Frank Darabont Sues AMC Over ‘Walking Dead’ Again

New complaint is seeking damages of at least $10 million

| January 18, 2018 @ 10:56 AM Last Updated: January 18, 2018 @ 1:25 PM
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Former “The Walking Dead” showrunner Frank Darabont has filed another lawsuit against AMC, claiming that an audit has uncovered more money that is owed to him from the hit zombie drama.

The new suit, which also lists Creative Artists Agency and Dark Woods Productions as plaintiffs, seeks damages “in an amount to be determined at trial, but in no event less than $10 million.”

“Having recently completed an audit of AMC’s accounting records, it is now clear that AMC’s wrongful conduct extends well beyond artificially deflated license fees,” the suit, filed Thursday in New York Supreme Court, reads. “AMC has used a variety of shady accounting practices … to withhold tens of millions more.”

Also Read: 'Walking Dead': Frank Darabont Accuses Producers of 'F-king Up' Hit Show in Obscene Emails

Among the alleged misdeeds, according to the suit, AMC “only reported 20 percent of the revenue it received from Apple through September 20, 2014” after licensing the show to Apple, when AMC “should have reported 100 percent of the revenue that it received from Apple rather than a mere 20 percent royalty.”

Darabont and CAA initially sued AMC in 2013. That suit, which is still ongoing, claims that Darabont was wrongfully fired from the series, and that he is entitled to proceeds from the show. Darabont says that AMC both produces and airs the series, and struck an agreement in which the network would be “selling” the show to itself, leading to “the improper and abusive practice of self-dealing.”

Also Read: 'Walking Dead' Creator Frank Darabont Blasts AMC Brass in Unsealed Deposition

In a statement provided to TheWrap, AMC Networks’ attorney, On-the-record comment from Orin Snyder of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, called the suit “opportunistic” and took particularly pointed aim at CAA.

“At the heart of this lawsuit — and all the litigation related to ‘The Walking Dead’ — is the greed of CAA. Their goal is every dollar for themselves, with total disregard for contracts, clients, fairness or even basic decency. AMC was the only network willing to take a risk on ‘The Walking Dead,’ after many others passed,” Snyder said. “AMC has been an honest steward of the series and has paid all of its creative partners handsomely and appropriately. This is just another opportunistic lawsuit orchestrated by the most powerful lawyers and Hollywood agents seeking an unjustified windfall and we are confident that it will be defeated in court.”

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

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