Holland & Knight Wins Dismissal of High-Profile Lawsuit Against TV Personality Jamie Durie

Los Angeles – December 14, 2011 – Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that the firm won its motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a former manager against HGTV television personality Jamie Durie, the host of "The Outdoor Room." The action was brought by Lance Reynolds, the owner of Atlantic Talent Management, Inc., which briefly acted as Durie's manager in the United States. Reynolds claimed that he was entitled to credit and payment as an executive producer for "The Outdoor Room." The lawsuit asserted 10 separate causes of action, three based upon different contacts and seven based upon various common law claims.

The arguments were presented in three different rounds of motions, which challenged the original Complaint, then a Proposed Amended Complaint, and finally the filed First Amended Complaint. The motions deeply explored basic contract law principles, as well as basic common law principles, to identify and highlight basic flaws in the pleadings for the Court. The opinion, by Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen of the United States District Court, Central District of California, dismissed the entire lawsuit, with prejudice.

The Holland & Knight team was led by Senior Counsel Terry Middlebrook, with the support of Associate Laura Coombe. Assistance on various issues was provided by Partners Shelley Hurwitz, Bob Labate and Rick Lyon.