Lawsuit Over Commissions for Julianna Margulies from "The Good Wife"

The actress is looking at a possible trial in October that could determine whether she'll have to fork over 10 percent of ongoing salary from "The Good Wife."

The Good Wife star Julianna Margulies experienced a setback in court on Tuesday when a judge denied her motion for summary judgment in an ongoing fight with D/F Management over more than $420,000 in claimed commissions.

Margulies was sued last year by the firm of Steve Dontanville, which claimed that it had a deal that entitled the ex-managers to 10 percent of what she continued to make on shows and for product deals that were negotiated while they were her representatives.

Last week, the judge in the case allowed her to pursue a defense that was based on the fact that the agreement wasn't in writing, but today that defense proved less than mighty. As a result, Margulies is looking at a potential trial in October.

Margulies sought to apply the statute of frauds, a standard that requires that certain contracts be signed and in writing. Not all states have such a standard. New York arguably does. California doesn't, paying more respect to the sanctity of oral agreements.

At Tuesday's hearing, the key question was whether the judge would apply New York law or California law.

Sheldon Eisenberg, the attorney for Margulies, pointed to the fact that she lived and did much of her work in New York.

The other side directed the judge's attention to the fact that the alleged agreement was negotiated in California and that Dontanville is based there. "Ms. Margulies reached out to Dontanville, why?" asked Mathew Rosengart at Greenberg Traurig, who represented the plaintiff. "Because he is in California. The epicenter of the entertainment industry is in California, and Mr. Dontanville performed his job in California. He helped her get the job with The Good Wife not in New York, but in California."

Margulies has brought counterclaims alleging that Dontanville breached the terms of the oral agreement by failing to perform adequately. The TV star also has made the allegation that her former rep's "behavior became inappropriate and the source of embarrassment, upset and concern for" her.

Read More.... http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/julianna-margulies-face-lawsuit-managers-574463

Law Offices of Jonathan Franklin
Open Evenings and Weekends this Summer
Call Us Now (310) 273-9600   
 http://www.jonathanfranklinlaw.com