The lawsuit filed by David Hester, a former star of A&E channels hit reality TV show Storage Wars, appears headed for trial after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson last week allowed Hesters claim that he was wrongfully terminated to stand. Filed last December, the suit claims Hester was fired after complaining the show was rigged.
Hester alleges the shows producers, Original Productions, frequently placed valuable items in self-storage units up for auction, including those owned by cast members or borrowed from antique dealers in exchange for an appearance on the show. The lawsuit also claims producers gave cash to weaker buyers on the show so they could bid on auctioned units they couldnt otherwise afford.
A&Es response accused Hester of trying to portray himself as a whistleblower and argued that he was really just angry about the way contract negotiations had progressed. Attorneys for the defendants also filed an anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) motion arguing, in part, that Storage Wars was protected by the First Amendment.
A&E scored a victory in March when its lawyers convinced the court to reject the lawsuits claim of unfair business practices. Along with upholding a portion of the anti-SLAPP motion, the court also ordered Hester to pay $122,692 of the defendants' legal costs.
In allowing the wrongful-termination claim in his ruling last week, Judge Johnson allowed Hesters pursuit to recover money over his exit from the show. He is suing for $750,000 in general damages and could seek more in punitive damages. The judge ruled that Hesters wrongful-termination claim doesnt have anything to do with A&Es First Amendment rights.
At the courts urging, Hesters attorneys agreed to amend the complaint, withdrawing the original suits demand for an injunction to end the alleged rigged practices on the show.
The court also rejected the defendants argument that the federal Communications Act and Californias Unfair Competition Law do not apply to the case. Judge Johnson said Hester would not have to prove a violation occurred in order to win a wrongful-termination claim, instead needing only to raise reasonably based suspicions.
"The allegations concerning federal and state law and the practices are necessary components of Plaintiffs claims," the judge wrote in his ruling. "Without them one could not understand Plaintiffs causes of action. Plaintiffs claim for punitive damages contains sufficient factual allegations. Whether or not Plaintiff can prove his allegations is not the function of a motion to strike."
A trial date has not been set.
Sources:
- The Hollywood Reporter: David Hester Ordered to Pay A&E's Legal Fees in 'Storage Wars' Rigging Lawsuit
- The Hollywood Reporter: Fired 'Storage Wars' Star Wins Round in Rigging Lawsuit
- The Storage Facilitator: David Hester Wins Round in Ongoing ‘Storage Wars’ Battle
