(1975) Tags: Warner Bros.
Wojtowicz v. Delacorte Press
GEORGE HEATH v. JOHN S. WOJTOWICZ
Wojtowicz v. Delacorte Press
This action had its genesis in the bizarre events which took place at a Brooklyn bank on August 22, 1972. On that date John Wojtowicz and Sal Naturile attempted, unsuccessfully, to rob a branch of the Chase Manhattan Bank. They became trapped in the bank with eight hostages when the bank was surrounded by the police. The events which unfolded for the next several hours were the subject of live television coverage. This event was then dramatized into Sidney Lumet’s film ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ starring Al Pacino.
Plaintiff in this case is the wife of Wojtowicz. In the movie the wife is depicted as a rather loquacious and unpleasant person and it could be implied from the movie that she was, at least in part, the cause of her husband’s problems. She sues Warner Bros and the other defendants for invasion of right to privacy.
Judgment: Order, Supreme Court, New York County, entered on September 13, 1976, so far as appealed from, unanimously reversed, on the law, the first, second, fifth and sixth causes of action of the complaint dismissed and severed as to defendants-appellants Delacorte Press and Dell Publishing Co., Inc., and the ninth and tenth causes of action of the complaint dismissed and severed as to defendants-appellants Delacorte Press, Dell Publishing Co., Inc., Warner Bros., Inc., and Artists Entertainment Complex, Inc., without costs and without disbursements.
GEORGE HEATH v. JOHN S. WOJTOWICZ
In this action, plaintiff George Heath has pursued for more than 30 years, his rights lo a portion of the royalties from the film “Dog Day Afternoon,” based on funds due and owing to the late defendant John S. Wojtowiez, who committed the bank robbery that was the subject of the film.
Read the full court report below for further information.