The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is claiming a major legal victory against Michael Russell, after a judge threw out the former publicist's defamation claims.
Russell sued the association for $2 million in lost salary and additional damages, charging the organization that runs the Golden Globes with fraud and corrupt practices. Among other claims, Russell alleged that HFPA members sold media credentials to the show and accepted gifts in exchange for nominating films for awards.
Also read: Former Golden Globes Publicist Sues HFPA for $2M, Claims Fraud, Payola
The HFPA did not say if those charges were also dropped, but it did announce on Monday that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin Brazile ruled that the group had not interfered with Russell's ability to attract and retain clients due to so-called anti-SLAPP law which protects the right to free speech.
The HFPA treated Monday's dismissals as a sign that the suit would never be heard in front of a jury.
"As most of the remaining claims concern employment issues, we are confident that we will remove them by demurrer or motion for summary judgment. This baseless complaint will not reach the jury," HFPA's counsel, Joseph Campo of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, said in a statement.
In a statement obtained by TheWrap on Tuesday, the Michael Russell Group called the HFPA's claims of victory "false and misleading." Contending that Judge Brazile had "merely dismissed two minor claims from the Michael Russell Group," the statement went on to say that Brazile noted that MRG is "likely to prevail at trial" on the remaining counts.
"We are confident that the defamation charge will be sustained by the court once we have had an opportunity to depose witnesses in this matter. My clients, The Michael Russell Group, Michael Russell and Stephen LoCascio look forward to having the eight pending claims for business torts and punitive damages resolved by a jury,” MRG's counsel, Timothy McGonigle, said.
Russell ran press for the popular awards show for 17 years before resigning abruptly as the organization's publicist in March 2010.
After Russell sued in January, the HFPA countersued a month later, charging the publicist for breach of contract, trading on the organization's name and accepting kickbacks.