Entertainment One Television USA LLC and Endemol Shine North America have reached a settlement of a lawsuit in which Endemol alleged the defendants shortchanged the plaintiff out of its share of profits for the Western television series “Hell on Wheels.”
Endemol’s Los Angeles Superior Court complaint contended that eOne kept for itself tens of millions of dollars in production tax subsidies and shared none of it with Endemol. On Monday, attorneys told Judge William F. Fahey that an accord was reached, but no terms were revealed.
In their previous court papers, defense attorneys denied Endemol’s allegations. The eOne lawyers said that while the plaintiff is best known for producing reality television, its legal arguments demonstrated “historical fiction.” The same attorneys maintained that 100% of the tax credits were indeed shared with Endemol.
“Hell on Wheels,” which aired on the AMC network from 2011-16, dealt with the construction of the U.S. transcontinental railroad and was produced by eOne.
“Endemol also entrusted eOne with responsibility for distributing the series in certain territories and sharing the revenues it collected,” the suit filed May 10 stated.
An inspection of eOne’s books revealed, however, that eOne took advantage of its role, kept for itself tens of millions of dollars in production tax subsidies and cheated Endemol, according to the suit.