Don Johnson, known as “Sonny Crockett” in the 1980s (84-89) blockbuster television show “Miami Vice,” was awarded $23.2 million by a Los Angeles jury. Johnson sued production company Rysher Entertainment for a share of the profits from the television series, “Nash Bridges” (1996-2001) (co-star: Cheech Marin, of Cheech & Chong fame), in which he played the role of a fictional San Francisco police detective. The award was based on profits accrued to date from the show, which is still being shown in more than 40 countries around the world.
Johnson claimed that he was entitled to half of the show’s profits because he owned half of its copyright. The company countered that, because it cost so much to make, the show had yet to be profitable, and that Johnson had already received tens of millions as the executive producer. The jury sided with Johnson.
This case illustrates a healthy civil justice system in action. Without the system, there is no saying how the parties might have resolved this significant dispute.
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