newsmakers

newsmakers

Lawsuit settled over Michael Jackson insurance

LOS ANGELES

A lawsuit over the payout of a $17.5 million policy related to Michael Jackson’s planned comeback concerts has been settled, attorneys told a judge Wednesday.

Lawyers for Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London and for Jackson’s estate announced the settlement before a hearing that would have altered what evidence could be presented at trial.

Lawyers for the insurer and the estate did not know how the judge was planning to rule before announcing they had resolved the case.

Lloyd’s sued Jackson’s estate in 2011 seeking to nullify a nonappearance and concert cancellation policy that it issued roughly two months before Jackson’s death in June 2009.

The insurer contended that an examination of Jackson that was required for the policy was not completed and the promoter of the “This Is It” shows did not disclose everything it knew about the singer’s health when it took out the policy.

Howard Weitzman, an attorney for Jackson’s estate, and Paul K. Shrieffer, who represented Lloyd’s, said both sides were pleased the case was resolved. Weitzman said terms were confidential.

CW: ‘Veronica Mars’ spinoff being developed for online

PASADENA, Calif.

The CW says it’s developing an online spinoff of the “Veronica Mars” series.

Series creator Rob Thomas has agreed to do the digital version, CW President Mark Pedowitz told a meeting of the Television Critics Association on Wednesday.

The decision to proceed with the spinoff was made Tuesday, and details have yet to be worked out, including the cast and characters, the CW said.

“Veronica Mars,” which was canceled in 2007 after three seasons, is enjoying a resurgence.

A film based on the show about a crime-solving teen, played by Kristen Bell, was funded by the crowd-funding site Kickstarter. The movie is due out in March.

A debut date for the online spinoff was not announced.

‘Pieces’ author Frey has multibook, media deal

NEW YORK

James Frey has only begun to write.

The author of the discredited memoir “A Million Little Pieces” has a multibook, multimedia deal with HarperCollins for a young-adult series called “Endgame.”

The publisher announced Wednesday that Frey’s production company, Full Fathom Five, will turn out three novels and nine novellas. The project also includes YouTube videos, gaming designed by Google’s Niantic Labs and social media. Twentieth Century Fox has acquired film rights.

The first book will be “Endgame: The Calling.” It is due out in October and will be co-authored by Nils Johnson-Shelton.

The basic “Endgame” plot is a fight to the death among teens from rival bloodlines. It’s being criticized by online commentators as too similar to Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games.”

Frey acknowledged on Oprah Winfrey’s show in 2006 he lied in “A Million Little Pieces.”

Associated Press