Buddy Hackett's Son Sues 'Rat Pack' Partners
LAS VEGAS (CN) - The son of the late Buddy Hackett says his former
business partners conned him out of his rights to a Rat Pack-inspired
musical he wrote. Sandy Hackett claims he wrote "The Tribute to Frank,
Sammy, Joey and Dean" aka"The Rat Pack Is Back" in 2001.
The
show has been running in Las Vegas since 2002, with the plaintiff
playing the role of Joey Bishop.
Hackett
says defendant Richard Feeney "orchestrated a campaign of causing
marital discord" between Hackett and his wife, "in an effort to make it
appear that [Hackett] had to sell his interest" in the show.
"Defendant
Feeney carried on a bitter campaign in the press maligning plaintiff's
wife, fueling marital problems for plaintiff and causing plaintiff to be
distraught," the lawsuit states.
Hackett's
wife filed for divorce on Sept. 5, 2006. The next month, "seeking to
take advantage of plaintiff," Feeney and Arthur Petrie convinced Hackett
to sell his membership interests for $40,000, "a fraction of its true
value," to "prevent any prospect of plaintiff's wife having any input or
control" over the show, according to the complaint.
Hackett
says the defendants told him the sale of his rights would be in name
only, and he could to take back his interest at any time. Hackett and
his wife did not divorce, however, and Hackett says he tried to cancel
the contract by returning the $40,000.
But
by 2009, tensions arose over marketing and production of the show, and
on Sept. 9, defendants cut him out, Hackett says. Hackett says he
cheated of his rights to the show; he seeks damages for copyright
infringement, fraud and breach of contract, among other things.
The Plaza Hotel and Casino, where the show is running, also is named as a defendant.
Hackett
is represented by Howard King with King Holmes Paterno of Los Angeles.
His father, Buddy Hackett, died in 2003.