Sony to Pay $1.5M Over Fake Movie Critic

[UpInArms]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=493&e=3&u=/ap/movie_review_lawsuit

LOS ANGELES - A judge approved an agreement calling for Sony Pictures Entertainment to pay $1.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the studio of citing a fake movie critic in ads for several films, an attorney said Tuesday.

Moviegoers who saw the films "Vertical Limit," "A Knight's Tale," "The Animal," "Hollow Man" or "The Patriot" during their original theater runs must file a claim to be eligible for a $5 per ticket reimbursement, said lawyer Norman Blumenthal, who represented a group of filmgoers who sued Sony Pictures in 2001.

<snip>

After the dispute came to light, the studio temporarily suspended two executives and vowed to monitor its publicity and advertising more closely.

<snip>

In one ad for the action-comedy, a critic identified as "David Manning of The Ridgefield Press" was quoted calling star Heath Ledger "this year's hottest new star!"

<snip>

At the time, The Ridgefield Press, a small weekly newspaper in Connecticut, did not have a movie critic named David Manning, the lawsuit said.

...more...

[derby378]

1. Oh-oh!! Chongo!!

Looks like someone just got busted.

[MercutioATC]

2. Damn! There goes my house in Malibu!

;)

[pimpbot]

3. Wow, and it only took 4 years!

I remember when this was in the news in 2001. So how do they know we actually went and saw those movies? Can I just fill out the form and get some free tix?

Is there a website set up for this? I haven't been able to google any info from the case itself.. Just some articles saying a settlement has been reached.

[OneTwentyoNine]

4. Love how these corporate thugs can always "deny liability"

And then pay MILLIONS in fines. Shit,next time I rob a bank and get caught maybe I can give back half the money and of course deny any liability of an actual crime that I committed

[Dover]

5. Let's file a class action lawsuit against Bushco for their lies!!!

We can recover what they stole from us, though know monitary reward would be as satisfying as seeing them all behind bars at Gitmo!

[mod mom]

9. Excellent idea! nt

[brooklynite]

6. Good thing nobody ELSE would think of producing fake news...

I wonder if we can get a $5 rebate from the Bush Administration...

[onehandle]

7. I saw none of those crappy movies.

I'd pay five dollars to not see them again.

[marbuc]

8. If Sony ever needs another fake critic

I'm available. I'll even create a fake publication for the occasion.