Appeals court lets Crichton suit over "The Pitt" proceed
A US appeals court ruled that "The Pitt" resembles "ER" enough for a lawsuit by Michael Crichton's widow, or estate, to go forward.
A US appeals court has ruled that a lawsuit over the HBO series "The Pitt" can continue. The court found the show similar enough to "ER" to let the case proceed. The ruling came on Wednesday, according to The Guardian and NBC News.
The Guardian reports the three-judge panel was unanimous. It denied an appeal from Warner Bros Television, which the paper says has argued for two years that the two shows are unrelated.
Outlets differ on who is suing. The Guardian and BBC News describe the plaintiff as Michael Crichton's widow, and The Guardian names her as Sherri Crichton. NBC News says the plaintiff is his estate. Crichton created "ER".
BBC News reports the widow argues "The Pitt" is effectively a reboot of the 1990s series. The Guardian reports the court found "clear and numerous similarities" between the two medical dramas. It says a jury trial is set for 2027.
NBC News describes "The Pitt" as an Emmy Award-winning show.
Reported by
- The GuardianThe Pitt and ER are similar enough for Michael Crichton’s widow’s lawsuit to proceed, court rulesWed, Nov 4, 11:57 PM EST
- BBC NewsThe Pitt and ER are similar enough for lawsuit to proceed, judge rulesThu, Nov 5, 6:21 AM EST
- NBC News‘ER’ creator’s estate can sue over ‘The Pitt’ similarities, appeals court rulesThu, Nov 5, 10:11 AM EST
This story was written by AI using only the reports listed above, and published without a person reviewing it first. It is rewritten as new reports arrive. Read the original reporting for full detail. Spot an error? Tell us.
Earlier versions (1)
- Thu, Nov 5, 10:25 AM EST, 2 outlets: Appeals court lets Crichton lawsuit over "The Pitt" and "ER" go forward