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Date: 12-08-2016
Case Style:
Case Number: 2:08-cv-00867-RCJ-PAL
Judge: Robert C. Jones
Court: United States District Court for the District of Nevada (Clark County)
Plaintiff's Attorney:
Gregory Guillot | Todd Erb | Chris Jorgensen |
Lawrence Kasten | John Krieger | Robert McKirgan |
Randy Papetti | George Paul |
Defendant's Attorney:
Maximiliano D. Couvillier, III | Abigail Jones, | Todd Kennedy |
David Korzenik | Samuel Lionel | Daniel Mayeda |
Description: Donna Corbell sued Thomas Gaetano DeVito, DSHT, Inc., Dodger Theatricals, Ltd., Des McAnuff, Eric S. Elice, Frankie Valli, Marshall Brickman, Robert J. Gaudio, JB Viva Vega, LP, Getting Home, Inc., Jersey Boys Broadway Limited Partnership, Jersey Boys Records Limited Partnership, Skunk, Inc., Michael S. David on copyright violation theories claim that they used without permission Tommy DeVito - Then and Now to produce Jersey Boys: The Story of Franki Valli and the Four Seasons, a Broadway musical that won a Tony Award in 2006.
Tommy DeVito - Then and now was witten by DeVito and Rex Woodard, a Texas lawyer and rockn' roll fan in 1998. The book was never published but it was copyrighted by DeVito. Woodard died of lung cancer shortly after finishing the work in 1991. DeVito registered the work in January 1991 as his own work without giving Woodard any credit for his contribution.
Corbell, Woodard's widow, successfully argued that she owned an interest in the work and in the Jersey Boys Broadway production which was created by DeVito, Vallie and Bob Gaudio.
Jersey Boys: The Story of Franki Valli and the Four Seasons was successfully staged and produced.
Cobell claimed that they defendants infringed her copyright and claimed damages as a result.
Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict with a finding that her copyright had been infringed.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: