claimed was paid to acquire an interest owned in the film by a predecessor company called Icon Entertainment International; a 7.5% “override” fee on advertising costs in the amount of $1.2 million, “despite the fact that [the Weinsteins] did not incur the advertising costs and the [deal] did not permit [them] to deduct these costs”; as well as additional improper deductions of fees paid to distribution consultants, accountants, residuals, foreign taxes and travel expenses, including what Moore says are the “grossly excessive and unreasonable” costs of hiring a private jet to carry a single passenger to Europe.

Weinstein lawyer Bert Fields dismissed the claims in an interview.

“The Weinsteins have paid everything they should have paid,” Fields tells THR. “Mr. Moore has received a huge amount of money from this film and we believe he is overreaching. He should be ashamed of himself”

[The Comedian]

I envy your famous decadence. All my decadence was anonymous.

I hope.

Today is a good day to die.
I didn't say for whom.

[Hildy]

You are correct..except the Weinstein’s ARE crooks who happen to be Jewish. I am Jewish so I guess I can say that.

[Darksheare]

“so I guess I can say that.”

*tweet of whistle*
That’s cheating!
*consults rule book*
Oh, wait, that is a fair play.
];-)

[KarlInOhio]

There are two types of money in Hollywood contracts:

1. Money you get up front
2. Money you aren't going to get

[Baynative]

Michael Moore sure chases hard for more “almighty dollars” (as he calls them), what with him being a socialist man of the people and all.

[eyeamok]

Chances are they withheld the 2.7 million dollars to cover the cost of FOOD the FAT PIG ATE while making this propaganda piece.

[Hildy]

ROFLMAO!