A lawsuit has been filed against the sons of baseball legend Roberto Clemente, Luis R. Clemente and Roberto Clemente Jr., for allegedly defrauding an indie production company, Inside the Park. The production company claims that the Clemente family sold them the rights to a biopic of their father, despite Legendary Pictures already having optioned the film.
Inside the Park developed the movie for over two years, only to discover that the project was meant to generate interest and publicity for another project involving the hall-of-famer. The lawsuit alleges that the Clemente family conspired with rights clearance house CMG to conceal information about Teton Ridge, a company owned by former Legendary chief executive Thomas Tull, potentially having rights to the movie.
The deal eventually fell apart in August, with the Clemente family returning some of the money received from Inside the Park. The production company is seeking at least $5 million in damages and a court order clarifying the exclusive ownership of its rights.
The lawsuit brings claims for breach of contract, fraud, specific performance, and declaratory relief. It also reveals details of the compensation agreement between Inside the Park and the Clemente family, including payments based on the movie’s budget and net proceeds.
This legal battle sheds light on the complexities of film rights and the challenges faced by production companies in the entertainment industry. It will be interesting to see how the case unfolds in court and what implications it may have for future projects involving the Roberto Clemente story.