Bam Margera filed suit against MTV, Paramount Pictures and several individuals Monday, alleging the group wrongfully terminated him from the upcoming “Jackass 4” film for breaching an agreement that required him to maintain his sobriety.
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Margera, whose real name is Brandon, says he was forced under duress to sign a “wellness agreement” while in a rehabilitation facility, but was later fired from the latest installment of the “Jackass” film franchise even though he never violated the agreement.
The suit includes claims for violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, California’s Labor Code, the Unruh Civil Rights Act and Unfair Competition Law, as well as for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and common law copyright infringement.
The “Jackass” franchise originated as an MTV show featuring Margera and others performing outlandish and dangerous stunts, considered by some to be “low brow.” It eventually bloomed into a successful film series involving top talent in the industry.
The individuals included in the suit span several involved in the project. Spike Jonze is a producer on the film and co-creator of the television series, Jeffrey Tremaine the director, and Johnny Knoxville a co-star.
“Margera is not only the star of the television show and film franchise that has made Paramount and MTV hundreds of millions of dollars to date, but a co-writer and producer who came up with the vast majority of the franchise’s most memorable content,” Margera said.
He continued, “While Margera has given Jackass — quite literally — more than two decades worth of his blood, sweat and tears, defendants have not repaid him in kind. Rather, Margera, who has a documented history of physical and mental health issues, including diagnosed bipolar disorder, has been the victim of unconscionable discrimination at the hands of defendants.”
Margera, who like his “Jackass” costars, has had a long history with drug and alcohol abuse. The 2019 trip to rehab in question was not his first tenure, in fact Margera starred in, co-wrote and produced the series’ most successful film, “Jackass 3D” shortly after first entering rehab in 2009.
The wellness agreement, described by Margera’s lawyers as “draconian”, required Bam to complete daily drug tests, breathalyzer and urinalysis tests and to video chat with a doctor every morning to ensure he was taking his prescription medications. According to the suit, If he violated the agreement, he would face immediate termination from the Jackass franchise.
Margera stated even though he was complying with the agreement, the defendants terminated him for taking prescription Adderall, a drug he has been prescribed for more than 10 years.
“Paramount’s inhumane treatment of Margera cannot be countenanced,” the suit states. “Margera was made to endure psychological torture in the form of a sham wellness agreement, and then ultimately terminated for his protected class status due to his medical condition, and his complaints about defendants’ discriminatory conduct towards him.”
The lawsuit also seeks an order permanently preventing the defendants from “releasing and/or distributing Jackass 4 or any other film procured by virtue of discriminating against employees with protected physical and/or mental disabilities or medical conditions.”
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Source: https://www.law360.com/articles/1411168?sidebar=true
