'Wedding Crashers,' 'Lost' Lawsuits Dismissed

Last week, a California appeals court denied efforts by an individual who claimed to have pitched a motion picture project on party crashing.

Neil Portman alleged that in 2002, he had delivered to New Line a submission letter, a book entitled "The Party Crasher's Handbook" and a copy of a document that gave him exclusive film rights on the property. He says that he told New Line that he was in active discussion with United Talent Agency over the project.

New Line responded with a letter that rejected the pitch, but Portman says that he, New Line, and UTA engaged in "ongoing and protracted dialogue" on the project until talks were cut off. After the release of Wedding Crashers, Portman sued. His claims wound up being breach of written contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, fraud and deceit, and breach of good faith and fair dealing.

The lawsuit fails partly because Portman has made "no allegation that New Line ever agreed in writing that it would take on Portman's project or compensate Portman for anything," and largely because he failed to make viable claims within the statute of limitations.

Here's the full ruling... http://www.scribd.com/doc/129739302/Opinion-in-Portman-v-New-Line

A spokesperson for New Line parent Warner Bros comments, "We are pleased that the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of Mr. Portman’s case.”

Read More... http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-docket-wedding-crashers-lost-427228