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.

[Utah Girl]

Here is the source that says where the Smarts will donate the reward money (if Mary Katherine is awarded a portion of it). From the Deseret News:
" The Smart family says Mary Katherine was nominated by an outside party and if she should win the reward, they would donate it to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children." Nominations in for Smart reward.

[Freedom2specul8]

Owning movie rights (law crawler)

[Bella_Bru]

I am going to assume (and hope) that they are seeking an attorney to figure out what they need to do to protect their interests. Someone might try to turn the poor girl's story into the Monday Night Movie on NBC WITHOUT their approval, and they might need to know what to do.

[Hildy]

POOR RICCI? You've got to be kidding. From the ABC website:

According to police documents, Richard Ricci admitted breaking into a house in the Smarts' Salt Lake City neighborhood in April 2001, and also admitted stealing some things from the Smarts' home in a separate incident.
There were people sleeping in the house at the time of the break-in at a home in the Smarts' neighborhood, according to the charges filed Thursday, and Ricci allegedly woke up a houseguest as he was looking for things to take.

Because Ricci has a criminal record stretching back 29 years and is currently on parole for a conviction for the attempted homicide of a police officer, he has been deemed a habitual criminal and all of the charges have been enhanced to first-degree felonies, Salt Lake County District Attorney David Yocom said. A conviction on any of the charges could result in a sentence of up to life in prison for Ricci, Yocom said.

They didn't pick him out of soccer practice and accuse him, he seemed a pretty logical suspect. Yea, he was innocent of this one, but he tried to kill a cop! Still feel sorry for him?

[LaGrone]

Something was never right with Ed Smart and his family. Truth always wins out. They are creeps.

[Spiff]

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.

I've seen it with my own two eyes. The stats come from those reported by the state agencies to the U.S. Department of Housing and Human Servics (HHS). I'll add that the majority of cases where children are removed from the home are later found to be unsubstantiated. That translates to a traumatized family and probably thousands of dollars in legal expenses to convince the CPS jackals to back off.

I have explosive anger at the CPS/child abduction industry because I've seen it destroy innocent families, traumatize children, and railroad the accused through kangaroo courts to steal their children permanently. I've done the homework and, like I said, seen it with my own two eyes as CPS went after relatives and nearly destroyed their families.

It may be a bit disconcerting to someone who worked in the industry to hear the truth about it. You probably thought you were doing some good. You may have been one of the exceptions - one of the very few exceptions. I don't know. I haven't reviewed any of your case histories or talked to any of the families affected by whatever force you applied. However, I have reviewed many case histories, assisted with defense, etc. I know what happens and alot about how the system works. Jack-booted thugs is an apt description from what I've seen. If I had attempted to be more accurate in my description I'd be banned for obscene language.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Bingo.

And there was also the Smart parents speaking on Fox last year when the father clearly said that his younger daughter recognized the voice and knew who it was and could I.D. him because he was someone of stature in the community.

That faux pas on Dad's part has been long ignored.

[Freedom2specul8]

MOVIE AND TV RIGHTS

[LaGrone]

Wow. That picture of Hilde; has she got elephantitis? Just curious. Hehehe

[Hildy]

You can copyright a book and then sell THAT book exclusively and nobody could make a movie with the title of that book, but they can make a movie about it. Usually, to avoid any hassles, movie companies would rather have the permission of those involved, but they don't need it and many times go ahead and do what they want. You can't copyright a public event.

[Illbay]

"Wonderful story," not "beautiful story" (which is what is usually posted).

And he was speaking--to whom?--to the perpetrator. He was saying "Hey, we all have issues, you know, it's not a big deal..."

Ask anyone who is expert at hostage situations. One of the primary things you try to do is reassure the perpetrator that they are not alone, that they aren't "weird" or "strange." You try to keep them feeling further isolated.

That's what I think Smart was doing. You can interpret it how you will, but the LIE is that he was saying her being abducted was a "beautiful story."

What he in fact said is that the prayers of all the "whole world" made for a "wonderful story."

Interesting also, that their inkling that things would turn out all right, proved to be true. Again, you can make something evil of that if you wish, but most reasonable people will not.

[Hildy]

Where did you see the word stature? You sure he used the word stature. From what I remember, he said it was someone in the community that people knew,and apparently people knew who this emmanuel was.

[Servant of the Nine]

I'd much rather see a film about the episode tell the truth than see one trying to make a "favorable impression." One made by objective interests will be a lot more interesting than one concocted by the Smarts.

That option is not available. The choices will be a Hollywood controlled version slanted for maximum notoriety and shock value, of a Smart Family version slanted to serve their interests.

So9

[Illbay]

The sympathy for Ricci is, I think, similar to the sympathy many had for David Westerfield. For some reason, there is a significant minority on FR who are going to side with the "underdog."

Another example: Any time there is a report of a shooting of a LEO, esp. if by a "Right wing nut," is going to have a significant number--not a majority, but a surprising number--of posts supporting the shooter.

It's just something I've come to recognize on FR.

[Illbay]

"Truth always wins out"?

"They are creeps"?

Which one? These two are mutually exclusive, because there is no "truth" that points to their being "creeps."

Unless you would care to point us to yet another "Globe" or "Enquirer" article?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

ABC spins as it's told.

[Utah Girl]

And here is the source where the family spokesman, Chris Thomas, says the family will not profit from the making of a movie and/or book from Elizabeth's abduction. Smart Family Fields Movie Offers

Chris Thomas/Smart Family Spokesperson:

This is something they never really thought about. The euphoria of having Elizabeth back has been amazing, and then to all of the sudden hear unauthorized versions of movies and books are possibly being done, they're really faced with - do you let somebody else tell the story or do you have some control over it?"

Industry experts say Elizabeth Smart's miraculous return right now is one of the hottest stories, and potential movie scripts in Hollywood. And a deal could earn anywhere from a half million, to several million dollars.

Thomas says if the Smart's do decide to endorse a project...proceeds will go toward Elizabeth's recovery -- and the rescue of other missing children.

Chris Thomas: "The family's not looking to profit on this by any means. If some money came in it would go toward taking care of Elizabeth...obviously there's a long road ahead with a number of professionals working with her...most likely a trust would be set up that would benefit her or possibly to on to benefit The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children."

[Illbay]

You remember incorrectly. But I note you are one of the "Dirty Dozen," so I know your agenda. And will ignore your stupid comment therefore.

[hergus]

I agree, Utah Girl has from the very beginnings of the Smart threads here at FR been polite and posted good information.

[Hildy]

Wait, wait, wait. David Westerfield was a middle-aged professional with no criminal record. I think there's a big difference.