Legal Opinion
Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. v. Victor Decosta, Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation v. Victor Decosta. Cbs Films Inc. v. Victor Decosta
Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Decided May 11, 1967No. 6769-6771PublishedCited by 28 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
COFFIN, Circuit Judge.
This is an appeal by defendants 1 *from jury verdicts in the total amount of $150,000 awarded plaintiff on his claim that he created, and the defendants misappropriated, the character of Paladin, the protagonist of the CBS television series entitled “Have Gun Will Travel”.
The story of this case — more bizarre than most television serial installments— is one of “coincidence” run riot. The plaintiff, of Portuguese parents, is a Rhode Island mechanic whose formal education ceased after the fourth grade. During the Depression, having tired of factory work, he hopped a…
2Cases cited17 opinions
- Erie Railroad v. TompkinsSupreme Court of the United States · 1938
- Graham v. John Deere Co. of Kansas CitySupreme Court of the United States · 1966
- Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Stiffel Co.Supreme Court of the United States · 1964
- International News Service v. Associated PressSupreme Court of the United States · 1919
- Mazer v. SteinSupreme Court of the United States · 1954
12 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by28 opinions
- Victor Decosta v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc.Court of Appeals for the First Circuit · 1975
- Victor Decosta v. Viacom International, Inc.Court of Appeals for the First Circuit · 1992
- Forest Laboratories, Inc., (Cross Appellant) v. The Pillsbury Company, (Cross Appellee)Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1971
- Duchess Music Corporation v. Martin SternCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1972
- Nancy Sinatra v. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., an Ohio Corporation, Young & Rubicam, Inc., Anew York CorporationCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1970
23 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.