Firm Updates

The firm is representing producer Mort Engelberg against Sony Pictures and Universal City Studios for refusing to permit an audit of the film's finances since 1989.

The settlement was struck shortly before the case was set to move towards a jury trial, as Johnson & Johnson had defeated all attempts to have the case thrown out by the judge.

The firm extricated its clients from a preemptive forum-shopping lawsuit filed by A&A in connection with an idea theft claim covering "Steven Seagal: Lawman."

The firm is representing Idea Factory in litigation against Seagal and A&E for ripping off its reality show pitch made back in 2007.

Johnson represents the owners of "All Downhill From Here" by singer-songwriter Amy Kuney, which features heavily in the film's plot and has gone unlicensed by its producers.

The firm is representing Vera Baker in seeking to hold The Globe accountable for defaming her with a series of false headlines implying that she had a sexual relationship with President Barack Obama.

Johnson analyzes the danger of fictionalizing real-world events in connection with release of "The Social Network" chronicling the rise of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Johnson was consulted in connection with an analysis of recent studio losses in profit participation lawsuits that reflect skepticism of so-called "Hollywood accounting."

The firm is representing Playboy Enterprises, which owns the rights to the 1975 hit song “Fallin' in Love,” by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds.

Johnson & Johnson successfully resolved a business disruption lawsuit stemming from the defendant's improper assertion of intellectual property rights to the plaintiff's t-shirt line.

Johnson is representing Monika Zsibrita in litigation against Rock connected to the use of Anthony Pellicano's investigatory services.

The lawsuit concerns Universal Music's alleged decades-long failure to properly account to the Jackson Sister, who were completely unaware of the popularity their back catalog had attained.

The firm is representing the trust of late writer-director Colin Higgins alleging Hirsch failed to adequately secure Higgins' rights in Dolly Parton's "9-to-5" stage show.

Johnson is representing a reporter whose conversation with Heath Ledger was improperly recorded and released by third parties.

Johnson represents Jeff Sturman in his lawsuit against casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian, jailed private sleuth Anthony Pellicano, convicted entertainment attorney Terry Christensen, and the Century City law firm Christensen founded, Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs & Shapiro LLP.

Johnson's summary of 2008's important entertainment law developments touches on matters of contract, trademark, copyright, the Talent Agencies Act, the guilds, anti-SLAPP litigation, and a variety of other topics.

Neville Johnson was named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the 100 most influential entertainment attorneys of 2008, namechecking his litigation campaigns against privacy violations and improper royalty accounting to Hollywood guild members.

Neville Johnson has been interviewed and profiled in the Albany Law Review by two esteemed journalism professors regarding his career of litigating against the media in defense of privacy rights.

Mr. Johnson details how major media outlets have pushed the courts to limit the privacy rights of ordinary citizens and failed to inform the public when their efforts have been rebuffed.

Neville Johnson writes in Loyola's Entertainment Law Review on the use of hidden cameras by investigatory journalists and the application of constitutional malice guidelines to hold journalists liable for the improper use of such techniques.