Marcia J. Harris

310.552.0130

Experience

  • Practice in state and federal courts and alternative dispute resolution forums focuses on entertainment litigation, with particular emphasis on accounting and profit participation disputes in the television and motion picture industries, and disputes involving talent agencies.
  • Areas of concentration include accounting and profit participation disputes, "vertical integration" claims by profit participants in the entertainment industry, and disputes involving talent agencies.
  • Clientele includes writers, directors, producers, and actors, as well as talent agencies and personal management companies, and more recently insurance companies insuring risks in the entertainment industry.
  • The Chicago Tribune

Represent Celador International, Ltd. in Celador International, Ltd. v. The Walt Disney Company, a dispute over profits from the highly successful television show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"  A federal jury awarded Celador, the creator of the show, $270 million in damages after finding that Disney's subsidiaries, ABC Television, Buena Vista Television, and Valleycrest Productions had breached their profit sharing contract with Celador and their duty to deal fairly and in good faith with Celador.  On September 27, 2010, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California awarded $50 million in prejudgment interest to Celador, bringing the total to $320 million in damages.  On December 3, 2012, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the entire verdict and awarded the plaintiff its costs on appeal.  On February 26, 2013, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously denied Disney’s petition for rehearing and review of the $320 million jury verdict and judgment in favor of Celador.

Super Lawyers Marcia Harris
  • Recognized in the Los Angeles Daily Journal among the "Top 75 Women Litigators" (2005)
  • Named in Chambers USA (2007-2015)
  • Named in The Best Lawyers in America, Entertainment Law - Motion Picture & Television (2007-2025 editions)
  • Selected as a "WIN Outstanding Woman" by the Women's Image Network (2006)
  • Named a "Southern California Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers (2005-2006, 2009-Present)
  • Western Center on Law and Poverty, Board Member
Bar Admissions
  • California
Education
  • Loyola Law School, J.D.  (1977)
  • University of Missouri School of Journalism, Bachelors of Journalism, with honors(1967), Outstanding Senior Journalism Student
Professional Associations
  • Litigation Counsel of America (LCA) Trial Lawyer Honor Society
  • Beverly Hills Bar Association
  • Century City Bar Association
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • American Cinematheque
  • Women in Film
  • Chambers and Partners
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • Super Lawyers
  • Has lectured at numerous seminars sponsored by the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County Bar Associations, and by the Association of Talent Agents regarding entertainment litigation matters.
  • Guest speaker, Stanford, Boalt Hall, UCLA, USC, Loyola, and Pepperdine law schools regarding accounting and profit participation disputes and other litigation issues in the entertainment industry.

  • Topics in Entertainment Law: Introduction to Television (Panel)
    USC Gould School of Law, Los Angeles, California (February 5, 2011)
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