#BillNye the Science Guy got kids hype for science back in the 90’s. From 1994-1999, the show ran 100 episodes and won 19 of its 23 Emmy nominations which should have secured millions for the science guru. However, in a 28-page lawsuit filed today, Nye alleges that Disney, along with a few of their subsidiaries, cheated him out of net profits from the show and is suing for $9 million, but could receive an additional $28 million.
The suit states that back in 2008, Nye received a check for $585,000 in profits. However, Buena Vista Television said that this was an accounting error and claimed that he now owed them back $496,111 from that same check! Nye also stopped receiving royalty and participation checks during this time which led him to order an audit of Disney’s books. He quickly became suspicious of Buena Vista Television and the Walt Disney Company’s accounting practices after they said that they would not pay him until they were reimbursed for what they called an “overpayment.”
Now, as for the $9 million, Nye’s legal team states, per the legal documents, that he has “suffered damages in the amount of not less than Nine Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Five Hundred Sixty dollars (USD$9,350,565.00).” It later states that Disney obtained “ill-gotten profits of not less than Twenty Eight Million Fifty One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Five dollars (USD$28,051,695.00)” and is demanding that they cough up the receipts showing what he is really owed. It could be more than the $28 million+ stated.
You guys can review the lawsuit for yourselves here!
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on IG, @tallyohhh on Twitter
Source: http://deadline.com/2017/08/bill-nye-science-guy-sues-disney-fraud-profits-1202156048/
