A businessman who says he provided aerial expertise to the producers of the upcoming film “Sully” is suing for allegedly being denied more than $250,000 in compensation for his work.
“Sully” is the latest film from Academy Award winning-director Clint Eastwood. The film stars Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Anna Gunn, and Laura Linney. The film hits theaters on Sept. 9.
The film focuses on Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who helped safely land a U.S. Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson River in New York City after the aircraft experienced problems while airborne in 2009.
The plaintiff in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit is Scott Heger. He is the CEO of Blair Adhesive Products Inc., which manufactures industrial adhesives, the suit states. He is suing Kiki Tree Productions Inc., Warner Bros. Pictures and producer Tim Moore.
A Warner Bros. representative could not be immediately reached.
The suit states the producers knew they would need to hire a consultant to make the airplane and pilot actions look authentic and that “the only member of the initial production crew with any piloting or aviation experience was Mr. Eastwood.”
Heger was asked to “provide expertise related to flying so that the actors would be able to realistically interact with the plane’s controls,” the suit states. “In addition, Heger “met one-on-one with Capt. Sullenberger to ask questions on behalf of his department and several other departments.”
Heger devoted six months of work on “Sully,” often up to 60 or more hours weekly, the suit states. The commitment cost his company other valuable business opportunities, the suit states.
Despite Heger’s contributions, Moore “reneged on his promises and representations with respect to Scott’s compensation,” the suit allegees.
Heger believes the film’s producers have “threatened to blacklist Blair and Scott should Scott take legal action to recover money owed to him,” according to the lawsuit.
Although Heger did not have a written contract with the producers, Moore verbally agreed to compensate him for his services, the suit states.
— City News Service