By Brent Lang
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is claiming a major legal victory against Michael Russell, after a judge threw out the former publicist's defamation claims.?
Russell sued the association for $2 million in lost salary and additional damages, charging the organization that runs the Golden Globes with fraud and corrupt practices. Among other claims, Russell alleged that HFPA members sold media credentials to the show and accepted gifts in exchange for nominating films for awards.?
Also read:?Former Golden Globes Publicist Sues HFPA for $2M, Claims Fraud, Payola
The HFPA did not say if those charges were also dropped, but it did announce on Monday that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin Brazile ruled that the group had not interfered with Russell's ability to attract and retain clients due to? so-called anti-SLAPP law which protects the right to free speech.
Timothy McGonigle, an attorney for Russell, did not immediately return TheWrap's request for comment. However, the HFPA treated Monday's dismissals as a sign that the suit would never be heard in front of a jury.?
"As most of the remaining claims concern employment issues, we are confident that we will remove them by demurrer or motion for summary judgment. This baseless complaint will not reach the jury," HFPA's counsel, Joseph Campo of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, said in a statement.?
Russell ran press for the popular awards show for 17 years before resigning abruptly as the organization's publicist in March 2010.?
After Russell sued in January, the HFPA countersued a month later, charging the publicist for breach of contract, trading on the organization's name and accepting kickbacks.
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Source: http://www.thewrap.com/article/hfpa-claims-major-legal-win-over-former-golden-globes-publicist-27453
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