Judge mostly sides with Sony in company's battle with DAYS' producers

The court has shot down most of the claims that producers of Days of our Lives hurled against Sony Pictures Television earlier this year, meaning their $20M lawsuit against the distributor is an increasingly uphill battle.

Sony Pictures Television just scored a win in its defense against Corday Productions, which accused the company of plotting to destroy Days of our Lives back in February. The court has rejected several of Corday Productions' claims in the $20M lawsuit, meaning the production company will have a severely trimmed lineup of allegations against Sony moving forward.

As Soap Central previously reported, Corday Productions claimed that Sony has been plotting to put DAYS into the grave by not trying hard enough to distribute the long-running soap opera and miscalculating profits in the interest of promoting its wholly owned daytime drama, CBS' The Young and the Restless. According to The Hollywood Reporter, retired federal judge Gary Feess, who is handling the matter as a judicial referee, has largely sided with Sony and granted the studio's demurrer on several claims.

Some of the claims nullified by Judge Feess include breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contracts regarding one-hour episodes and responsibility for production overages, and unfair competition.

The latest decision, however, is not a total loss for Corday Productions. Feess has allowed DAYS' producers to continue the lawsuit with the claims that Sony breached its obligation to adequately market DAYS and share marketing costs, as well as a breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Feess is also giving Corday Productions one more shot in its claims of fraud provided it comes "with greater particularity."

"At the hearing, Corday's counsel indicated that it could plead fraud with greater particularity," writes Feess. "While that seems unlikely, given the nature of the relationship between the parties, the timing of the alleged misrepresentations, and the unlikelihood that Corday can ever plead reliance, Corday will be given another chance to plead this claim."

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For more information on the latest news regarding Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television's legal case, read the Hollywood Reporter's original story here.

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