The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's lawsuit against Dick Clark Productions will go to trial Jan. 24, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
The case was originally set for trial in September, and recent speculation had those proceedings being pushed back all the way to July. But U.S. District Court Judge Howard Matz has set the trial for about a week after the Golden Globes awards telecast.
The HFPA is suing Dick Clark Productions, the longtime producer of the Globes, accusing the company of using deceptive means to renew its contract.
Also read: Golden Globes Detente: NBC to Air Awards Show Jan. 15
The lawsuit centers on a contract DCP signed with NBC to keep airing the awards show through 2018. The production house says that when it extended its contract with NBC, it automatically extended its contract with the HFPA.
But the HFPA said Dick Clark Productions didn't have the authority to do that. The association claims that Dick Clark Productions didn't consult with HFPA leadership before negotiating the new NBC contract.
Under that deal, Dick Clark and the HFPA would receive an average of $21.5 million for every awards show. That revenue would be split evenly after overhead costs are removed, but the HFPA believes that the production company is being overpaid.
In September, the two sides agreed to something like a halt in the hostilities. They agreed that Dick Clark Productions will produce next year's Golden Globe Awards, which will be aired on NBC Jan. 15. Dick Clark Productions will produce the pre-show and the main show.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.