Judge Allows Michael Crichton’s Estate to Pursue Lawsuit Over ‘The Pitt’

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The court has given the Michael Crichton estate permission to move forward with their legal action against the makers of “The Pitt,” a TV series they claim is an unapproved continuation of the show “ER.

Back in August, I, as Michael Crichton’s devoted fan and admirer, found myself taking legal action against Warner Bros. The reason? I felt they were unjustly mimicking one of Crichton’s masterpieces – the iconic series “ER” – in their new show, without due credit to him or his estate. Furthermore, it was claimed that they breached a contract by excluding his widow from the deal, which is simply unfair and against the creative spirit of the industry we all love.

The group consisting of John Wells, the producer, and Noah Wyle, the actor, have asked the court to discard the ongoing lawsuit using California’s anti-SLAPP law. This law provides a means to dismiss lawsuits deemed baseless, which are often used to suppress free speech.

On Monday, Judge Wendy Chang decided against the motion, determining that the case put forth by the estate had sufficient substance to move forward with the legal process.

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After reviewing the case on Monday, Judge Wendy Chang rejected the motion, concluding that the lawsuit brought by the estate was substantial enough to continue through the judicial proceedings.

According to the judge’s statement, the evidence presented by the plaintiffs is sufficient to establish a basic level of credibility to suggest that ‘The Pitt’ may have been based on ‘ER.’

As a devoted admirer of the enigmatic world-building prowess of Michael Crichton, I wholeheartedly applaud this triumphant decision. This victory not only echoes a resounding affirmation for Crichton’s exceptional talent, but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for the entire creative fraternity.

The Court declined Warner Bros.’ effort to evade accountability for breaching their contract with Michael Crichton, determining that the Crichton Estate’s allegations hold validity and should be pursued. A representative spoke on behalf of Sherri Crichton, expressing her initial excitement over the original ‘ER’ team planning a reboot, followed by dismay when Warner Bros. unexpectedly ended talks and announced ‘The Pitt’ – a near identical version of the proposed ‘ER’ reboot. The Crichton Estate is eager to argue their case in court and are optimistic about their chances.

Warner Bros contends that “The Pitt” is a distinct production, asserting that Crichton’s contract doesn’t permit his heirs to obstruct the creation of a TV series based in a hospital setting. On the other hand, the executive producer of “The Pitt,” who also served as a showrunner on “ER,” counters that any supposed similarities between the shows are typical elements found in most medical dramas.

According to Wells, ‘The Pitt’ wasn’t modeled after ‘ER.’ Instead, our aim at John Wells Productions was to create a unique, fresh take on the medical drama genre. We wanted ‘The Pitt’ to stand out as distinct from any other TV medical drama that has been broadcasted so far. Our objective with ‘The Pitt’ is to delve into and spark public discourse about the difficulties faced by emergency medical professionals in the aftermath of COVID-19.

“The Pitt” debuted on Max in January and has been renewed for a second season.

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2025-02-25 19:46