(1989) Tags: Disney
CHRISTINE WAGNER v. Walt Disney Pictures
Plaintiff Christine Wagner is the widow and sole heir of Raymond J. Wagner, who produced “Turner and Hooch,” a comedy-thriller starring Tom Hanks and a dog. The film grossed over $167,000,000 in worldwide gross receipts and was the 16th biggest movie of 1989. Amazingly, Disney reported that the film is not in profits and did not send any statement of accounting to Christine Wagner for over 20 years, until her counsel requested an updated statement which was finally rendered for the period ending March 31, 2014.
Robinson Inc. was retained by Wagner to do an audit at Disney for “Turner & Hooch”. Disney refused to let Robinson Inc. perform the audit, claiming that Robinson Inc. was not a nationally recognized firm. In response to these refusals to let Robinson Inc. do the audit it was hired to do, Plaintiffs informed Disney of Robinson Inc.’s expertise in this area of profit participation audits and the experience and national recognition of the firm. However, Disney still refused to permit Robinson Inc. to go forward with these audits.