Drug Agents Fail To Sue American Gangster Makers

The studio behind RUSSELL CROWE and DENZEL WASHINGTON’s hit movie AMERICAN
GANGSTER is “gratified” after a judge threw out a $60 million (#30 million)
lawsuit against it.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon dismissed a case filed by a group of
retired federal drug enforcement agents who attempted to sue Universal Pictures
over claims they’re portrayed as bad guys in the film.

The suit alleged the movie, based on the real life battle to bring 1970s drug
boss Frank Lucas to justice, defamed hundreds of Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) agents and police officers.

But McMahon dismissed the case, saying the movie failed to “show a single
person who is identifiable as a DEA agent”, and therefore failed to meet
defamation law standards.

A spokesman for Universal Pictures says, “We are happy that this matter has
been brought to a swift and decisive close.”

(LJ/WNWCAAB/LR)