Archives for 2010

Last week we saw several references to Taylor Lautner and his management team suing a California RV company because they failed to deliver a decked out RV on time to the Pennsylvania location where Taylor would be filming Abduction. The info came out across the AP wire service and other places.

We didn’t bother covering it because it didn’t seem that newsworthy, it wasn’t like it was a contract dispute over a Twilight salary or anything. It seemed like a pretty cut and dry “failure to provide services” contract dispute filled with lots of legalese and of course the inevitable “emotional distress” clause that generally accompanies any suit of this nature. Now because it was a slow news week, lots of outlets made a big deal out of the “emotional distress” clause and what was Taylor mental state, was he a diva, etc.

What started to bother us was how did this get on the AP wire to begin with? Actors get into lawsuits like this all the time, and they never make the news or it’s a footnote at best. It’s not like Taylor walked off with expensive clothes or jewelry. It was about an RV that was ordered and didn’t show up. The only time a dispute like this really hits is if someone tips off the media. It didn’t seem like Taylor’s camp would do that because it’s not really their style. It was an RV not the non delivery of a promised role or major endorsement. No one was physically hurt. What would they have to gain by bringing attention to a dispute over the non-delivery of an RV?

Cue round two, the owner of the RV company decides that he and Taylor should have a push up contest to settle the dispute and puts out press to that effect. This just didn’t sit right with us. I mean if I were the owner of the RV company and I thought I actually delivered to specs the item (possibly late), I might have in good faith knocked some money off and tried to settle this whole thing out of the limelight, but a push-up contest? It just wasn’t adding up. If I felt Taylor Lautner had wronged me and my reputation, I’d be singing the “diva, spoiled actor” routine until the cows came home. I’d be touring film crews through the decked out RV saying “this is what the diva turned down.” But a push up contest?

Well it looks like the team at The Hollywood Reporter legal division was thinking that this whole thing was pretty fishy too, and they did some digging. Here’s what they discovered when they went to Taylor Lautner’s legal team

“We have tried to take the high road by not commenting on this matter but we want to set the record straight.  McMahon’s RV’s response to our client’s legitimate claim further demonstrates the lack of professionalism that Mr. McMahon, his company and his employees have exhibited from the outset, and that compelled the filing of this lawsuit in the first place.  This suit is not about a “customized” RV, it is about McMahon’s RV’s refusal to deliver the vehicle in the safe, drivable condition that was promised, as every purchaser has the right to expect.  A cursory review of McMahon’s RV’s record with the Better Business Bureau shows that this is a repeated pattern of conduct; Mr. Lautner just happens to be a high profile customer that is holding them accountable.  Indeed, Mr. McMahon, through his attorney, has already apologized to the Lautners for his and his company’s conduct.  While we will not dignify Mr. McMahon’s facetious suggestion of a contest to settle a legal claim with a response, we do welcome the opportunity for him to resolve this matter by making a $40,000 donation to the charity of Mr. Lautner’s choice, and we will be in touch with his counsel to see if he will make good on this offer.”

The Hollywood Reporter also has an excellent blow-by-blow description of this whole thing from the get-go, if you want the nitty gritty details.

So, what do you think about this whole mess?