Farrah Fawcett’s estate sued a producer Friday who collaborated with the actress, claiming he botched a documentary project and misused her company’s money.
The lawsuit claims Craig J. Nevius exploited Fawcett and improperly revealed privileged information about the actress to the media, including that her cancer had returned. The suit also claims Nevius turned in an unworkable first cut of a documentary on Fawcett’s fight with cancer and he may have embezzled money from the actress’ company, Sweetened By Risk.
The lawsuit states NBC, which aired the television special “Farrah’s Story,” had to rework the footage with help from Fawcett’s longtime companion, Ryan O’Neal. The edits were being made until shortly before the special aired, the lawsuit states.
“These allegations lack merit and are a pathetic attempt to try to intimidate and further injure Mr. Nevius,” said attorney Miles J. Feldman.
Nevius sued O’Neal and Fawcett’s friend Alana Stewart over “Farrah’s Story” last year. The case is still pending.
That case, filed the day the special was aired for Fawcett’s friends and reporters, claims O’Neal, Stewart and Fawcett’s business manager Richard B. Francis, interfered with Nevius’ role in “Farrah’s Story.”
Friday’s lawsuit was filed by Francis, who is a trustee of Fawcett’s estate, and Sweetened By Risk LLC.
The lawsuit states Nevius knew Fawcett for about five years before he June 25 death. He worked on a reality TV series featuring the actress called “Chasing Farrah” and was producing the documentary that eventually aired on NBC. The lawsuit claims Fawcett cut ties to him in early 2009 and he became jealous of O’Neal and Stewart.
The lawsuit filed Friday contends Nevius turned in a first cut of “Farrah’s Story” that was deemed “wholly unacceptable” by the actress. She then turned creative control of the film over to O’Neal, the suit states.
The complaint states Francis believes Nevius “embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars” from Fawcett’s company. It states Nevius has refused to allow Sweetened by Risk’s financial records.
Fawcett’s “Charlie’s Angels” co-star, Kate Jackson, said Friday evening she was shocked at the lawsuit’s allegations against Nevius. Jackson had been critical of the producer in the past, but said Friday those comments were misguided.
She said it was her understanding that Fawcett had creative control of the early version of the documentary on her cancer fight.
“He had an unflagging devotion to Farrah in every way and he worked with her to help her achieve her vision, not his vision and not anybody else’s vision,” Jackson said in a telephone interview.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More