"Caddyshack" production executive Rusty Lemorande is suing A&E Television Networks and Pangolin Pictures for $6 million, claiming that he was unfairly depicted as a "spy" in a documentary about the making of the 1980 golf comedy, according to AdWeek.
Lemorande alleges in papers filed on Monday in New York State Supreme Court — documents obtained by AdWeek, Forbes and several other outlets — that the documentary "Caddyshack: The Inside Story," tarnished his reputation and damaged his ability to work in Hollywood.
At issue is an interview quote from Lemorande in the 2009 documentary, in which Lemorande claims that Orion executive Mike Medavoy asked him to report back on any unprofessional behavior on the set. Lemorande claims that his subsequent statement that he didn't comply with Medavoy's request was edited out of the interview.
According to AdWeek, Lemorande, 53, said, “Uh, so . . . a spy, no. I was never blabbing on anybody, and I found that my report was always . . . most diplomatic to keep alive what was happening [on the set] in Florida."
Lemorande alleges that he complained to the film's producers and asked them to change the film, to no avail.
The court papers filed by Lemorande allege, “These false statements are defamatory per se, and severely injured [Lemorande’s] reputation in his personal life and his professional community for reasons including that none in Hollywood would employ or work with a ‘spy’ who gains confidences only to exploit them for his personal gain."
In addition to seeking monetary damages from A&E, which aired the documentary, and Pangolin Pictures, which produced it, Lemorande is demanding a retraction.
Both A&E and Pangolin declined to comment to TheWrap about the suit.
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