The Pitt and ER are similar enough for lawsuit to proceed, judge rules
Also reported by Guardian World
Summary
A three-judge panel ruled that the estate of ER creator Michael Crichton has presented enough evidence for its lawsuit alleging that The Pitt is an unauthorized reboot to proceed to a jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court. The panel cited similarities between the shows but dismissed separate claims against Noah Wyle, John Wells and R. Scott Gemmill, finding insufficient evidence that they knew they might violate Crichton’s contractual rights.Key Facts
- Sherri Crichton and the John Michael Crichton Trust say a contract barred ER spin-offs, sequels or reboots without Crichton’s consent.
- The panel cited similarities in the emergency-room setting, pace, medical jargon, graphic injuries and training of young doctors.
- The judges said they compared the shows’ opening episode scripts and found similarities in plot, themes, dialogue, characters and the sequence of events.
- Warner Bros had argued that the shows shared only generic features of medical dramas and called the lawsuit baseless.
- The ruling allows the estate’s claim against the producers to proceed to a jury trial.
- The panel dismissed separate claims against actor-producer Noah Wyle, executive producer John Wells and showrunner R. Scott Gemmill.
- ER premiered in 1994 and ran for 331 episodes over 15 years.
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