Late NWA manager Jerry Heller’s lawsuit against Universal over the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton has been dismissed by a California federal judge.
The legal fight began in 2015 when Heller sued Universal for defamation and copyright infringement, among other claims. U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald in June 2016 tossed most of the suit. After Heller’s death a few months later, his estate took over and in September of that year filed a third amended complaint for copyright infringement against Universal and for unjust enrichment against S. Leigh Savidge, Alan Wenkus and Xenon Pictures, with whom Heller claimed to have collaborated on a screenplay about NWA that formed the basis of the film.
Defendants asked the court to toss the suit, arguing Heller’s estate failed to provide support for the claim that the former manager co-authored the screenplay.
Fitzgerald on Friday sided with Universal and granted its motion without leave to amend, noting “The action is, at last, DISMISSED.”
– Excerpt from an article written by Ashley Cullins for The Hollywood Reporter. Find the full article here.
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