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Posted: Sunday, 29 November 2009 9:04AM
Writer sues over Indiana 'repo man' story
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HAMMOND, Ind. (STNG) -- A Salon.com writer is countersuing a Valparaiso, Ind., businessman over plans to produce a movie about the gun- and action-filled life of a man who reposesses high-end items.
Marc Weingarten says in his counterclaim, filed in U.S. District Court in Hammond, Ind., that Nick Popovich lied to Weingarten about his role in his Valparaiso-based business, Sage Popovich Inc., which repossesses yachts, airplanes and other luxury items from owners who fall behind on payments and that Popovich is a "con-man."
Popovich filed the original lawsuit in September, claiming that Weingarten, who had written an article detailing Popovich's business, had sold Popovich's life story to Paramount Pictures for a movie and that prevented Popovich from selling the story himself.
Weingarten said in his response, though, that Popovich lied to him and other people about flying his employees into dangerous situations and that Popovich has not had his pilot's license for 25 years. That's why Popovich hasn't been able to sell his story, Weingarten claims.
He also says in his counterclaim that his story is not and never was based on Popovich but on repo men dealing with luxury items in general and is fictional. Instead, Weingarten is suing Popovich for defamation and for using Weingarten's story, which Weingarten owns the rights to, to make money. Weingarten is asking for punitive damages and any profits Popovich makes that came because of Weingarten's story.
Popovich is making a reality-based TV show based on his company for Discovery Channel, according to several news reports. The show is supposed to start next year.
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Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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