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By Balford HenryGleaner WriterMichael hylton.attorney for Rita Marley. widow of the late reggae megastar Bob Marley, says his client is looking at the possibility of settling out-of-court the, suit brought against her and other members of the family, as well as Unneisal Studios Florida, over the Marley theme complex planned for Florida Hslton told The Gleaner, how-e\ei. that an out-of-court settlement should not be seen as admitting guilt on Mrs Marley's part, as she has denied making any agreement with the complainant. Andrew Gaty “She denies having any agreement with Mr. Gaty and certainly does not agree that we used an idea of his.Hylton said he was trying to meet with lawyers for Gaty to seek an amicable agreement and that it was possible that the agreement could involve a monetary settlement:“It is often cheaper to reach a settlement than to go through with litigation, he added.Gaty. a Los Angeles film producer. has filed a US$1 million lawsuit against Universal Studios Florida. Rita Marley. Mrs Cedella Booker (Bob’s mother), Richard Booker (a brother). Marley Boys Inc. and three other Universal divisions connected with the theme park.Gaty claimed he was cut out of a deal to develop a Mai ley Theme Park complex for the Universal ■Studios Florida Amusement Park,Papers filed by Gaty’smttomeys in the Los Angeles Superior Court on June 9 claimed he had initiated the negotiations between the Marley heirs and Universal Studios, but that the idea was stolen from him without pernus-Mon or compensation.Exploit legacyIn February, 1996, Universal Studios announced plans for a Marley entertainment complex to be named ‘Bob Marley - A Tribute To Freedom’, which is scheduled to open early next year.Gaty claims in his lawsuit that he had approached the Marley heirs in early 1995 to discuss, “ways in which the Bob Marley name and legacy could be exploited for profit”.He said among the ideas he discussed with them were a film and replica ol Marley’s home on Hope Road (the Bob Marley Museum), which could be the model for a restaurant, club and retail venue. The Marley house would have been opened in different locations around the world,Gaty explained that he had suggested to the family that they take the idea to the executives at Universal Studios FloridaThe lawsuit claims Gaty sold the idea at a pitch meeting held in April, 1995, with all parties.Gaty had no written contract with either Universal or the Marleys. but claims they accepted his idea with the “knowledge and understanding that the idea was the property of Gaty and could not be used without his knowledge or consent”.However, Mr Hylton said Mrs. Marley has no recollection of meeting Gaty and reaching the said agreement. Universal has not commented on the matter so far.Mr. Hylton said he was arranging a meeting with Mrs. Booker and Richard Booker to discuss a settlement. Rita Marley was off the island when contacted on Monday for a comment.Mrs. Rita Marley (right), widow of reggae megastar Bob Marley, entertains Rol Festerling, (left), Universal Studios Florida's head chef, and Brian Gest, Universal Stiu Florida's food services operations director at the Queen of Sheba Restaurant at the , Marley Museum, Hope Road, last week. The two universal executives were in Jamaict look at the food available at the Museum, in order to copy the menu for the Florida tht park which opens early next year. Second right is Georgia, a regular at the Museum. U
Newspaper Details
Kingston Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Fri, Jul 25, 1997
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Richard O.
OH, USA 24 Nov 2018
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