CAA AND UTA REACH SETTLEMENT OVER HIJACKED HOLLYWOOD AGENTS AND STAR CLIENTS

Creative Artists Agency LLC (“CAA”) has filed a request to drop its lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court which they filed on April 2, 2015, alleging that United Talent Agency LLC (“UTA”) of conducting a “lawless, midnight raid” to steal high-profile Hollywood agents and star clients from CAA.

CAA attorneys filed the request to dismiss the case with prejudice on January 28, 2019, and agreed that the parties would bear their own court fees and costs. This constitutes a final settlement of the case which was pending for approximately four years.

The suit included claims of contractual interference, breach of fiduciary duty, inducement to breach of contract, and aiding and abetting a breach of the duty of loyalty against former CAA agents Gregory Cavic and Gregory McKnight and their new employer, UTA.

CAA alleged that Cavic and McKnight solicited existing and prospective CAA while still working at CAA, delayed meetings and deals with clients in order to take those deals with them to UTA, and encouraged existing and prospective CAA clients to either avoid or alter exclusive relationships with CAA so that they could more easily divert their business to UTA.

According to the lawsuit, McKnight and Cavic joined CAA as talent agents in July 2004 and February 2005. Both resigned on March 31, 2015, and immediately joined UTA as partners. When they left, they brought with them under-contract agents Dominic Nuciforo Jr., Martin Lesak and Jason Heyman.

CAA is represented by Anthony J. Oncidi, Lary Alan Rappaport, Pietro A. Deserio and Tracey L. Silver of Proskauer Rose LLP.

UTA, Cavic and McKnight are represented by Bryan J. Freedman, Brian E. Turnauer and Sean M. Hardy of Freedman & Taitelman LLP.

The case is Creative Artists Agency LLC v. United Talent Agency LLC et al., case number SC123994, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.

* Lowe & Associates (“The Firm”) is a boutique entertainment and business litigation firm located in Beverly Hills, California. The Firm has extensive experience handling cases involving entertainment law, having provided top quality legal services to its clients since 1991. The Firm is recognized in multiple publications for its many achievements and high ethical standards, including Martindale-Hubbell and Super Lawyers.

Find us at our website at www.LoweLaw.com

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