I just read the filing by Marty Singer and I was a bit surprised by the language of the filing against Chuck Lorre and Warner Brothers. The complaint is below. In contains such lines as “Chuck Lorre, one of the richest men in television who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, believes himself to be so wealthy and powerful that he can unilaterally decide to take money away from the dedicated cast and crew of the popular television series, ‘Two and a Half Men,’ in order to serve his own ego and self-interest, and make the star of the Series the scapegoat for Lorre’s own conduct.”
One does not normally see such hyperbole in a filing of this kind. If this is truly about recovery of damages ($100 million in damages), you want the filing to be taken seriously. Many judges would view this type of language to be for public consumption and that does not advance the legal claims. The filing further charges that “Warner Bros. capitulating to Lorre’s egotistical desire to punish Mr. Sheen …” Those type of lines seem a bit like a legal version of waiving around a machete on top of a building while drinking “tiger blood.”
Here is the complaint: 0310_sheen
so they are rattling a light saber or a light saber??
love your articles!!!
When I saw a spot where Mr. Sheen reached behind his head covered one nostril and put what looked like a joint to his other nostril,inhaled through the nostril and blew the smoke out of his mouth told me that Mr Sheen is somewhere I could never see myself or anyone that I know are on there way to.
IMHO, I don’t see this suit going for the long haul … Realistically, what are the chances he will prevail?
Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Wynona Ryder, Britney Spears, & Charlie Sheen all have one thing in common … crazy lawyers.
If I ever decide to go crazy in public, I’m calling mespo who will tell me to sit down and shut up and you won’t see me or hear from me till after the not guilty verdict.
Moral of the story: Crazy people should retain sane lawyers
I once attended a trial in Ohio of physician John Boyle, who was convicted of murdering his wife. Just before summations, the following exchange occurred:
Prosecutor: “Doctor, are you saying that someone broke into your home, tore out the basement carpeting and shelves; broke up the concrete floor with a jackhammer; dug the grave and buried Noreen; cemented over the grave; replaced the carpet and the shelving; and removed all the concrete debris so that you wouldn’t know what happened – while you lived there?”
“Yes.”
To which his attorney replied in summation:
“Just because you happen to be successful, doesn’t mean you have common sense.”
Which could very well be carved into Charlie Sheen’s headstone.
This is an example of a case wherein sanctions are in order for unprofessional pleadings; juxtapose Prof. Turley’s comments in the Jimmy Carter book deceptive practices case.
Keep one of your lawyers close,you never know:
Cops Raid Charlie’s House After Alarming Call
3/10/2011 9:05 PM PST by TMZ Staff
UPDATE 10:42 PM Law enforcement sources tell us cops wrapped up their search and Charlie wasn’t arrested. Charlie’s lawyer, Mark Gross says police found one rifle — from the 1800s — and “a few bullets,” adding no other weapons were in the house. Gross also confirmed police executed the search warrant because someone — he didn’t know who — claimed Charlie had a gun.
http://www.tmz.com/2011/03/10/charlie-sheen-police-raid-house-los-angeles-alleged-drugs-guns-5150-psychiatric-hold/
Apparently Sheen’s idea of “punishment” is what the rest of us call “doing your job (without committing a crime).”
Wow! That is strange language in the filing. Maybe Charlie actually prepared it and signed the attorneys name to it! He is headed for the cliff and I don’t see anything that will stop him.
I’m not a lawyer but I sure could have written a finding with the pith and without the hyperbole. Perhaps the client was given too much input. I know they say that clients who are their own lawyers are fools. Are lawyers that take advice from their own clients on legal matters just as foolish?
From what I’ve heard, Sheen’s core argument in the suit is that when he was facing felony charges (assault? arising from a “domestic” incident), the producers were very quick to make sure they their star was “locked in” even though he might have a felony conviction. Based on that, I think they’re saying, “You were more than happy to strengthen your business relationship with a man who would have had a felony conviction for beating a woman, but now that he’s out “partying” and talking smack about some executives, NOW you fire him?”
Perhaps more importantly, who are these millions of people who watch “Two and a Half Men”? Not me, or anyone else I’ve asked…
” Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Wynona Ryder, Britney Spears, & Charlie Sheen all have one thing in common … crazy lawyers. ”
….Blouise
Two things actually….crazy lawyers and Mental Illness leading to Hyper-Manic episodes!
I have to agree with rafflaw…this sounds like it was written with sheen as the director of the pen…if he loses and I presume he will…sanctions will be hell…are they against both attorney and client…the attorney has some issues to deal with….I hope he got one hell of a retainer….the other thing interesting is the number of typos….if I can spot them…they must be bad…like seris…for series….
I have said before and will say again…withdrawals from cocaine are a real bitch….some affects never are completely cured…such as manic behavior…it helps and push otherwise normal people over the edge of the land of no return…..
here is a link to some sidereal issues wrt cocaine….
* Cocaine intoxication
* Cocaine withdrawal
* Cocaine intoxication delirium
* Cocaine-induced psychotic disorder with delusions
* Cocaine-induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations
* Cocaine-induced mood disorder
* Cocaine-induced anxiety disorder
* Cocaine-induced sexual dysfunction
* Cocaine-induced sleep disorder
* Cocaine-related disorder not otherwise specified
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/290195-overview
The term sidereal was used because I am calling it a measurement of time…
If you can slog through the dreck to the actual allegations of the causes of action, there are a couple of interesting legal issues here. Apparently, Sheen contracts through a corporate entity, and the contract to act in the series is with WB, not Lorre. So he’s claiming that Lorre intentionally interfered with the contract. Generally, a party to a contract can’t interfere with it, but these corporate layers might make that one nondismissable. But this is sure contrary to everything I’ve ever taught law students about drafting pleadings. Ah, Hollywood.
Canadian Eh!,
I have an abiding appreciation and admiration for the professionals who work in this field and I believe it takes a very special kind of compassion, strength, and patience to help those seeking recovery. Some are helped, some are lost, but all are worth the effort.
” Some are helped, some are lost, but all are worth the effort. ”
Blouise
I couldn’t agree more!
Canadian Eh,
Hey Eh…..how are you doing…
Hi AY….doing ok thanks…and you?
Canadian Eh!,
I would be very interested on your take concerning the latest political events here in the States. Someone outside the forest may often see things that we, meandering from tree to tree, fail to notice or consider.
Please consider joining us on other threads.
Blouise…
Thank-you for the invite, I do read the posts that you’re referring to….all while shaking my head, and thanking God that I live in Canada. I don’t have a great deal of faith in our political leaders ( both at the Federal, and most recently at the Provincial levels ), however I have I do feel that our Political system is actually a democratic one….unlike what I watch happening to yours.
Report: Ashton Kutcher to Replace Charlie Sheen on ‘Two and a Half Men’
Kutcher added fuel to the casting fire Thursday night, when he cryptically tweeted, “What’s the square root of 6.25?” The answer, it turns out, is 2.5.
http://www.popeater.com/2011/05/12/ashton-kutcher-two-half-men/?ncid=webmail
Tell me it ain’t so….