In 2017, there were several high-profile cases of breach of contract that made headlines across the world. From Hollywood to Silicon Valley, these cases involved some of the biggest names in business and entertainment. Here are some of the most famous breach of contract cases of 2017.
1. Uber vs. Waymo
In February 2017, Google`s self-driving car unit, Waymo, sued ride-hailing giant Uber for stealing trade secrets related to self-driving technology. The lawsuit alleged that a former Waymo employee, who went on to work for Uber, had stolen confidential information and used it to accelerate Uber`s autonomous vehicle program. After a yearlong legal battle that included multiple delays and allegations of “withholding evidence,” the case was finally settled in February 2018. Uber agreed to pay Waymo $245 million in equity.
2. John Cena vs. Ford
Wrestler and actor John Cena was sued by Ford in December 2017 for breach of contract after he sold his rare Ford GT supercar for a profit shortly after purchasing it. The contract Cena had signed with Ford stated that he would keep the car for at least two years before selling it, and that any profits from the sale would have to be returned to Ford. Cena argued that he had not been aware of the clause, but ultimately settled with Ford and donated the profit from the sale to charity.
3. Johnny Depp vs. TMG
In January 2017, actor Johnny Depp sued his former business managers, The Management Group (TMG), for fraud and breach of contract. Depp claimed that TMG had mismanaged his finances and failed to pay his taxes on time, leading to tens of millions of dollars in losses. TMG countersued, alleging that Depp had breached his contract by failing to pay them their agreed-upon commission. The case was settled out of court in July 2018 for an undisclosed amount.
4. Fox News vs. Andrea Tantaros
Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros sued the network in April 2017, alleging that she had been sexually harassed by former CEO Roger Ailes and several other top executives. Tantaros also claimed that she had been retaliated against for reporting the harassment and that she had been banned from appearing on the network after she made her allegations public. Fox News countersued Tantaros for breach of contract, alleging that she had violated the terms of her employment contract by publishing a book without the network`s permission. The case is still ongoing.
5. The Weinstein Company vs. Colony Capital
The Weinstein Company (TWC) filed for bankruptcy in March 2018, following a series of sexual harassment and assault allegations against co-founder Harvey Weinstein. In October 2017, TWC had announced that it had secured a $275 million investment from private equity firm Colony Capital, but the deal fell apart when Colony claimed that TWC had failed to disclose key information about its financial condition and the extent of the allegations against Weinstein. TWC sued Colony for breach of contract in November 2017, but the case was dismissed in March 2018 as part of TWC`s bankruptcy proceedings.
These high-profile cases demonstrate the importance of carefully negotiating and abiding by contract terms, as well as the potential legal consequences of breaching those terms. Whether it`s a dispute between individuals or multi-billion dollar companies, breach of contract cases can have significant financial and reputational implications. As such, it`s crucial to seek legal counsel and to ensure that all parties fully understand and agree to the terms of any contract before signing.