Split Decision in Widow's Suit Against WWE Over Use of Wrestler Owen Hart's Likeness

As World Wrestling Entertainment prepared for this weekend's Wrestlemania XXVIII—which features a heavily hyped match between John Cena and wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson—the company claimed a partial win in the latest round of its ongoing legal skirmish with onetime WWE star Owen Hart's widow.

On Wednesday, Connecticut federal district court judge Stefan Underhill dismissed most of Martha Hart's claims against the company, and dismissed all of her claims against WWE chairman and chief executive officer Vince McMahon and his wife, former WWE CEO and current Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon.

Underhill's ruling didn't throw Martha Hart for a total loss. The judge allowed her claim for unpaid royalties against the WWE to move forward.

WWE attorney McDevitt tells The Am Law Daily he is pleased the court adopted his position with regard to the intellectual property issues.

"We were correct on our interpretation of the booking agreement," says McDevitt, who was in Miami Friday, getting ready to attend Wrestlemania. What happens now, McDevitt says, is up to Martha Hart. "I don't know whether she wants to resolve it. We've always been willing to talk. If she wants to talk to us, she can."

Martha Hart's attorney, Rubenstein, says his client intends to continue pursuing the case and is still considering the judge's decision...More?

source: amlawdaily