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The Omega Syndrome author VS TBN, et al TBN Lawsuit Update! SYLVIA FLEENER, author of The Omega Syndrome, filed suit in Los Angeles, Federal Court against Trinity Broadcast Network and it's founders, Paul and Jan Crouch, additionally naming their son Matthew Crouch, TBN Films, Inc., Gener8Xion Entertainment, Inc., Western Front, Ltd. along with writers Stephan Blinn, Hollis Barton and Lance Charles for copyright and trademark infringement for their use of her original novel, The Omega Syndrome, in the creation process of the Christian movie and book, The Omega Code.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs. Fleener is very ably represented in this action by intellectual property attorney Daniel J. Quisenberry, copyright and trademark specialist of the law firm Nevers, Palazzo, Maddux & Packard of Los Angeles, California. Some significant milestones in the case have been: On October 30th, 2000, Judge Baird issued her DENIAL of Defendants MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT, we lost a few points alledged in the CLAIM, but prvailed overall. On December 4th, 2000, the Judge announced she will FURTHER DENY any MOTION TO APPEAL the Final Ruling she had previously rendered. Trinity Broadcasting Network's attorneys submitted responses to the Plaintiff's Interrogatories which included the following broad and unilateral denials. "TBN declares they have no contracts with any other Defendants in this case. They never produced or promoted the film. They want "Protective Orders" before releasing any financial disclosure documentation. They are "not a subsidiary" of any corporation. They have never given away The Omega Code. Well, somebody did and does. If Trinity Broadcast Network has no contracts, nor records of any (then who does?), they made no financial arrangements, have no promotional materials, did not produce, nor assist in anyway with this film. WHAT GIVES OVER THERE? They have referred to it as "Paul's End-Times movie, the "partner's film", .etc., etc. Mr. Quisenberry prevailed in his Motion to Join TCCSA (Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana, Inc.); as apparently most of the TBN family of companies (28 known corporations) are basically just TCCSA's dba's. The TBN logo you see on all their properties, products, letterhead and is splashed throughout their broadcasts is a registered trademark of? You guessed it, TCCSA. Now we're getting somewhere. On the final day for submittal of SUBSTANTIVE MOTIONS before the Court, TBN filed another MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. A ponderous set of documents accompanied this 3rd Motion to the court. With only 5 days to respond, Mr. Quisenberry applied to the court and was granted a 10 day continuance. Unfortunate, but necessary. Because of TBN's "Fall Telethon" and the coming holidays, the trial date is moved to January 2, 2002. August 27, 2001 - Judge Baird's Tentative Ruling is issued; this Motion was also DENIED by Judge Baird. The Defendent's Motion (their third try) is again DENIED. September 10, 2001 - In her FINAL RULING Judge Baird's findings are overwhelmingly for the Plaintiff and states that substantial triable issues exist in this case. She further stated that the same arguments all over again were getting them nowhere... We continue our substantially "perfect" record (12 for 12) on hotly contested issues and motions before this court.
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