Drabinsky sues AEA for $50M for Defamation

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/20/22 at 2:34pm

Attorneys representing producer Garth Drabinsky, represented by the Roth Law Firm, PLLC, filed suit today against Actors' Equity Association for defamation.

Earlier this year, Actors' Equity had placed the Paradise Square producer on the company's Do Not Work list due to "outstanding payments and benefits, and a continued pattern of abuse and neglect that created an unsafe and toxic work environment."

The move to put Drabinsky, who was imprisoned for 17 months in Canada after being convcited of fraud and forgery as a producer, on the Do Not Work list came after the production failed to pay the company their salary via weekly direct deposit.

The 57-page Complaint was filed in the Southern District of New York. The Complaint states that "Drabinsky has always produced with transparency and respect for all artists and those associated with his productions and his audiences."

Actors' Equity is being sued for an "intentional campaign of harassment and abuse, publishing numerous untruthful statements about Drabinsky that represented major misrepresentations of his character, history, activities, and beliefs."

Although the Complaint's legal claims are centered on Equity's "harassment and abuse" of Drabinky, the Complaint, which can be read in full here, makes other allegations against Equity. Amongst the other various allegations included in the Complaint is Equity's failure to intervene in a case of sexual harassment in the workplace. The lawsuit also alleges that Equity withheld the bond from the Chicago production and it was never returned, which added to the production's financial pressures and ordered an illegal work stoppage during the Broadway rehearsal process.

Dan Levy, Equity's Communications Director told BroadwayWorld in a statement "The lawsuit filed against Equity is entirely without merit, and Equity is confident it will prevail in this lawsuit. Equity will vigorously contest the suit and demonstrate that our actions were fully consistent with our legal responsibilities to protect our members."

Paradise Square concluded its Broadway run on July 17 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, following 23 previews and 108 performances. Paradise Square was nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, with star Joaquina Kalukango receiving the Tony for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.

Between Broadway and earlier engagements at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, CA. in 2019, and at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in Chicago in 2021, Paradise Square played over 200 performances. A national tour is being planned for the 2023-2024 season, and international productions are also in development.

Updated On: 10/20/22 at 02:34 PM

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 10/20/22 at 3:31pm

Ha!

Maybe if he wins (which he won’t) he can use the money to finally pay all the artists that he’s stiffed over the years. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 10/20/22 at 4:36pm

laughable 

[DaveyG]

Posted: 10/20/22 at 5:06pm

It’s the Trumpian way. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 10/20/22 at 5:52pm

Absolutely agree with all other comments. This is completely laughable. If he wins and doesn't pay people what they're owed, they should turn around and sue him right back. Although...wasn't there already a lawsuit?

[DrMonicaDeMoneco]

Posted: 10/20/22 at 5:52pm

Hahahahahaha this is completely laughable.

best of luck Garth. 
how are you paying for representation????

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 10/20/22 at 6:44pm

Thanks Garth for fast-tracking the release of all the juicy info for us! This thing is quite the read!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/21/22 at 10:27am

This whole thing is just baffling and perplexing.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/21/22 at 10:43am

"Drabinsky has always produced with transparency and respect for all artists and those associated with his productions and his audiences” is one of the funniest statements ever. 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 10/21/22 at 6:01pm

Will he ever just go away? 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 10/21/22 at 10:22pm

I bet he drops the suit after seeing how much dirt gets dug up during Discovery. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/14/23 at 9:44pm

He didn't drop it. The judge just dismissed it. 

Judge Dismisses Garth Drabinsky 'Do Not Work List' Lawsuit (broadwayworld.com)

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/13/24 at 5:02pm

Drabinsky prolonging this as long as possible to avoid responsibility. 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 11/13/24 at 5:07pm

The worst part is that, given the state of the Supreme Court, he's got a shot.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/13/24 at 5:20pm

I have a hard time believing SCOTUS would review such a low profile case, but what do I know?