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NCIS creator Don Bellisario sues CBS - CBS Dismisses Claims

'NCIS' Creator Don Bellisario Sues CBS Over 'NCIS: LA', CBS Dismisses His Claims'

Source: Deadline Hollywood

CBS TV Studios just issued the following statement in response to the lawsuit, "Don Bellisario has no rights to what he is claiming in this suit. The contract is clear, the facts are undeniable and the courts won't need Naval intelligence to conclude that the case has no merit. We continue to honor all of our obligations to Mr. Bellisario under the actual agreement."

A 20-year successful partnership between a top TV producer and a major studio may end up in court. This morning,JAG and NCIS creator Don Bellisario is filing a breach-of-contract lawsuit against the series' producer CBS TV Studios over offshoot NCIS:Los Angeles. The complaint, which you can read here, is being filed at Los Angeles Superior Court by Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks & Lincenberg.

NCIS creator Don Bellisario sues CBS over NCIS: Los Angeles

'NCIS' creator Don Bellisario sues CBS over 'NCIS: Los Angeles'

Source: LA Times/Company Town, April 28, 2011

The creator of "NCIS" thinks he's being ripped off by CBS. Don Bellisario, who was fired in 2007 from his job as executive producer of "NCIS," filed a suit in California Superior Court in Los Angeles arguing that the network illegally cut him out of participating creatively and financially in "NCIS: Los Angeles," a spin-off of the military crime drama that premiered in 2009.

In his suit, Bellisario says his deal with CBS, which makes and airs both "NCIS" and "NCIS: Los Angeles" gave him "first opportunity" rights to be involved in "spin-offs, sequels or remakes." CBS, the suit claimed, is "contractually obliged to compensate Bellisario for 'NCIS: Los Angeles,' including a percentage of its profits as well as a certain fixed compensation."

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