Corday Productions Sues 'Days of our Lives' Co-Owner Sony for Breach of Contract and Fraud

Corday Productions filed a breach of contract and fraud complaint filed this morning accusing Sony Pictures Television, as well as its Columbia Pictures and Screen Gems divisions, of deliberating hanging Days of our Lives out to dry in international distribution markets to the advantage of their 100% owned The Young and the Restless. Corday and Sony jointly own Days.

The Corday action also alleges that Sony "treachery" has led to the majority of Days' back seasons left "completely unexploited for over five years" in an attempt to starve off the soap and pump Y&R.

"While the domestic ratings for Days of our Lives have remained largely constant, Sony’s distribution receipts have decreased by over 50%," the 33-page complaint asserts as it seeks of damages of over $20 million and significantly taking back control of the show. "This dramatic decline is directly attributable to a decision at the highest levels of Sony management to eliminate any competition to its own wholly-owned Series The Young and The Restless also distributed by Sony," the suit from the company founded by Days creators Ted Corday and Betty Corday states.

"In the annals of Hollywood television, it is difficult to identify a distributor more guilty of blatant conflict of interest, deceit, perfidy, and abuse of market power," the swashbucklingly phrased filing declares of what it also calls the “audacious” behavior of Sony TV. "The only effective remedies are massive compensatory and punitive damages and immediate termination Sony's exclusive, perpetual distribution agreement."

Former 'Days of our Lives' Crew Member Sues Sony After Lighting Accident Causes Brain Injuries

Days of our Lives scenic artist Karla Bergstrom suffered severe brain injuries when hundreds of pounds of lighting gear came crashing down on her, according to a lawsuit.

Bergstrom is suing Sony, owners and producers of the long-running NBC soap opera, claiming the company hired a bunch of negligent set builders whose shoddy work resulted in her traumatic accident.

In docs, obtained by TMZ, Bergstrom says the workers were lowering a 400-pound bar of stage lights back in 2015, but failed to give anyone a heads-up. She says the grid came down on top of her, causing her head injuries.

Bergstrom's suing Sony and the lighting company, Goodnight and Co., for damages and her medical expenses.

Victoria Rowell Ends Lawsuit Against Sony Pictures, Corday Productions

Victoria Rowell has ended her lawsuit after reaching a settlement.

Victoria Rowell, who played Drucilla Barber Winters on The Young and the Restless for 14 years, is no longer continuing her lawsuit against Sony Pictures and Days of our Lives producer Corday Productions in court for failing to hire her. On Monday, a judge dismissed the case after being informed of a settlement.

Two years ago, Rowell filed claims alleging that her outspoken advocacy for African-Americans both in front of and behind the camera had cost her a chance to be cast again on the soap. Her complaint discussed communications with CBS CEO Leslie Moonves and Sony's former chief Michael Lynton and presented statistics about racial discrimination in the soap industry.

Prospect Park Networks vs ABC - Case Dismissed! (Updated)

The case of Prospect Park Networks LLC vs American Broadcasting Company has been dismissed, per the latest status available on the Los Angeles Court website (lacourt.org). According to the online records, the case was "dismissed" on Thursday, December 1. The details are still unknown at this point.

The Court set an order on October 5 for Prospect Park to show cause or have the case dismissed on December 1. The October hearing focused on Prospect Park's Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, and its impact on the case.

What does the dismissal mean for the future of All My Children and One Life to Live, the longtime ABC daytime soap operas that were brought back online after being licensed by Prospect Park? Stay tuned.

UPDATE:
With the dismissal, the rights to All My Children and One Life to Live have reverted back to ABC. SoapCentral.com obtained an official comment from Susan Klein, an attorney with the firm who represented ABC in the lawsuit, who said, “I can confirm that Prospect Park’s lawsuit was dismissed yesterday and ABC regained the rights to those shows.”

RELATED:
- LAW SUIT: A View Through the Looking Glass at the Prospect Park vs. ABC Lawsuit
- TIMELINE: The Rise and Fall of Prospect Park, or, The Martyrdom of ALL MY CHILDREN & ONE LIFE TO LIVE

Victoria Rowell Lawsuit Versus 'The Young and the Restless' Moves Ahead

Victoria Rowell

The ongoing lawsuit Victoria Rowell is pursuing against CBS and Sony, which she claims has prevented her from resuming her role on CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, has taken another step forward in the legal system.

The actress’s original complaint was stalled in November, 2015, but after an amended version was filed, a judge has ruled that the lawsuit can proceed.

In the latest version, Rowell charges that when she expressed interest in a role on DAYS, also owned by Sony, her name was omitted from the audition list.

Rowell played Drucilla from 1990 to 2000, then returned in 2002. She left on her own accord in 2007 but claims her desire to come back has been intentionally blocked, which she alleges is in response for advocating for more diversity in soaps.

RELATED:
- Former 'The Young and the Restless' Star Victoria Rowell Sues CBS, Sony For Retaliation

Original 'Ryan's Hope' Actor Michael Hawkins Files $20 Million Lawsuit Against His Son, Christian Slater

Michael Hawkins, Christian Slater (inset). Photo Credit: RadarOnline.com

In December, we published a story on "virtually destitute" actor Michael Hawkins, best known for his soap opera work which included being the original Frank Ryan on Ryan's Hope. Hawkins has now filed a $20 million lawsuit against his son, Christian Slater, who played roles on Ryan's Hope and All My Children early in his career.

Slater's dad, Michael Hawkins, says his son and ex-wife Mary Jo Slater "ruined" his acting career in the suit, according to court papers obtained by People magazine.

The suit asks that the court order Slater to pay his father for damages as a result of slander, libel, defamation of character, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Hawkins asked for a jury trial.

Hawkins pointed to a December 2015 interview in which Slater said Hawkins is "a manic-depressive schizophrenic."

The 80-year-old actor argues that Christian doesn't have the medical degree or knowledge to diagnose mental illnesses. He also says that he has been "blacklisted" in the entertainment industry and doesn't believe he'll ever be able to act professionally again.

In a 2015 Interview magazine article, the 46-year-old Slater referred to his father having a mental condition and said it was a cause of his father's acting career problems. He also said they had a "tumultuous, back-and-forth relationship," but they were working on reconciliation.

Christian Slater began his career on his dad's former soap, playing D.J. LaSalle on Ryan's Hope in 1985, before joining All My Children as Caleb Thompson. He was almost 6 years old when his father appeared on the first episode of Ryan's Hope. Michael Hawkins' other soap roles included Mark Elliott on Love is a Many Splendored Thing and Paul Stewart on As the World Turns. Mary Jo Slater is a former One Life to Live casting director.

Former 'The Young and the Restless' Star Victoria Rowell Files Amended Complaint Against Sony, CBS

Victoria Rowell

Last month, we report a judge had dismissed a lawsuit filed by former The Young and the Restless actress Victoria Rowell against Sony Pictures Television and CBS. The judge did, however, allow a future filing under certain conditions, and now Rowell's attorney have filed an amended complaint in an effort to prove the actress was systematically discriminated against during her time on the the soap.

"On my behalf, my counsel filed an amended complaint to strengthen and clarify my claims of retaliation and discrimination against Sony, CBS and other defendant,” Rowell revealed in a statement. "We intend to vigorously prosecute these claims."

The actress left Y&R in 2007 after 17 years playing Drucilla Winters.

Below, watch Rowell's press conference from earlier this year when she announced the lawsuit.



RELATED:
- Former 'The Young and the Restless' Star Victoria Rowell Sues CBS, Sony For Retaliation

Judge Dismisses Victoria Rowell Lawsuit Against Sony Pictures Television and CBS

Victoria Rowell

On Tuesday, California District Judge John A. Kronstadt dismissed a lawsuit filed by former The Young and the Restless actress Victoria Rowell against Sony Pictures Television and CBS. Y&R's production company and the network that airs it won their bid to dismiss the case alleging she was systematically discriminated against during her time on the soap.

The judge dismissed six causes of action against Sony with leave to amend.

“Plaintiff’s first and second causes of action for failure to rehire on Y&R are dismissed, with leave to amend, if Plaintiff can do so in good faith and in conformance with the analysis in this Order,” the judge told Rowell.

Rowell filed the lawsuit in February alleging that the producers of Y&R refused to rehire her for that show or The Bold and the Beautiful. The actress left Y&R in 2007 after 17 years playing Drucilla Winters, claiming she had suffered years of racial discrimination, harassment and resistance from CBS executives to increase diversity on the daytime soap.

CBS hit back in a statement saying the suit had “no merit and that they were going to “vigorously defend” the case. They moved to dismiss Rowell’s lawsuit contending, among other things, that her demands violate the First Amendment.

The judge rejected CBS and Sony's First Amendment and anti-SLAPP moves against her case, and it's possible Rowell could file again if she can come up with additional evidence to prove her claims.

Read the latest ruling here.

RELATED:
- Former 'The Young and the Restless' Star Victoria Rowell Sues CBS, Sony For Retaliation

'Days of our Lives' Star Casey Moss Arrested in Arizona (Updated)

Casey Moss. Photo: Scottsdale Police Department

Several cast members of NBC soap opera Days of our Lives arrived in Phoenix on Sunday to participate in the "Days of our Lives: 50 Years" book signing on Monday evening, including Casey Moss who plays JJ Deveraux. Moss was arrested in nearby Scottsdale later Sunday night.

Officers responded to the W Hotel near Camelback and Scottsdale roads just after midnight (early Monday morning) for an incident involving the 21-year-old actor.

Scottsdale police said Moss was intoxicated and started an argument after being "cut off" at the bar. When he began arguing, he had to be restrained by a friend. He then got away and allegedly tried to punch the bartender but missed.

Moss later shoved another staff member and was tackled by a bouncer, according to police.

An officer handcuffed Moss and tried to escort him out of the bar. When asked what his name was, he yelled, "I'm Casey Moss and I’m an actor on Days of our Lives."

He then struggled to pull away, and the officer reportedly took him to the ground to stop the struggle.

Moss was then transported to the Scottsdale jail. He is facing charges of assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He's set to be arraigned Monday, November 2.

UPDATE:
Video from the story added below:

'Another World' Actress Jennifer Lien Arrested for Indecent Exposure

Left: Jennifer Lien on Another World. Roger: Lien's mugshot from the
Roane County Police Department.

Former Another World actress Jennifer Lien was arrested and has been in custody for two weeks after allegedly exposing herself in front of several children, Roane County police confirm.

Lien has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure in an incident that happened on August 31 in Harriman, Tennessee.

A neighbor of Lien’s made a complaint to police after Lien began a tirade due to a crying child, and during her tirade, exposed her breasts and buttocks. The neighbor stated that she had three children in the yard while this was happening.

According to a Roane County Sheriff’s Office report, when police appeared on September 3 with a warrant, Lien was not wearing clothes and resisted arrest.

'All My Children' Actress Jennifer Bassey Kicked Off Plane For Being "Risk to the Flight"

Jennifer Bassey

Former All My Children actress Jennifer Bassey (Marian Colby) was tossed off a plane for being a "risk to the flight."

Bassey tells TMZ the whole mess started when she used the restroom as she boarded her Delta flight from New York City to Indianapolis. When she walked out of the lavatory she says a female flight attendant loudly asked, "Aren't you going to flush?" ... and also berated her about washing her hands.

Jennifer says she planned to use her own hand sanitizer -- and the flight attendant followed her back to her seat and hovered because her laptop was open. This was all before takeoff.

Then she says the attendant bumped her hand and said, "Don't touch me, don't you ever touch me." Bassey responded by mouthing, "Go F**k yourself."

That sparked a quick huddle of all the flight attendants, and then the plane turned back to the gate, and two police officers removed Bassey, although she wasn't arrested. Police tell TMZ they were called for an assault but they found no sign the 72-year-old actress had assaulted anyone.

Bassey tweeted about her trip on Monday: "Going out of town for a few days. Raining like mad. I think we had over three inches of rain yesterday. Great for my garden. :)"

Delta says they looking into the incident, and Bassey hopes the attendant gets fired.

CBS, Sony Say Lawsuit by Former ‘Young and the Restless’ Star Victoria Rowell Is 'Patently Absurd'

Victoria Rowell

CBS and Sony Pictures Television have filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by former The Young and the Restless star Victoria Rowell (Drucilla Winters), who claims that she wasn't re-hired in retaliation for her “public and private complaints regarding the lack of diversity in front of and behind the camera on the show.” She further claims that she also attempted to join Y&R’s sister soap The Bold and the Beautiful, but was denied.

In the new legal papers, filed in U.S. district court in California on Wednesday, the two companies not only re-assert their earlier contention that casting decisions are protected by the First Amendment — they say that Rowell never actually applied or auditioned for a role on Y&R after her 2007 departure from the soap opera.

Former Soap Star Victoria Rowell Sues CBS, Sony For Retaliation

Victoria Rowell at Thursday's press conference. Photo courtesy of Roger Newcomb

[press release]

FORMER “YOUNG & THE RESTLESS” STAR SUES CBS, SONY FOR RETALIATION AFTER ACTRESS CALLED FOR DIVERSITY ON SHOW 

Victoria Rowell, Y&R’s “Drucilla Winters,” Claims Companies Refused to Rehire Her in Retaliation for Advocacy on Behalf of African American Actors 

New York, NY— Former “Young and the Restless” star Victoria Rowell today filed a lawsuit claiming that CBS, Sony Pictures and other media companies refused to rehire her after she advocated for greater diversity among those who worked on the daytime drama. Rowell and her lawyers discussed the complaint at a press conference held steps from CBS headquarters.

“All Ms. Rowell is seeking is basic fairness. We are confident that Ms. Rowell will be rehired if the issueis considered in a serious and non-retaliatory manner,” said Cyrus Mehri, a founding partner of Mehri & Skalet, PLLC, the Washington, DC-based law firm representing Rowell. “Ms. Rowell made Drucilla Winters one of the most compelling characters ever to appear on daytime television. In refusing to re-employ her, the defendants aren’t just hurting Ms. Rowell; they’re acting against their own economic self-interest.”

Prospect Park Networks Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Does Not Impact ABC Lawsuit

Prospect Park Networks, which last year launched new version of daytime soap operas ONE LIFE TO LIVE and ALL MY CHILDREN online before becoming embroiled in a legal dispute with ABC, announced that it has filed for bankruptcy protection.

The company provided additional details in the statement below:

STATEMENT FROM PROSPECT PARK NETWORKS

Prospect Park Networks, LLC (“PPN”) today announced that it has filed a voluntary petition for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code in the District of Delaware. Prospect Park, the talent and management company, is unrelated to PPN and not included in the bankruptcy filing.

NEWS: ABC's Motion Denied in Prospect Park Lawsuit; Civil Rights Drama Being Developed For AMC; Eileen Fulton; Taylor Miller, Kevin Alejandro, Barry Watson

ABC Fails To Trim Prospect Park Soap Suit
Deadline.com reports that a judge has denied ABC's motion to strike a component of Prospect Park's amended complaint against the network (in which PP requested an extension for its license to AMC and OLTL and to be excused from its payment for the license). "I'm going to let them leave it in," Judge Robert Hess said, per Deadline. ABC has 20 days to respond to the amended complaint.

TRUE BLOOD Alum Developing Civil Rights Drama For AMC
BOMBINGHAM takes place in the city that was the epicenter of the modern civil rights movement. The storytelling will shift time frames between past and present to tell the story of a murder that is discovered 50 years later and threatens to upend the fragile peace in the city between whites and African-Americans. The title refers to the city’s nickname in the black community, which suffered a slew of racially motivated bombings and other violence from the late 1940s through the 1960s.

Kevin Alejandro To Co-Star In CLEMENTINE
The ABC drama centers on troubled 28-year-old psychic Clementine Ross (Sarah Snook) who sees her life begin to change in unexpected ways when she decides to stop running from her past. Alejandro will play Charlie Madsen, Clementine’s ex-boyfriend and father to her young daughter, Lucy, a former bad-boy who transformed into a responsible man when he realized he was going to have to raise Lucy on his own due to Clementine’s personal struggles.

NEWS: CORONATION STREET Star William Roache Cleared of Rape, Indecent Assault Charges; Y&R Recasting Kelly?; Julie Poll on Writing for Soaps

CORONATION STREET actor William Roache cleared of rape, indecent assault charges
Roache, 81, who has played Ken Barlow in the world's current longest-running TV soap since it began in 1960, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1967 and four counts of indecent assault involving four girls aged 11 to 16 in Manchester in the late 1960s.

Roache to return to CORONATION STREET in the summer
Roaches has not appeared since his arrest over allegations of rape and indecent assault in 2013.

Police confirm new allegations against Bill Roache
Detectives are examining "further information" which came to light during the CORONATION STREET actor's trial, which saw him acquitted of all charges.

Emergency recast for Kelly on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS?
Now that the MTV pilot FINDING CARTER has been picked up, it appears that Cynthia Watros (Kelly, Y&R), who is part of that cast, will be too busy for her daytime job.

ABC Responds to Prospect Park Lawsuit, Does Not Want License Extended on ALL MY CHILDREN & ONE LIFE TO LIVE

ABC has made their first response in court to the $95 million lawsuit launched by Prospect Park that accuses the network of sabotaging a relaunch of ONE LIFE TO LIVE and ALL MY CHILDREN.

Besides $95 million in damages, Prospect Park is also demanding "a declaration that Prospect Park's continued payment of the licensing fees under the Agreement is excused; that Prospect Park is entitled to an extension of the License Agreement; and that the term of the License Agreement is tolled, from the time of ABC's breach until the breach is fully remedied."

ABC wants the license extension demand removed from the lawsuit. According to ABC, the license agreement allows Prospect Park rights on the soaps for up to 15 seasons of 12 calendar months each unless Prospect ceases production for 18 consecutive months. In that case, rights would revert back to ABC.

Read the ABC motion here.

Former ONE LIFE TO LIVE Writer Sam Hall Sues ABC, Claims He Is Entitled To Royalties From 2013

Sam Hall, former co-head writer for daytime soap opera ONE LIFE TO LIVE, filed a lawsuit against the American Broadcasting Cos. Inc. in New York state court on Tuesday, claiming he hasn't been paid weekly royalties he's owed for the showing of the program by iTunes, Hulu and other services.

According to the complaint, ABC made a deal in 1984 with Wildercliff, Ltd. for Hall's writing services. The agreement is said to have entitled Hall to a weekly royalty "as long as the ONE LIFE TO LIVE series is broadcast."

Crystal Hunt Arrested After 'Bar Room Showdown', Says She Was Defending Herself

Actress Crystal Hunt was arrested Friday night in Los Angeles after she allegedly broke a glass over a girls face during a heated bar room showdown, TMZ is reporting.

According to TMZ, Hunt got into an argument with another woman at Pearl's Liquor Bar in West Hollywood around 12:30 a.m., and allegedly threw a pint glass at the victim's face. The woman required medical attention afterward but the extent of her injuries are unclear.

Hunt was arrested for felony assault with a deadly weapon and released the next morning when she made bail. Her lawyer Shepard Kopp told TMZ she was not drinking at the time and claims the woman was threatening her before the altercation. Hunt also claims she tried having the woman removed by security multiple times but they failed to do so. The woman continued to be aggressive with her and she was only acting in self defense.

Hunt starred as Lizzie Spaulding in GUIDING LIGHT and Stacy Morasco on ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

RELATED:
- WE LOVE SOAPS TV 2.80 Frank Valentini & Crystal Hunt

Prospect Park CEO Jeff Kwatinetz Sues Company and Investment Firm ABRY Partners

Prospect Park's multi-million dollar legal battle with ABC over ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE isn't the only courtroom drama the production company is now facing. Prospect Park chief Jeff Kwatinetz is suing the production company he co-founded as well as investor ABRY Partners, seeking to have a non-compete clause in his contract ruled invalid, according to Deadline.com.

The producer and talent manager is seeking a declaratory judgment over non-compete clauses in a December 31, 2012 employment agreement he signed with Prospect Park when the Boston-based investors came on board late last year.

The catalyst of the complaint was a difference of opinion that Kwatinetz has with ABRY over the direction of the company. Specially, that disagreement has to do with the future of AMC and OLTL and whether they will continue or not.