The multi-million dollar lawsuit filed by Bill Nye against The Walt Disney Company is officially slated to head to trial next year.
Earlier this week, Los Angeles Superior Court ruled that Nye is allowed to move forward with limited claims against Disney. Nye has accused the company of shorting him on profits from his popular 1990s educational television show Bill Nye the Science Guy. In his fourth amended complaint, the Science Guy estimates $28 million in damages. Nye is also seeking punitive damages stemming from Disney's "long and consistent pattern of under-reporting revenue and improperly applying deductions." The trial has been set for May 2020 and is expected to last roughly 10 days (though the exact length is subject to change).
Disney attempted to get the case down to what is known as an accounting spectacle and different interpretations of the contract. The company also cited the incontestability provision of its deal with Nye, arguing he had waited too long to voice his suspicions. Nye responded to this, explaining he was unable determine whether or not the quarterly profit statements provided to him by Disney were complete and accurate, due to missing details. Additionally, Nye claims the company made him spend the time, money and resources required for an audit, falsely promising access to the documents he needed.
Judge Dalila Lyons ultimately granted summary judgment to Disney with respect to participation statements issued before Jan. 8, 2011 -- three years before Nye's formal audit request. Disney apparently told Nye he'd have to wait three to four years before the audit began, citing an ostensible backlog of other audits.
Nye is now set to move forward on the more recent participation statements. Moreover, the judge has shot down Disney's play to rule out punitive damages. That being said, the House of Mouse was able to strike down claims it had breached fiduciary duty towards Nye.
Bill Nye the Science Guy was syndicated by Walt Disney Television, originally airing on local TV stations from 1993 to 1999. The show also ran on PBS from 1994 to 1998. A total of 100 episodes were released across five seasons. Nye's other science-based programs include 2005's The Eyes of Nye and 2017's Bill Nye Saves the World.
(via The Hollywood Reporter)