Kidron
Kidron v. Movie Acquisition Corp.
Opinion
Opinion
Woods, J.
I
Introduction
This case arises out of a dispute between partners in a joint venture to produce a failed television series entitled Catwalk. Kidron, the originator of the concept, complained that his former partners Franklin/Waterman, the producers of the series, stole his rights to Catwalk and ousted him from production of the series. Kidron filed his complaint naming 23 defendants.
Respondents Movie Acquisition Corp. and Initial Groupe (collectively, MAC) were two of the defendants named in Kidron’s complaint. In July 1992, MAC agreed with Franklin/Waterman to distribute Catwalk in certain international territories. MAC maintained in the trial court and on this appeal that Kidron included MAC as a defendant for the sole reason that the distribution agreement existed, since MAC never performed the distribution agreement with Franklin/W aterman chiefly because of chain of title problems.
The trial court found that Kidron’s evidentiary showing was insubstantial as to MAC’s involvement in the Franklin/W aterman scheme and granted MAC’s motion for nonsuit at the conclusion of Kidron’s case-in-chief followed by a dismissal. This appeal followed.