Judge Judy Shut Down In Attempt To Dismiss $5 Million Lawsuit Over Rights To Her Show Library, Says She's Ready For Trial
Judge Judy Sheindlin may have wrapped up her show earlier this year, but she's preparing to go back to court.
The 78-year-old famous judge was shut down in court on Friday in an attempt to dismiss a lawsuit brought on by Rebel Entertainment Partners over the rights to her lucrative television show library.
Back in August, Rebel sued the Manhattan judge and a ViacomCBS division for millions, claiming they did not receive what was allegedly owed to them from the whopping $95 million sale of Judge Judy's past episodes.
They want $5 million from the sale.
Sheindlin fought back, claiming Rebel isn't owed jack -- but a judge doesn't see it that way.
Her argument is that Rebel “has no standing to sue on this contract as a third-party beneficiary,” but in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, Judge Patricia Nieto did not rule in favor of Sheindlin's objection to the lawsuit.
According to Deadline, Rebel is the “successor in interest Judge Judy original packager talent agent Richard Lawrence and his Abrams, Rubaloff & Lawrence firm."
The outlet points out that Rebel and Lawrence have been relentless in their remand for pay-outs from the sale.
Rebel has hired a pit bull to represent them against Sheindlin in court.
Bryan Freedman -- who recently negotiated an eight-figure payout for Chris Harrison when he exited The Bachelor -- is representing the entertainment company and had some strong words for Sheindlin.
“In March, Judge Judy’s frivolous lawsuit against Rebel and Richard Lawrence was dismissed after the judge properly found that she lacked standing to sue,” Freedman told Deadline. “Ironically, Judy then asserted that Rebel lacked standing to sue her. The Court has correctly rejected this meritless argument. CBS and Judy have intentionally ignored the rights of the profit participants that made their success possible. That behavior will not be tolerated.”
Judge Judy hit back, proving she's not just a firecracker on television.
“Richard Lawrence has garnered 22 plus million dollars although I have seen him only once in an elevator since our program began 25 years ago,” Sheindlin told the outlet.” I look forward to a trial.”