Like his Dr. Quincy alter-ego, Jack Klugman is refusing to give up on a case. The 87-year old actor has filed a new lawsuit against Universal Studios regarding profits owed to him for his work on the 1976 TV series, Quincy, M.E..
As you may recall, Klugman sued last year because the studio refused to provide him with a copy of his Quincy, M.E. contract. He finally got it and a copy of the studio’s 1998-2006 accounting statements for the series. Klugman’s now suing once again for breach of contract, declaratory relief, and an accounting.
According to the lawsuit, Klugman didn’t actually sign a deal for the show but Universal executives made an oral agreement with the actor to give him a participant’s share of 25% of all net profits for the program. He was also supposed to receive timely accountings of the TV show’s revenue. While this deal apparently wasn’t put into writing, it is referenced by written correspondence.
Klugman’s new lawsuit asserts that, though Quincy has made more than $240 million, the studio still claims a $66.4 million loss. During 1998-2006, gross receipts totalled $40.8 million while losses were only $16.5 million. Based on this questionable math, the actor is demanding an unspecified amount of money in back profits.
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The lawsuit states, “Defendants made huge profits over the years but rendered an accounting statement which exposed that being a profit participant on Quincy, M.E. was something that would never occur under Defendants’ ‘math,’ rather a cruel hoax on the show’s star, Klugman.”
A spokesperson for NBC Universal says that the lawsuit is without merit.
Because of Hollywood studios’ history with strange accounting practices, stars who have profit participation deals typically specify gross profits rather than net. Acording to the studios, some of the most successful movies and series in history are still in the red.
What do you think? Does it sound like Klugman deserves to be compensated or do you believe that the show, which is still seen worldwide and on DVD, has yet to make a profit?
I’M A MILITARY SPOUSE WHOS’ HUSBAND IS STATION AT FORT BLISS ARMY BASE IN TEXAS, AND WILL LIKE THE “TV STATION FOR HALLMARK” TO BRING BACK THIS SERIES ON “QUINCY WITH JACK KLUGMAN AND HIS GANG, PLEASED! THAT’S THE STATION MOST MILITARY SPOUSE LOOK AT IN EL PASO, TX.
THANKS!
REGARDING,
FORT BLISS ARMY SPOUSE
gad-daye, Mr Jack Klugman, i do believe you are owed profits from quincey M.E. I am now 50 years of age, i still get a buzz watching Quincey . The main reason being,when my son was approximately4 to 5 months of age ( 1988) My first son was having cot death problems. I took him to specialists, over and over again, it seemed like no-one cared. Until one night i was watching an episode of Quincey M.E, THANK YHWH, for this particular episode, it was about a set of twins, having cot death problems. On the episode Quincey showed what… Read more »
What an amazing & inspiring story. I’m also a huge fan of Jack Klugman. I miss his work, though reruns are awesome. Thanks to Desi Arnaz. But a lot of studios took gross advantage of these actors in the past. Such as Rockford Files, James Garner. He never did get anything from the shows syndication. Glad that Jack got his. I love watching his show since science has grown it’s fun to watch how far its grown. And I’m glad it helped you & your family.
Jack Klugman was perfect as Dr Quincy, who was a great medical examiner; and Quincy ME was a better forensic medicine show than the CSI shows which seem to concentrate too much on gore. I wish the show about the man who tried to get away with murder by pretending to be “just” a drunk driver had been as successful for legislation as the show on orphan drugs apparently was. Then and now and during all the years in-between, whenever people have talked about the lack of consequences for drunk drivers, even those who kill, I agree and use that… Read more »
As a fan of Mr. Klugman’s and a follower of this legal “stuff,” I would say that NBC, in the words of Jay Leno means: “Never Believe your Contract.” What a joke. The show has been in syndication for years and is available on DVD. I would say that the show has profited from multiple, multiple runs on many different networks, affiliated stations again, on DVD/Home Video. This is a fate accompli and a huge conglomerate taking advantage of an elderly man in my opinion.
I’m also a huge fan of Jack Klugman. I miss his work, though reruns are awesome. Thanks to Desi Arnaz. But a lot of studios took gross advantage of these actors in the past. Such as Rockford Files, James Garner. He never did get anything from the shows syndication. Glad that Jack got his. I love watching his show since science has grown it’s fun to watch how far its grown. I’m sure you were a lot of other actors & actresses that never got theirs. So sad….
NBC is one of the most crooked organizations in the entertainment industry. The court system should make an example out of them! They should award Jack Klugman an amount equal to the gross profit of the show to date.