Court Rejects Allegations Against Series Creators

The lawsuit filed by actress Hayley Marie Norman against ABC, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Kenya Barris over the creation of the show “Mixed-ish” has been dismissed by a state appeals court. Norman alleged that the show was based on ideas she had pitched for a series she called “Mixed,” which she claims was turned into the “Black-ish” spinoff without her involvement.

The court found that Norman’s claims were based on protected activity and reversed the trial court’s decision, delivering a final blow to her lawsuit. While the lawsuit was dismissed as to Barris, Dobbins, and ABC under California’s anti-SLAPP law, it was allowed to proceed against Ross and Artists First.

Norman alleged that she pitched her series in 2017 to production company Big Breakfast, a sister company of Artists First, and that her ideas were later used without her involvement. The court found that Norman failed to prove that she had an agreement with Ross and Artists First regarding the use of her ideas.

Despite some similarities between “Mixed” and “Mixed-ish,” the court ruled that the alleged overlaps were very general and should not be considered in determining whether the works are substantially similar. Norman was ordered to pay roughly $62,000 in legal fees for Barris, Dobbins, and ABC.

This case adds to the legal battles surrounding the creation of popular TV shows, with Barris previously being sued by a former writing partner over the concept of “Black-ish.” The lawsuit was settled before trial.