LOS ANGELES (CN) - The girlfriend of Colombo crime family boss Gregory Scarpa, a self-described "mob mistress," claims moviemaker Morgan Creek Productions backed out of a $150,000 offer for the rights to her life story.
Linda Schiro and her daughter say Morgan Creek offered them the money for their help on the movie, "Brooklyn's Finest," which "was to star Nicholas Cage as Scarpa ... based on a screenplay by Nicolas Pileggi."
Gregory "Grim Reaper" Scarpa was a paid FBI informant who "famously forced a Klansman into revealing the burial site of three murdered civil rights workers," according to the Superior Court complaint.
Schiro's daughter, "Little Linda" Schiro, joined her mother as a plaintiff in suing Morgan Creek. Neither Cage nor Pileggi are named as defendants.
In April, the Schiros say, "Goodfellas" screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi invited them to lunch to discuss his new project. Pileggi said he was writing a movie about Gregory Scarpa, and he wanted the Schiros to be involved, according to the complaint.
Later, the Schiros say, Morgan Creek, which produced "Brooklyn's Finest," offered them $150,000 for the rights to their life stories, including personal photos and videos, and for their services as consultants on the movie.
But Morgan Creek never drew up contracts for the Schiros to sign, because it never intended to honor the deal, according to the complaint.
The plaintiffs want punitive damages and release of the film enjoined. They are represented by Perry Wander of Beverly Hills.
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