Richard C. Davis, creator-writer-co-producer and star of Flip This House, a reality program about real estate and one of cable network A&E’s most successful series, was awarded $4 million in damages by a federal jury Wednesday. Davis had claimed that the network had a “50/50″ revenue sharing agreement with him and his company, Trademark Properties, Inc., and although it was an oral agreement, the jury returned the landmark decision after only five hours of deliberation.
This verdict makes it clear that if a network uses and profits from someone’s concept for a television show, they need to pay for it. I am thankful that we were able to win one for the little guy,” Davis said.
Brian Wolf, an attorney with the firm of Lavely & Singer in Los Angeles which also represents Davis said, “This case reaffirms the enforceability of oral contracts in the television industry.”
