Timothy Hutton, ‘Leverage’ Producer Settle Claims Over Firing From Reboot

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As a seasoned gamer who has navigated countless virtual realms, I can’t help but feel a sense of disillusionment when reality mirrors the complex web of intrigue and controversy that often unfolds within our favorite games. The case between Timothy Hutton and Electric Entertainment is a stark reminder that even in the world outside our controllers, the lines between good and evil, truth and lies, can blur in ways that make us question our assumptions.

Timothy Hutton and the producers of Leverage: Redemption, Electric Entertainment, have resolved their court dispute following Hutton’s termination from the series due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

On Monday, Hutton’s legal team disclosed to the court a settled matter between the parties, which addresses both the actor’s claims and Electric’s counterclaims. However, specifics about this agreement remain confidential until all necessary conditions, including those yet unspecified, are fulfilled within 45 days. Further information about the terms of the settlement has not been disclosed.

In a lawsuit filed in 2022, Hutton claimed his agreement for starring, executive producing, and directing an episode of Leverage: Redemption contained a clause ensuring him at least $3 million, regardless of whether Electric used his services during the series production. He stated that this deal was sealed in February 2020, just prior to news emerging about a woman accusing Hutton of rape, which she claimed occurred when she was only 14, in 1983, with the incident reported to the Vancouver police department.

Hutton, later removed from the show, refutes the accusations against him. Canadian authorities decided not to bring charges due to insufficient evidence regarding the actor.

In response to Hutton’s assertion that his agreement was violated, Electric retaliated by filing counterarguments. They accused the actor of having a legal obligation to reveal the accusations against him but opted not to because he understood this would breach the “morals clause” in his contract, which permits termination if actions could harm the other party’s reputation. They claimed that he hid an attempt to pay off the accuser in a settlement and suppressed a story exposing the accusations during negotiations, even though they knew this scandal would have jeopardized him getting the role.

Hutton argued that his $175,000-per-episode deal didn’t contain a morality clause. Electric responded by suggesting that such industry-standard terms, allowing a producer to withdraw under specific circumstances, were expected to be incorporated since both parties referred to the actor’s 2007 contract for the original series during negotiations for the reboot.

A trial was set to start in February.

In a March 2020 article published by BuzzFeed, Sera Johnston accused Hutton of raping her in 1983. One of Johnston’s friends, who was also present at the hotel room where the alleged assault occurred, provided an affidavit corroborating her story.

Johnston’s accusations against Hutton were allegedly fabricated to extort money, as attorney Jeff Herman requested $1.5 million to settle the accuser’s claims. It is known that Herman has confessed to making unfounded and false allegations against four notable figures in the entertainment industry, for which he faced sanctions. Moreover, the Florida Supreme Court declared him guilty of professional misconduct and suspended his license to practice law in the state for 18 months due to his dishonest and deceptive actions.

The proposed agreement, worth $135,000 for Johnston, disintegrated as Hutton persisted in his denial that the alleged assault ever took place.

Hutton and Electric’s representatives and legal advisors did not provide an immediate response when asked for a statement.

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2024-12-03 22:27