We wrote last week that the anti-merger lawsuit brought by Martin Sheen and other dissidents against the Screen Actors Guild and its top officers was basically dead in the water, based on the District Court’s March 28 ruling that expressed doubt whether the plaintiffs could prevail on any theory.
Now we’re hearing from the more fevered corners of the internet that the Sheen v. SAG plaintiffs have reached the same conclusion. Unconfirmed rumors say that the plaintiffs took a vote and decided not to continue pouring money into this litigation. We’ll have to wait and see whether these rumors prove to be correct.
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UPDATE: And now we’re hearing that the earlier rumors are being denied. That doesn’t change our view that the lawsuit is dead in the water.
I always have given Martin Sheen more credit then he deserves, I guess. He is an intelligent man and although I heartily disagreed with his motives for filing a lawsuit against the institution of which he served as a National Board member, I could see why he and the others were making a frantic “last stop” attempt at obstructing what was an overwhelming vote of approval for merger from the National memberships. Unless they have a surplus of cash they can funnel to their lawyers on this quixotic project, I don’t see where the win is for them? Prudence and rational thought would have them drop the lawsuit and get on with their lives and careers, in my humble opinion. It doesn’t make sense to me to continue with it.
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Ed. Comment: To his credit, Martin Sheen was one of the people urging members to vote FOR ratification of the talent agent agreement back in 2002.
But I have to question his intelligence if he chose, after all this to follow AMJ off a cliff. Not even a sign of basic intelligence in my view.
I hear ya, nodramame; but have you ever been in a bad marriage or relationship or know friends who have, where a seemingly intelligent or otherwise logical person starts making completely batsh*t decisions and are totally invested in that decision when none of it makes any sense whatsoever?! That is what I am questioning here. He is in a committed and voluntary bad relationship with the SAG nostalgists and can’t seem to see the forest thru the trees, regardless of this merger being the best move for our business in the 21st Century. Again, I’m probably giving Sheen too much credit. But I agree with you that its bitter with sour grapes and rank as all hell.
I am going to need to borrow that last line sometime, “bitter with sour grapes and rank as all hell. ” That’s about as nasty as you can get, I think.
Yup, thats my take on this asinine, frivolous lawsuit.
Anyone who signed on to this attempt at obstruction of the democratic process should be shunned by all. Sheen? I’ll never have any respect for the man ever again. Clancy? His colors finally come through. AMJ? She’s doing what she always does on or off her broomstick. She’s done in union politics. Toast.
They should all stock up on paper bags.