Smart Family Hires Entertainment Lawyer

CBS News ^

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Smart Family Hires Entertainment Lawyer

SALT LAKE CITY, April 5, 2003

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Elizabeth Smart with her father, Ed (AP/Deseret News, Tom Smart) Elizabeth with her parents Lois and Ed (AP Photo/Deseret News, Tom Smart)

(AP) Elizabeth Smart's family has hired a Los Angeles entertainment attorney to help them screen movie and book proposals about Elizabeth's abduction and remarkable return.

Kelly Crabb, who reportedly has negotiated contracts for Paul McCartney, Dave Matthews and Muhammad Ali, was hired a week ago, said Chris Thomas, the family's spokesman.

According to his firm's Web site, Crabb's areas of practice include motion picture, television and other programming production and financing; composer agreements, personal appearances and motion picture distribution.

"These kind of contracts are very specialized," Thomas said.

Crabb received bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University before earning a law degree from Columbia University in 1984. He also worked for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee.

Elizabeth, now 15, was abducted from her bedroom on the night of June 5. On March 12, she was found in a Salt Lake suburb with her alleged kidnappers.

[Hildy]

How do you know where the money is going? People license photos for alot of reasons. I used to be in that line of business. For many, they just want to make sure they get used in proper ways and to be able to keep track of who is using them, and make sure that they're not being used for anyting illicit.

[Hildy]

I'm so sorry to hear that, I used to have respect for you.

[Illbay]

It has nothing to do with "confidence in beliefs." It has to do with being sick to death of the disparaging of a decent family by those too ready to cast stones at anyone who is normal and decent.

[ewing]

What else can explain the fact that Elizabeth kept going back to the Mitchells camp after they told her that she was to be his bride? (unless she thought it was a goof)

[Hildy]

What are you talking about?

[Illbay]

Since you apparently don't believe in tithing, I guess to you it IS a big deal. That's why you brought it up. Otherwise, it's a non sequitur.

[Eva]

I pray that the family has only the best interests of their daughter at heart and that they are just trying to get control of the story, before it is turned into a Mormon freak show. A story of Elizabeth's ordeal is going to made into a movie, one way or the other. I hope that the family is just trying to make sure that it is their way.

[Illbay]

FWIW, we had this discussion on the "CHIEF SHOCKANAW" threads, where the guy who originated the artwork was criticized for "copyrighting" it.

As he explained, it's so no one is able to take the image and exploit it for their own gain. In essence, "since I'm not making money from this, no one else should be allowed to either."

[Hildy]

Are you really telling me your source is THE STAR? Oy.

[Hildy]

Eva, that just makes just way too much sense. I don't think there are many on this board that are going to buy it. :)

[Spiff]

Just remember the Mormon church gets its 10% cut.

Yes, and....what's your point?

Do you imagine some grand conspiracy backed by the LDS Church that got Elizabeth kidnapped so that the Smarts could later make a movie and a book deal so that they could collect the 10% of the profits!? Or that the LDS Church is pressuring the Smarts to cut a movie or book deal so that the church will get their 10%!!? What a whacko conspiracy theory. Are there black helicopters involved too? Tin foil?

Have you ever seen how the church spends the tithing and fast offerings it receives through voluntary donation? Casting such aspersions - bearing false witness - surely aren't the mark of a Christian. Haven't I heard you claim to be Christian before? Prove it. Act like one.

[Wrigley]

Making silly assumptions ill. Never said I don't believe in tithing.

When it is a requirement to remain in good standing and exaltation, it becomes a problem.

And don't for a minute try to tell me that the Mormon church hierarchy isn't looking at this whole thing as a great opportunity for income.

[Mamzelle]

The Smart family started fielding offers weeks ago--. I'm still trying to figure out the "veil" angle. How do people walk around Utah in veils without attracting attn?

As for benefit of the doubt, if they like off-the-books cheap labor, why not the Movie of the Week bonanza?

And I didn't like the way they tried to get special legislation ramrodded through Congress by abusing that Senator--remember the Amber Alert business, which wouldn't have helped this circumstance, anyway?

Looks like they're begging for attn for me--like they're absolutely *addicted* to attention. You're standing in their way...

[ewing]

The Smart family knows that it is going to be easier to prove the kidnapping charges over state lines which is a federal crime. Probably the reason why they have asked prosecutors not to persue the assault angle.

[Wrigley]

No, I don't think the Mormon church had involvement in the ES affair.

But if you try to tell me that the Mormon church isn't looking at this as great opportunity, you're crazy.

Have you ever seen how the church spends the tithing and fast offerings it receives through voluntary donation?

Kind of hard to see those records since those records are hidden from the public.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Getty Images is a fee based service. They don't allow their images published for free.

[Hildy]

So what?

[Hildy]

Do you expect the Uncle to answer every call about the photos from all the media orgs. that request them? Please. Why does everything have to be so sinister.

[carton253]

Because its more fun that way...

[Spiff]

And don't for a minute try to tell me that the Mormon church hierarchy isn't looking at this whole thing as a great opportunity for income.

BWAAHAHAHA!!! You actually DO think that the LDS Church is hoping to profit from this! You confirmed, in spades, what a conspiracy theorist whacko jerk you really are. Yeah, the LDS Church heirarchy sure lives in opulance and they always want more, more, more money...NOT! Are you really this ignorant or do you just hate the LDS Church and its members so much that you can't see reality and you lose all judgement?