Travicity
02-09-2011, 04:49 PM
MICHAEL Moore is getting litigious.
The filmmaker is taking legal action against producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein, claiming he is owed millions in profits for his 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.
Michael claims the brothers used “Hollywood accounting tricks” to keep him from receiving $2.7m.
According to legal papers, an audit brought several alleged irregularities to light.
Moore alleges his agreement with the Weinstein brothers was to split all profits equally.
But Oscar-winning Michael claims “grossly excessive and unreasonable” expenses were deducted before those profits were calculated and alleges money was deducted for advertising costs that was never spent, and that a private jet was hired to fly one of the brothers to Europe.
The Weinsteins’ lawyer, Bert Fields, said Moore’s suit should be dismissed.
“Michael Moore has been paid $20 million and he claims he should get $2 million,” Fields said.
“His claims are hogwash. They are totally without merit. He’s been paid every dime he’s entitled to.”
Fahrenheit 9/11, which centered on the Bush administration’s actions after the 11 September attacks of 2001, made more than $220 million worldwide.
In response to these claims that the Bowling for Columbine director is simply looking for more Money, his lawyer Larry Stein countered in a statement that “an independent auditor came in and discovered that the Weinsteins had re-routed at least $2.7 million dollars that belonged to Michael Moore from Fahrenheit 9/11.
“This is the first time Michael Moore has ever sued anyone in his 20-yr career as a filmmaker. That should be some indication about how serious this is.”
SS
The filmmaker is taking legal action against producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein, claiming he is owed millions in profits for his 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.
Michael claims the brothers used “Hollywood accounting tricks” to keep him from receiving $2.7m.
According to legal papers, an audit brought several alleged irregularities to light.
Moore alleges his agreement with the Weinstein brothers was to split all profits equally.
But Oscar-winning Michael claims “grossly excessive and unreasonable” expenses were deducted before those profits were calculated and alleges money was deducted for advertising costs that was never spent, and that a private jet was hired to fly one of the brothers to Europe.
The Weinsteins’ lawyer, Bert Fields, said Moore’s suit should be dismissed.
“Michael Moore has been paid $20 million and he claims he should get $2 million,” Fields said.
“His claims are hogwash. They are totally without merit. He’s been paid every dime he’s entitled to.”
Fahrenheit 9/11, which centered on the Bush administration’s actions after the 11 September attacks of 2001, made more than $220 million worldwide.
In response to these claims that the Bowling for Columbine director is simply looking for more Money, his lawyer Larry Stein countered in a statement that “an independent auditor came in and discovered that the Weinsteins had re-routed at least $2.7 million dollars that belonged to Michael Moore from Fahrenheit 9/11.
“This is the first time Michael Moore has ever sued anyone in his 20-yr career as a filmmaker. That should be some indication about how serious this is.”
SS