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‘ER’ and ‘The Pitt’ Are Similar Enough for Lawsuit to Move Forward, Appeals Court Finds
The panel said the estate’s evidence could support a finding that the series breached a 1994 rights agreement, sending the dispute toward discovery.
- On Wednesday, an appeals court ruled that the medical drama The Pitt is similar enough to the Emmy-winning series ER to allow the Michael Crichton Estate to pursue its lawsuit against Warner Bros. Television.
- Sherri Crichton sued in 2024, alleging the show violates a "frozen rights" provision in her late husband's 1994 agreement, which prohibits spin-offs or reboots of the NBC medical blockbuster without his express consent.
- Comparing pilot scripts, the three-judge panel found "clear and numerous similarities" between the shows in setting, pace, and characters, though it dismissed claims against producers Noah Wyle, John Wells, and R. Scott Gemmill.
- "I am deeply gratified by the Appeals Court decision," Sherri Crichton said, as the case moves to discovery and a jury trial in Los Angeles Superior Court.
- While a settlement remains possible, the case will likely proceed to trial next summer, with the estate arguing producers "simply moved the show from Chicago to Pittsburgh, rebranded it The Pitt, and ploughed ahead without any attribution or compensation.
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The widow of the author behind the series 'The Emergency Room' has sued the team behind 'The Pitt' for being a remake
·Copenhagen, Denmark
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Court allows lawsuit alleging The Pitt is an 'unauthorised reboot' of ER to move forward as the shows are 'similar enough'
The widow of ER creator Michael Crichton has alleged that The Pitt is a ‘rebranded’ reboot of ER, which she had rejected. Both shows star Noah Wyle.
·New Delhi, India
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Justices Rule Michael Crichton Widow Can Proceed with Similarities Suit
A three-justice panel of the state Second District Court of Appeal affirmed a Superior Court judge’s rejection of Warner Bros. free-speech challenge to the widow of Michael Crichton that “The Pitt” is an unauthorized duplicate of his “ER” creation, according to court papers obtained Thursday. Sherri Crichton, who was married to the late “ER” creator […]
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Total News Sources97
Leaning Left32Leaning Right10Center33Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Center
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources are Center
44% Center
L 43%
C 44%
13%
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