NCIS Creator Suing CBS Over NCIS: LA
Don Bellisario
NCIS creator Don Bellisario has filed a lawsuit against CBS, seeking unspecified damages for not profiting from the creation of NCIS: LA, Deadline reports.
The complaint, filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, claims Bellisario was not given the first opportunity to develop and participate in the NCIS: LA spin-off, and thus has not profited from it.
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Bellisario was let go from NCIS in 2007. Shane Brennan took up the reins on the series and created the NCIS: LA series. NCIS is a spin-off of JAG, which was also created by Bellisario.
"Pursuant to the first opportunity provisions of Plaintiffs' contracts with CBS, CBS is contractually obligated to compensate Bellisario for NCIS:LA, including a percentage of its profits as well as a certain fixed compensation," the lawsuit says.
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In response to the lawsuit, CBS released a statement. "Don Bellisario has no rights to what he is claiming in this suit. The contract is clear, the facts are undeniable and the courts won't need Naval intelligence to conclude that the case has no merit. We continue to honor all of our obligations to Mr. Bellisario under the actual agreement."