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