Former "Law & Order" actor sued by agency, manager

By Leslie Simmons
Fri Aug 4, 8:02 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter, ESQ.) - Actor Courtney Vance is being

Beth...

The way I read it, it refers to last season's return to the roster of
regulars, not this year's.

sued by his former talent agency and manager for unpaid commissions for
his work, which includes his role on NBC's "Law and Order: Criminal
Intent."

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims that
in August 2004, Vance terminated his contracts with the Endeavor agency
and Dolores Robinson Entertainment after he purportedly was not signed
for another year on the NBC drama.

But after he fired his agents and managers, Vance and Studios USA
Television, which produces "Law and Order," agreed to extend his
original agreement without any changes other than a boost in pay.

The plaintiffs claim Vance fired them to deprive them of the benefits
they were entitled to under their contracts. The lawsuit indicates each
of the plaintiffs' commissions should have been at least $126,680.

Endeavor and Dolores Robinson Entertainment want the court to order
Vance to pay them each their 10% commission in connection with his
earnings for the 2005-06 season of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" as
well as for future seasons of the show. Vance left the show last
season.

They also seek unspecified compensatory damages for breach of contract,
and Endeavor asks the court to order a constructive trust for all
payments received by Vance.

The case is Dolores Robinson Entertainment v. Vance, BC356276. The
plaintiffs are represented by William Briggs II and Rori Starr Silver
of Lavely & Singer.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter, ESQ.