Judge tosses out lawsuit against J.Lo

TV writer claimed the actress had stolen his idea for ‘South Beach’

Evan Agostini / AP	A judge on April 30 tossed out a lawsuit by a television writer who claimed Jennifer Lopez (pictured) had a hand in stealing his idea for a TV series.

Celebrity video

‘Crazy Heart’ star on Golden Globe nod
Dec. 15: Four-time Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges chats with the TODAY hosts about his role in the new movie “Crazy Heart,” for which he was just nominated for a Golden Globe.

Bravo's Andy Cohen on Tiger Woods, Jon Gosselin

Nicole Kidman opens up about ‘Nine’

As Tiger takes break, brand takes a beating

Alleged Tiger Woods mistress kisses and tells

Bruce Willis’ advice for newlyweds

Slideshow

Best and worst celebrity fashions of 2009
From glamorous gowns to stylish suits to complete fashion failures, a look at the year in style.

more photos

updated 6:34 p.m. ET April 30, 2008

NEW YORK - A judge on Wednesday tossed out a lawsuit by a television writer who claimed Jennifer Lopez had a hand in stealing his idea for a TV series.

Writer Jack Bunick claimed in a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan that the series “South Beach” that debuted in January 2006 was too similar to a plot he described in 1999 for a pilot episode of a show that would have been called “South Beach Miami.” The lawsuit named Lopez, UPN, CBS Television and others as defendants.

The show, which has since been canceled, aired on UPN. The show was described as being about best friends Matt and Vincent, who left their lives in Brooklyn to move to South Beach in hope of finding a better future.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman said there’s inadequate evidence to take the case to trial. The judge also noted that Bunick admits his scripts includes generic ideas and commonplace elements and aspects of the South Beach, Miami club and modeling scene.

The judge said there was “in fact ... powerful evidence” that the defendants had independently created “South Beach.”

Slideshow
Celebrity sightings
Salma Hayek has a heart in Berlin, Taylor Lautner parties after “SNL,” Jake Gyllenhaal does the Spike Video Game Awards and more.
more photos
A lawyer for Lopez had said in court papers that although she was executive producer, Lopez was barely involved in the creation and development of “South Beach” and was only brought in at a later stage to “lend celebrity to the show.”