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.

[Illbay]

The source is an article in "The Globe," a supermarket tabloid.

[Hildy]

No, you can't OWN the rights to a public story. How do you think so many Kennedy movies are made?????!!!!!!

[JesseShurun]

so are all the Jews and Christians you've insulted here

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I guess what I have learned from this entire diatribe, that when it comes to class and grace, Utah Girl has it in spades.

[Freedom2specul8]

Of course I don't believe "everything" I read... but am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Utah girl said that the money from the movie/book deal would be donated too. I've not found a source for that yet..but did find this from utah girl's link..sounds "credible" at this time.

http://www.pdnonline.com/news/archive/2003/031903.html#1
Tom Smart, a photographer with The Deseret News and the victim’s uncle, was the only person allowed to photograph the family reunion.

Smart, who was on hiatus from the newspaper when he took the photos and owns all rights to the images, immediately distributed the pictures through the wire services and signed a deal to allow Getty Images to handle subsequent licensing. Proceeds from Smart’s portion of sales will go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which plans to use the money for search and rescue software.

[Illbay]

I think that authors and scriptwriters want the "validation" of being able to say they were working with the real people.

If they don't get the Smarts' cooperation, they'll go off on their own.

[spectre]

"You apparently believe everything you DON'T read--or see printed, stated or announced anywhere else.

And your proof of this would be????

The pictures are copyrighted, the Smarts have HIRED an Entertainment Agency. OK, I'll bite...You KNOW different than this? Prove it. Source it please.

sw

[Illbay]

The only "Jews and Christians" I've "insulted" are those who chose to be insulted because I haven't agreed with their bigoted comments.

[Illbay]

Yeah, but that's the Deseret News.

You're going to have to show them where this is published in "The Globe" or "The Enquirer" before these people will believe you.

Apparently, that's all they read.

[mewzilla]

Thanks for the info. I'll wait and see.

[JesseShurun]

No, billyboy, you hate them just like you hate God. You need to calm down and go get help for your spiritual illness. It's affecting your mind

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Gentlemen, I direct your attention to Post #228. A clear and direct confrontation.

Badge-worthy?

[Illbay]

See Post No. 305. Yes, I know it's not "The Globe," or "The Enquirer," but try to keep an open mind.

[stands2reason]

Still, if your daughter had been going to a homeless center alone recently, wouldn't you tell police that?

So, are you already considering that a fact?

[Freedom2specul8]

according to that article...Tom Smart owns the pictures because he took them...

[Utah Girl]

Thanks. :) I've tried hard to stay with the facts of the case and back up what I say with links. I don't always succeed, but I will keep on trying, and will apologize when I am wrong.

[Illbay]

What I hate is lies. Such as the ones that the little cabal you belong to love to spew.

[Freedom2specul8]

That was a low blow. ;-]

[mtbopfuyn]

Where's CPS when you need them? So you think government jack-booted thugs should come in and kidnap Elizabeth because you don't think the family should consut an expert attorney before deciding if, how, and whether to allow a book or movie to made about Elizabeth's ordeal!!? Are you aware that 50% of all child abuse deaths occur in foster care - that is, after CPS has taken a child away and placed them under state-licensed care? 50%!!! The sexual abuse rate is higher than that under CPS/foster care. What would you do? The whole world seems to want to know what happened to Elizabeth and the Smart family wants to do it right, if they do it, to protect Elizabeth, etc. Instead of realizing that you want the poor girl kidnapped by strangers and tossed into the abusive CPS/child theft industry. Your attitude is disgusting.

Excuse me, Spiffy but I find your attitude disgusting. Ignorant and disgusting. I was a CPS worker, thank you very much, and don't take kindly to your defamity to the profession. You got all those stats from where? Your fantasy world? I wasn't going to jump into this kidnapped v runaway debate until I saw your rantings. I've never heard such explosive anger on any post here so you must have your reasons.

As for the movie deal and the not-so-Smarts, well that's no big surprise. The more info that comes out the smellier it gets.

[JesseShurun]

don't make me post that rant against God again, cause I will