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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Celeb Bounty Hunter Sues Agent

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Bounty Hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman and his wife say their unlicensed talent agent negotiated secret "producer fees" with A&E Television Network to get illegal commissions. Duane and Beth Chapman, stars of the "reality" TV show, "Dog the Bounty Hunter," sued Boris Krutonog and Pivot Point Entertainment in Superior Court.

The Chapmans say they signed an agreement promising Krutonog "certain fees from plaintiffs' earnings in the entertainment industry," but not the additional fees Krutonog got from the show's producers.

They claim Krutonog hid his deal with A&E by adding confidentiality clauses to his agreement with the network. According to the complaint, Krutonog added a "life of the show" provision guaranteeing him continued commissions even if he stopped representing the Chapmans.

The Chapmans say they complained to the California Labor Commission in October 2007, but Krutonog stalled for a year before filing a lawsuit over the same issues in New York. The Chapmans want an injunction to stop the New York action, pending the Commission's January 2009 hearing.

"Dog the Bounty Hunter" follows Chapman, a Hawaii bail bondsman, as he hunts down fugitives. Production was halted for over a year after Chapman allegedly was caught on tape making racist comments.

According to Wikipedia, Duane Chapman has a long criminal history, including "18 prior convictions for armed robbery" and murder, for which he served time.

The Chapmans are represented by Kenneth Freundlich.

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