Producers Randall Emmett and George Furla were sued this week for allegedly failing to pay the second-unit director from "Motor City," a film that was canceled before shooting even began.
Charles Parish is suing the producers (above), their company Emmett/Furla Films and the limited liability companies set up for the production for $65,000 in damages. He alleges breach of oral and written agreements and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, according to court documents obtained by TheWrap.
In the suit, filed in California Superior Court, Parish claims he shouldered thousands of dollars in expenses related to pre-production work on the film. His attorneys write that he frequently commuted from the Czech Republic to Georgia and California while working on concept art and scouting locations for the film.
Also read: Vendors, Crew Angry Over Money Owed on Emmett/Furla's Shuttered 'Motor City' (Exclusive)
He alleges that the producers refused to compensate him because they claimed he did not have a written agreement.
"Defendants failed to arrange and/or maintain financing and distribution for the film and terminated production on the film to plaintiff's detriment," the suit reads.
Through a spokeswoman, Emmett said a check has been sent to Parish, but said that the crew member had no agreement with Emmett/Furla Films
"Every vendor with an agreement was paid out for 'Motor City,'" Emmett said in a statement to TheWrap. "The suit has no merit."
"There are no outstanding balances," he added.
"Motor City" was financed by producer Emmett/Furla, but production on the revenge thriller ended in the summer of 2012 when backing for the revenge thriller fell through with two weeks to go before cameras started rolling. Joel Silver‘s Dark Castle was set to produce the picture, with Albert Hughes directing, and Warner Bros. was set to distribute it.
The abrupt cancelation left roughly $500,000 in unpaid bills, with crew members complaining publicly that Emmett/Furla was ducking calls and delaying payments. Many of those crew members have subsequently reported that they have been compensated for their work.
It also prompted a $5.1 million breach of contract suit from Gerard Butler, who had signed to star in the film. A spokeswoman for Emmett/Furla Films said the dispute with Butler has been resolved.
Parish did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.