Horror Inc. v. Miller - Friday The 13th Complaint PDF
Horror Inc. v. Miller - Friday The 13th Complaint PDF
Horror Inc. v. Miller - Friday The 13th Complaint PDF
- against -
This lawsuit seeks, among other things, a declaration that Plaintiff Horror,
Inc. (Horror) is the exclusive owner of the copyright in and to the screenplay on which
the original horror film entitled Friday the 13th (the Film) was based.
2.
the success of the then-recently released and hugely successful horror film Halloween.
Through the Manny Company, in which he was a general partner, Cunningham hired
defendant Victor Miller (Miller), a writer with whom he had previously worked, to
work with him in developing ideas for a new horror film and to thereafter draft a
screenplay based on the jointly developed ideas. Miller had never written a horror
screenplay prior to his being hired by Cunningham and was guided in the process, and
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predecessor in interest, took a bold risk and financed the entire production budget of the
Film in exchange for the Manny Companys assignment of all its rights in and to the
Screenplay, including without limitation any and all copyrights therein. Released in
1980, the Film was a breakout hit and spawned many sequels over the past 36 years.
4.
and for 36 years has accepted the benefits flowing therefrom, Miller has now repudiated
his employment agreement and has improperly and deceptively purported to terminate
Horrors copyright ownership in and to the Screenplay under Section 203(a) of the
United States Copyright Act. He cannot do so. Because the Screenplay was written as a
work for hire, Miller does not have any right to terminate Horrors copyright interests
thereto and is not entitled to recapture any rights therein.
5.
Horrors rights in and to the popular and lucrative Friday the 13th movie franchise and
has caused, and will continue to cause, both Horror and the Manny Company significant
damages. In addition to seeking a declaration of the parties respective rights, the Manny
Company seeks a determination that Miller has materially breached the Employment
Agreement, has slandered Horrors title in Friday the 13th, and has engaged in unfair
trade practices.
6.
Since the initial release of the Film in 1980, Horror has invested substantial
time, money and effort developing and growing this singular independent horror film into
one of the most successful and iconic film franchises of all time. Millers attempt to recharacterize his initial work for hire efforts as an independent project 36 years after the
fact is nothing more than a transparently disingenuous money grab.
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This action arises under the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. 2201,
and the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. 101 et seq. Jurisdiction is based upon
28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a), and the principles of pendent jurisdiction pursuant to 28
U.S.C. 1367(a).
8.
Venue in this Judicial District is proper under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) and (c),
and 1400(a) because a substantial part of the events giving rise to the plaintiffs claims
occurred in this Judicial District, one of the plaintiffs resides and may be found in this
Judicial District, and defendants are subject to personal jurisdiction in this Judicial
District by virtue of their transacting and/or soliciting business in this Judicial District.
THE PARTIES
9.
the laws of Connecticut, with its principal place of business located in the state of
Connecticut. Sean S. Cunningham Films, Ltd. (SSCF) is the general partner of the
Manny Company, and its principal is Sean S. Cunningham (Cunningham). Horror and
the Manny Company are sometimes referred to herein as Plaintiffs.
11.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and based thereon allege, that Miller is
an individual who, at all times relevant to the events at issue herein, was a citizen of and
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resided in the state of Connecticut. Plaintiffs are further informed and believe, and based
thereon allege, that Miller currently is a citizen of and resides in the state of California.
12.
Plaintiffs are unaware of the true names and capacities of the defendants
sued herein as Does 1 through 10, inclusive, and therefore sue these defendants by
fictitious names. Plaintiffs will seek leave of this Court to amend this Complaint to
allege their true names and capacities when ascertained. Plaintiffs are informed and
believe, and based thereon allege, that each fictitiously named defendant is responsible in
some way for the acts, occurrences and events alleged in this Complaint, and is liable to
Plaintiffs therefor. Defendant Miller and Does 1 through 10 are sometimes referred to
collectively herein as Defendants.
13.
Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and based thereon allege, that at all
times relevant herein, each of the Defendants was the agent, servant, or employee of each
other Defendant, and at all times relevant herein was acting within the scope of such
agency.
series of motion picture projects. The first motion picture on which they worked together
was entitled Here Come the Tigers. Although both of them jointly worked on developing
the ideas for the story line, Cunningham produced Here Come the Tigers and Miller
wrote the screenplay. Shortly thereafter, and in keeping with their prior method of
working together, Cunningham and Miller began development on another motion picture,
entitled Mannys Orphans. For Mannys Orphans, Cunningham hired Miller through his
newly created company, the Manny Company, which was a signatory to the Writers
Guild of America, Inc. (WGA). Regardless of the hiring entity, however, their method
of working together remained the same they met frequently to develop ideas for
Mannys Orphans and Cunningham produced the film while Miller, under Cunninghams
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supervision and direct control, wrote the screenplay which embodied their joint ideas.
Neither of these family friendly films performed well at the box office.
15.
In or about 1979, the low-budget horror film Halloween became a huge box
entered into a Writers Flat Deal Contract, pursuant to which the Manny Company
employed Miller to write a complete and finished screenplay for a proposed motion
picture . . . presently entitled or designated Friday 13 (the Employment Agreement).
17.
The Employment Agreement was entered into and executed in the state of
Connecticut, both parties to the Employment Agreement were residents of the state of
Connecticut at the time of its execution, and all of the writing services performed by
Miller pursuant to the Employment Agreement were performed in the state of
Connecticut. A true and correct copy of the Employment Agreement is attached hereto
as Exhibit 1.
18.
that he was a member in good standing of the WGA, and that he would maintain his
membership in the WGA in good standing during the term of this employment. The
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Employment Agreement is the standard WGA short form complete screenplay agreement
issued by the WGA at the time, and provides that it is to be governed by the provisions of
the WGA 1977 Theatrical and Television Basic Agreement (also known as the
Minimum Basic Agreement or MBA). Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and based
thereon allege, that under the terms of the Employment Agreement (which incorporated
the MBA requirements), Miller collected employee benefits, including without limitation
pension, health and welfare benefits. In addition, as a result of the Employment
Agreement, on information and belief, Miller has collected residual payments in
accordance with the MBA over the past thirty-six (36) years.
19.
several times a week to discuss ideas and to develop the script and story line of the Film.
Sometimes Miller would pitch ideas for the film to Cunningham, and Cunningham would
either approve or veto the ideas. Other times, Cunningham would direct Miller to
incorporate certain ideas into the Screenplay even when Miller did not approve of those
ideas.
20.
Cunninghams idea to produce a horror film entitled Friday the 13th, Cunningham took
an ad out in Daily Variety to determine if there was sufficient interest to secure funding
for the proposed film. The ad stated, in pertinent part, Friday the 13th, The Most
Terrifying Film Ever Made! Available December 1979. Immediately, Cunningham
began receiving calls from distributors who were interested in distributing the film based
solely on the title.
21.
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22.
documented its investment in the Film and the Manny Company sold to Georgetown all
of its right, title, and interest in and to the Screenplay (the Rights Agreement),
including without limitation its copyright in the Screenplay. Among other things, the
Rights Agreement specifically states that Miller wrote the Screenplay as author for The
Manny Company and provides that Georgetown may copyright the Screenplay in its
own name.
25.
The Film was released on or about May 9, 1980, and was an immediate hit,
Office an application for copyright registration of the Film, in which it claimed, inter
alia, authorship of the Film and the Screenplay. This application matured into U.S.
copyright registration no. PA 81-093, for which the U.S. Copyright Office issued a
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certificate of registration having an effective date of September 26, 1980. A true and
correct copy of the Certificate of Registration is attached hereto as Exhibit 2. Because
this certificate of registration was issued within five years of the first publication of the
Film, in accordance with 17 U.S.C. 410(c), the certificate constitutes prima facie
evidence of the validity of the underlying copyright as well as the facts stated in the
certificate, including, without limitation, Georgetowns exclusive ownership of copyright
in and to the Film, and Georgetowns original authorship of the Film and the Screenplay.
27.
title, and interest, in and to the Screenplay, the Film, and any and all elements contained
within the Film. Although Georgetown and/or its successors in interest, including
Horror, have licensed certain distribution rights to third parties in and to the Film, at no
time has Horror assigned to any third parties any of its copyright(s) in and to the
Screenplay and/or the Film.
28.
WGA and that Millers screenwriting services were therefore provided to the Manny
Company as an employee on a work-for-hire basis, and on information and belief, that
Miller has received employee benefits as a result of performing his screenwriting services
on the Screenplay, on January 26, 2016, Miller issued a purported Notice of Termination
of the copyright(s) in and to the Screenplay under Section 203(a) of the United States
Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. 203(a)) (the Termination Notice). However, although the
Termination Notice was directed to the Manny Company and several of Horrors
licensees, it was not served on Horror, the current copyright holder, and was therefore
defective on its face. On June 27, 2016, Miller re-issued his purported Notice of
Termination (the First Amended Termination Notice), which included Horror and
purported to be effective on July 1, 2018. Further, on July 14, 2016, Miller once again
re-issued his purported Notice of Termination, modifying some of the recipients
addresses (Second Amended Termination Notice). The Second Amended Termination
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Notice purported to take effect on July 15, 2018. The Termination Notice, the First
Amended Termination Notice and the Second Amended Termination Notice are
sometimes referred to collectively herein as the Termination Notices.
29.
When Miller issued the purported Termination Notices, Miller knew and
understood that he had been employed by the Manny Company to write the complete and
finished Screenplay on a work-for-hire basis, knew or should have known that Horror
was the copyright owner of the Screenplay, and therefore knew or should have known
that the purported Termination Notices were false and without legal basis.
30.
Horror and the Manny Company dispute the validity of the Termination
Notices, dispute that Miller has any termination rights under Section 203(a) of the United
States Copyright Act or otherwise, and dispute that Miller has the right to seek to
terminate Horrors copyright(s) in and to the Screenplay.
31.
repudiation of his Employment Agreement with the Manny Company, and accordingly
have placed a cloud on Horrors copyrights in the Screenplay, which has caused damage
to Horror and the Manny Company. Unless and until this dispute is resolved and the
Court issues a declaration regarding the parties respective rights in and to the
Screenplay, including whether Miller is entitled to terminate Horrors copyright interests
therein, Horror will no longer be able to exploit its copyrights in and to the Screenplay.
CAUSES OF ACTION
COUNT I DECLARATORY JUDGMENT
(By All Plaintiffs Against All Defendants)
32.
allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 31, above, as though fully set forth herein.
33.
the parties as to whether Miller has the right to terminate Horrors copyright interests in
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and to the Screenplay pursuant to Section 203(a) of the United States Copyright Act (17
U.S.C. 203(a)) or otherwise, and whether Millers Termination Notices are valid.
Specifically:
a.
Horror and the Manny Company contend, and Miller disputes, that
Horror and the Manny Company contend, and Miller disputes, that
Miller does not have any right to terminate Horrors copyright interests in
the Screenplay pursuant to Section 203(a) of the United States Copyright
Act (17 U.S.C. 203(a)) or otherwise, nor to otherwise interfere with
Horrors exclusive rights in connection with the Screenplay;
c.
Horror and the Manny Company contend, and Miller disputes, that
Horror and the Manny Company contend, and Miller disputes, that
Horror and the Manny Company contend, and Miller disputes, that
Horror and the Manny Company contend, and Miller disputes, that
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34.
between Horror and the Manny Company, on the one hand, and Miller, on the other hand,
within the meaning of the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. 2201. Accordingly,
Horror and the Manny Company hereby request a declaration of this Court under the
provisions of 28 U.S.C. 2201, setting forth the respective rights and other legal relations
of Plaintiffs and Miller. In particular, Horror and the Manny Company request a
declaration that:
a.
Employment Agreement;
b.
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allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 34, above, as though fully set forth herein.
36.
Agreement, Miller was employed by the Manny Company to write the complete and
finished Screenplay as a work-for-hire, and the Employment Agreement was governed by
the terms of the WGAs MBA.
37.
At all relevant times herein, Miller knew and understood that he was
employed by the Manny Company to write the complete and finished Screenplay on a
work-for-hire basis, as a member in good standing of the WGA and pursuant to the terms
of the WGAs standard employment agreement in use at the time.
38.
Further, there was at all times relevant herein, an implied covenant in the
Employment Agreement that Miller would act in good faith and deal fairly with the
Manny Company in all aspects of their contractual relationship, and would refrain from
conduct that would result in destroying, frustrating, or injuring the Manny Companys
rights under the Employment Agreement.
39.
Company has fully performed all conditions, covenants, duties and obligations required
to be performed on its part under the Employment Agreement.
40.
by, among other things: (a) issuing the Termination Notices; (b) sending the Termination
Notices to several of Horrors licensees; and (c) falsely claiming that he is entitled to
terminate Horrors copyright in and to the Screenplay, thereby exceeding the scope of his
rights under the Employment Agreement.
41.
For the reasons set forth hereinabove, Miller has also breached the covenant
of good faith and fair dealing implied in the Employment Agreement, thus depriving the
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Manny Company of the benefits for which it bargained under the Employment
Agreement.
42.
allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 42, above, as though fully set forth herein.
44.
Although Miller either knew or should have known that Horror was the
copyright owner of the Screenplay, Miller intentionally served his Termination Notices
on certain of Horrors licensees, including Paramount Pictures Corporation, New Line
Film Productions, Inc., and Warner Brothers Entertainment, Inc. (collectively, the
Licensees), for the purpose of disparaging and slandering Horrors right, title, and
interest in and to the Screenplay. Millers Termination Notices are false, and constitute
false statements derogatory to Horrors title in and to the Screenplay.
45.
Termination Notices to the Licensees were malicious and were intended to impugn the
integrity of Horror, diminish the value of Horrors property in the eyes of its Licensees,
and to slander Horrors title in and to the Screenplay.
46.
the value of Horrors property, and slandered Horrors title in and to the Screenplay.
47.
damages in an amount to be proven at trial, but which Horror is informed and believes,
and on that basis alleges, exceeds the jurisdictional minimum of this Court.
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48.
that Millers conduct as hereinabove alleged was not only knowingly false, but was also
malicious and oppressive. Accordingly, Plaintiffs are entitled to an award of punitive and
exemplary damages.
COUNT IV CONNECTICUT UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES ACT
(By Plaintiff Horror Inc. against All Defendants)
49.
allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 48, above, as though fully set forth herein.
50.
public policy as has been established by the common law of the State of Connecticut,
including, without limitation, the common law of contracts and slander of title of the
State of Connecticut, and therefore constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in
violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, Conn.Gen.Stat. 42-110
(CUTPA).
51.
directly and proximately caused Horror to suffer substantial and foreseeable ascertainable
harm, including, but not limited to, lost licensing revenues which Horror would have
realized from the exploitation of its rights in and to the Film but for Millers
aforementioned conduct, and therefore constitute unfair or deceptive acts or practices in
violation of CUTPA.
53.
the false Termination Notices constitute intentional and wanton violations of Horrors
rights under the Employment Agreement and Horrors rights in and to the Film, and
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On Count I:
a.
Employment Agreement.
ii.
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On Count II, for damages according to proof but which the Manny
Company is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, exceed the jurisdictional
requirements of this Court;
3.
On Count III, for damages according to proof but which Horror is informed
and believed, and on that basis alleges, exceed the jurisdictional requirements of this
Court;
4.
Horror is informed and believed, and on that basis alleges, exceed the jurisdictional
requirements of this Court, as well as punitive damages and attorneys fees as provided
for by law; and
5.
On all Counts,
a.
b.
For such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and
proper.
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By:
EDMUND J. FERDINAND, III (ct21287)
[email protected]
ALEXANDER R. MALBIN (ct29419)
[email protected]
JESSICA S. RUTHERFORD (ct27273)
[email protected]
129 Post Road East
Westport, Connecticut 06880
Telephone: 203.557.4224
Fax: 203.905.6747
and
BONNIE E. ESKENAZI (SBN 119401)
[email protected]
JULIA R. HAYE (SBN 198138)
[email protected]
GREENBERG GLUSKER FIELDS
CLAMAN & MACHTINGER LLP
1900 Avenue of the Stars, 21st Floor
Los Angeles, California 90067-4590
Telephone: 310.553.3610
Fax: 310.553.0687
(Admission Pro Hac Vice Pending)
(i)
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