Olivia De Havilland’s Lawsuit Against TV Show ‘Feud’ Will Soon Come to Trial
While Feud was a monster hit for many people across the world, one of its subjects, played by Catherine Zeta Jones, was Olivia de Havilland who is now suing Ryan Murphy and FX with a multi-claim lawsuit over her depiction in the Emmy-nominated show.
The 101-year old actress asked the courts for a trial to start by the fall, so she can be alive to see justice come to pass.
To pour salt on the wound (or maybe it’s actually a fierce and epic move), Olivia is asking Los Angeles courts to bring it to trial four days before the Emmy Awards on September 17. If that happens, we’re in for a serious TV trial fiasco before the epic ceremony. Feud is up for 18 nominations, after all.
“Based on her unusually advanced age, Olivia de Havilland moves for preference in the setting of trial of this matter under California Code of Civil Procedure §§ 36 (a) and asks the Court to set this case for jury trial in November 2017, or in any event on a date within 120 days of the granting of this motion,” the filing said. “Olivia de Havilland is entitled to preference in the setting of trial of the instant matter under California Code of Civil Procedure § 36(a) because she is well over the age of 70, and has claims for damages and injunctive relief against the FX Defendants who are the producers and distributers of ‘Feud,’”
Attorney Suzette Smith said of Olivia: “This is the kind of case for which the statute was passed. Anyone at 101 years old should be entitled to an early trial date. There is a substantial risk that without a trial preference, Miss de Havilland will be prejudiced in not obtaining the benefits of the litigation. She is eager to have this case fully resolved well in advance of her 102nd birthday.”