Warner Bros. Accused of Cheating|Creator of the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Warner Bros. Entertainment claimed the "Dukes of Hazzard" movie is not a spinoff of the famous TV show to cheat the show's creator, Gy Waldron, of his share of profits, Waldron's successor in interest claims in Federal Court.

The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, as trustee for The Sequoia Charitable Trust, sued Warner Bros. Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Production in Federal Court. The band and trust claim Warner Bros. violated a 1987 settlement agreement with Waldron. They say that Warner Bros. claims the "Dukes of Hazzard" movie was not a spinoff of the TV show.

Waldron's successor claims he settled the 1987 contract lawsuit after a judge found that Warner Bros. had hidden $12 million in revenue that should have gone to Waldron.

Instead of the $12 million, First National says, Waldron accepted $6.2 million, plus 6.5 percent of Warner Bros.' gross income from any future "Dukes of Hazzard" production, including merchandise, cartoons, video games and spinoff productions. Waldron was to begin receiving his 6.5% cut once Warner Bros.' income from the franchise reached $293.6 million, which happened in the late 1980s, according to the complaint.

First National is represented by Marc Toberoff.

Follow @@karinapdx

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit