Priyanka Chopra in a still from Quantico.
Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra's maiden American TV series
Quantico is involved in a lawsuit filed against producer Mark Gordon amid claims that the idea for the ABC FBI drama was lifted from a 1999 documentary that aired on CNN.
Filmmakers Jamie Hellman, Barbara Leibovitz Hellman and business executive Paula Paizes, filed a 35 page complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court, which states that Gordon took the show's premise from their documentary
Quantico: The Making Of An FBI Agent, reported
Deadline.
The complaint says Ms Paizes and Mr Gordon formed a business relationship in 2001 and she introduced him to the filmmakers.In May 2002, Ms Leibovitz and Mr Hellman signed a deal with the Mr Gordon Company and "provided MGC with the film from the Documentary, information which was not included in the documentary, including all of their notes and transcripts related to the film." (Also Read:
Priyanka Chopra Hopes Quantico Will 'Open the Right Doors' For India)The suit says the "Quantico Project" initially was discussed as a movie, with a storyline that "included a conspiracy inside the FBI Academy."
After Mr Hellman and Ms Leibovitz executed a three-month extension on their option with MGC, Gordon who was working on another project said in an February 2003 email to Ms Paizes that he "would be happy to discuss this when I get back. It's a good idea."
But according to the lawsuit, "neither Gordon Mr nor MGC made any further efforts to work with Plaintiffs to develop the 'Quantico Project.'"
Alleging breach of contract, fiduciary duty and more, the filing seeks a jury trial, actual and punitive damages and a "based on" credit for Mr Hellman and Ms Leibovitz and their documentary.
The Mark Gordon Company had no comment on the suit.
Quantico is one of the success stories of the fall broadcast season.