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

‘Titanic’ Spindly Porter Drops Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES (CN) - An extra who played the "spindly porter" in James Cameron's "Titanic" has dropped his remaining claims against the director's Lightstorm Entertainment.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lew ruled in October that Vi Jay, who performs as Abrax Lorini, could not claim damages against Lightstorm for use of likeness and right of publicity, but did not address his claims of concealment, unfair business practices and unjust enrichment.

On Friday, Vi Jay appeared to decide to make the judge's job easier by dismissing his complaint in its entirety.

In a Superior Court complaint later removed to Federal Court, Vi Jay claimed he was cast by Cameron as a "spindly porter" after he arrived on set in Mexico. He ended up working 90 days on the movie, and appeared in a scene with Kathy Bates.

"Titanic" grossed $2 billion, and Vi Jay's scenes were featured in the documentary tie-in "Ghosts of the Abyss," which grossed $30 million.

The actor claimed he earned $60 a day as an extra but was entitled to much more, including a cut of residuals and foreign royalties, as a "principal" performer under union agreements.

Lightstorm, Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount, Walt Disney, Earthship Productions, and Walden Media were the named defendants in the action.

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