The billionaire businessmen behind 2929 Entertainment have been ordered to cover part of the $51.7 million (£34.4 million) pay out owed to actor Don Johnson in his battle with TV bosses over his 1990s show Nash Bridges.
The Miami Vice star was awarded $23.2 million (£15.4 million) in July (10) after successfully suing executives at production company Rysher Entertainment, Inc., claiming he was owed 50 per cent of the profits from the show because he owned half of the cop drama's copyright.
He was handed a further $28.5 million (£19 million) in interest in September (10) but it was unclear who was responsible for picking up the bill because of Rysher's change of ownership - it was an asset of 2929 from 2001 to 2006 before being taken over by investment firm Qualia Capital.
The case returned to court last week (30Sep10), when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Stern ruled Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner's 2929 Entertainment should pay the huge sum, along with the bosses of Rysher Entertainment and Qualia.
In a statement released after the ruling, Johnson says, "Nash Bridges was my idea. Mark Cuban's company and Qualia took all the profits from the show's syndication.
"I feel vindicated that Rysher, 2929 Entertainment and Qualia are all being held responsible."
Tagged in Don Johnson