Jeff Shell, the president of Paramount Skydance, was sued Monday by a man who claims he is owed $150 million for crisis communications services and for Shell’s refusal to help produce a TV show.
The plaintiff, R.J. Cipriani, alleges in the lawsuit that he had a relationship with Shell for 18 months, in which Cipriani would tip Shell off to forthcoming news articles and offer advice. The suit also alleges that Shell would share non-public information with Cipriani about Paramount’s plans.
Cipriani alleges that he and Shell had an oral agreement that Shell would help produce “Star Serenade,” a TV show, in exchange for the crisis communications services. The suit also quotes alleged confidences that Shell shared with Cipriani, including Shell’s alleged belief that Paramount is overpaying for Warner Bros. Discovery.
“We’re paying way too much for Warner Bros.,” the suit quotes him as saying. “If we could just wait another year, we could get it a whole lot cheaper.”
Paramount Skydance has agreed to buy WBD in a deal valued at $111 billion.
The suit names Shell and his wife, Laura, as defendants. It does not name Paramount, which declined to comment.
When Cipriani first threatened to sue in February, Shell’s attorney, Patricia Glaser, stated that the claims were without merit.
“We were presented with a draft complaint riddled with clear errors of fact and law and the threat that it would be filed, but if he makes the mistake of going ahead with it, we will strongly respond,” she said.
Shell’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
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