Warner Brothers Suit Against Siegel-Shuster Attorney To Continue

The Warner Brothers side of the ongoing tussle over the return of Superman-related rights to the families of creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster won a victory in court when a motion to dismiss a 2010 suit brought against attorney Marc Toberoff was denied by US District Judge Otis Wright.

It's more complicated than can be neatly summarized, but basically Warner Brothers is claiming that Toberoff has entered into a deal with the families for part ownership of any rights they have terminated, which they feel should keep him from being the attorney in the legal hashing-out of those matters and I think even potentialy see him censured for interfering with negotiations between the corporation and the families that preceded the suit. It's a pretty serious charge -- legally it will either stick or not, but it potentially sets up a narrative where Marc Toberoff is seen as an impediment to the families receiving the fairest, best deal. For me a key is that these companies had years to set something up with the families, and I have a hard time believing from what the Siegel family has put out there that these negotiations were going terribly well before the possibility of lawsuits entered into the conversation. If you're one who sees the world entirely in terms of legal constructions and obligations, then I imagine this potential outcome will provide more fuel to the rhetorical fire than it might for those that think the families deserve something for the billions in profit their patriarchs' creations brought those companies.
 
posted 5:30 am PST | Permalink
 

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