Bogart & Bacall’s Son Sues Entertainment Co

NEWARK (CN) - Stephen Humphrey Bogart, the son of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, says Moda Entertainment cheated him of $340,000, paying him for only 2 months for more than 3 years of work.

Bogart also sued Moda Chairwoman Shannon Mulholland and its CEO Richard Zampella, in Federal Court.

Bogart says Mulholland hired him to work for Moda on June 5, 2005, at a salary of $120,000 a year. He was supposed to promote Moda, which describes itself as a "full service entertainment company ... involved in all aspects of the entertainment industry including production, publishing, licensing and public relations."

Bogart claims that Moda got him to transfer licensing rights for his father's name to it for "a set period of time," and that the prestige Moda acquired from that, apparently, was one motive behind its offering him a job.

Bogart says he is president of Bogart, Inc., which manages and licenses the name and image of his father, and says he has "numerous contacts within the classic Hollywood community as well as a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding classic Hollywood."

He claims Moda stiffed him for his salary but continued to pay its other officers.

And he claims, "In or about March 2008, Bogart overheard Zampella discussing the fact that Mulholland had forged the signature of the daughter of a Hollywood dancing icon to a contract. Bogart complained to Zampella that this was illegal and had to be remedied. The contract had been forged in order to assign a likeness of a major Hollywood dancing icon in a deal brokered by Moda in a deal that would yield Moda money. As a result of Bogart's complaint to his superior, Zampella, about the conduct of another superior, Bogart was viewed as no longer a team player. Bogart's actions as a whistleblower further caused his exclusion from company business affairs and his isolation became greater."

He claims Zampella threatened to assault him after he complained of "the forgery committed by Moda Entertainment".

Bogart says defendant Mulholland is the host of Icons Radio, and has started an Internet magazine called Icons Magazine.

Bogart says he promoted Moda for more than 3 years, on radio, TV, the Internet and in public appearances. He says he hosted the Icons Radio Hour and signed up new clients and helped closed licensing deals. He says Moda paid him for his first 2 months work and then stiffed him for 3 years, forcing him to quit.

One time, Bogart says, Moda tried to pay him with a $190,000 check, which bounced.

Bogart demands money owed and punitive damages for breach of contract, misrepresentation and assault. He is represented by Linda Kenney Baden.

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