Arbitration between Danny Elfman and a woman who alleges the film and television composer breached the terms of a sexual harassment settlement agreement and owes $85,000 will begin next winter, the plaintiff’s attorney states in new court papers.
Pianist Nomi Abadi, 38, sued Elfman in Los Angeles Superior Court in July 2023. Abadi contends she met the 73-year-old Elfman in 2015 and that in 2018 they agreed to settle the sexual harassment allegations with Elfman making payments in four categories in various installments over five years totaling $830,000, but that Elfman failed to pay two $42,500 installments in July 2019 and 2021. It was not immediately clear if the $85,000 allegedly owed has increased with interest.
The agreement upon which Abadi’s contract claim is based includes an arbitration provision requiring that if a dispute arises relating to the enforcement or interpretation of the earlier settlement agreement, both sides would arbitrate their differences, according to court papers previously filed by Elfman’s attorneys. Judge Maurice A. Leiter, who previously presided over the case and has since retired, ruled in favor of Elfman in December 2023.
On Tuesday, Abadi’s attorney, Bobby Samini, filed court papers with the new judge in the case, Karine Mkrtchyan, in advance of a June 16 status conference informing her that arbitration before retired federal Judge Carla Woehrle is scheduled to begin March 9-12, 2027.
In a previous sworn declaration, Abadi said that under the settlement with Elfman, she is required to donate to a nonprofit organization that the IRS defines as a public charity. She said the gift fund was created with Elfman’s help and that she has donated the payments she has received so far to the Female Composer Safety League, which she founded in 2020, and intends to give the league the money allegedly owed by Elfman.