‘Modern Family’ battle leads to lawsuit
Simmering tensions in the battle over the spoils from a wildly successful sitcom boiled over in public Tuesday as five “Modern Family” stars filed a lawsuit against 20th Century Fox TV amid a stalemate in their contract renegotiation talks.
Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Sofia Vergara claim in the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, that the original contracts they signed for the show violate California’s seven-year limit on personal service contracts. That legal precedent was established in 1944 after actress Olivia de Havilland waged a long contract fight against Warner Bros.
The other adult star of the series, Ed O’Neill, was not named as one of the plaintiffs but has since joined the litigation in a show of unity with his co-stars.
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: (L-R) Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Ariel Winter, Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Rico Rodriguez, Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ty Burrell and Eric Stonestreet of 'Modern Family' pose in the press room after winning Outstanding Comedy Series during the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
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