Charlie Sheen sues Warner Bros., Chuck Lorre for $100 million

Charlie Sheen, just days after being fired from CBS' "Two and a Half Men," has fired back with a $100-million lawsuit against Warner Bros. and Chuck Lorre, the studio and executive producer behind the show.

The suit, filed Thursday morning in Santa Monica Superior Court, charges that Sheen was only fired from the show because he had recently criticized Lorre both on radio and television. Warner Bros., in a letter to Sheen's attorney Martin Singer, had said Sheen was fired because he had become a liability on the show and his erratic off-stage life had started to affect his ability to perform. (Here is a copy of the suit.) The suit also says it is pursuing claims for the benefit of the entire cast , crew and actors to be paid for the rest of the current TV season.

Sheen's "conduct and condition prevented him from performing his essential duties" and undermined Lorre and Warner Bros.' ability to produce the show, and his suspension and eventual firing were required, the studio said.

RELATED: Charlie Sheen: 'This could be my final interview'

Singer fired back that Sheen had been in compliance with his contract and was ready to return to work after production was shut down so the performer could seek treatment for substance-abuse issues.

CBS and Warner Bros. pulled the plug on the show for the season and then fired Sheen, who had continued to attack the network, studio and Lorre.

Warner Bros. had no comment on the suit. The studio has indicated that it believes its contract with Sheen calls for arbitration to resolve any differences over the terms of his deal.

RELATED:

Document: Read the full lawsuit Sheen filed against Warner Bros. and Chuck Lorre

With Charlie Sheen gone, CBS and Warner Bros. need to decide fate of `Two and a Half Men'

Charlie Sheen fired from 'Two and a Half Men'

-- Joe Flint

For the record this post was clarifed to reflect that Sheen's suit is "pursuing claims for the benefit of the show's entire cast and crew."

Photo: Jon Cryer, left, and Charlie Sheen on "Two and a Half Men." Credit: Greg Gayne / CBS/Associated Press

Comments

[Ray]

Good! I hope he wins.

[Whiffed]

This just shows that any butthead can file a lawsuit, even one so thoroughly messed up as Sheen. WB should counter sue that Sheen's behavior damaged the reputation and quality of the show, and as such, he was in breach of contract.

[livingthesheen]

the fools and trolls picked a fight with a warlock. they had this coming to them. see all the winning Charlie Sheen quotes on www.livingthesheen.com

[Mark]

Um, I don't know... let's see, winning?!?!?!?!

[Marlena]

Isn't "addiction" an illness; therefore he was fired because he was sick - I think he's going to WINNNNN this one. Furthermore, he will earn $100 million whether he works for them or not.

[Robyn Henderson]

Charlie.......
You disgust me! I also am an addict. I have no problem admitting it!!! I live my life the way I choose and that's okay with me. However, this world isn't based on the same issues that I have. How dare you think that because you like to play pretend on TV you are entitled to more than I am. I work a real job, go to real school and have to confront real problems that no amount of money can fix. You should be lucky for what you have. Call it quits and walk away with your head held high. If you truly believe you are right, take your millions and just walk away. Don't make us taxpayers pay for the court costs that make you have more millions!!! Just like my father said..... You want to be treated like an adult, start acting like one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[G]

Absolutely agree. Any idot can file a lawsuit.

This guy is not interesting, nor funny. Denise Richards is finally VINDICATED. I hope his kids can shake all the negative energy cast off from there father.

I hope he gets the medical and psychological assistance he needs. And he needs it bad. Let another actor have a chance.
Charlie blew it.. Suggestion, bring back Emilio. He is funny and cool and not a Butthead !

[Angela Marie]

My husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Two and A Half Men for all the years the show has been on, and we will miss it if it does not return, with or without Charlie Sheen. Charlie Sheen is an arrogant man who has lost touch with reality and overfilled with self importance. I thought the man was acting on the show, who knew he actually lived the life he portrayed on it! The man needs help, and self help isn't doing it. I feel he should be countersued, but he definitely shouldn't get a dime and shouldn't win his suit in any way, shape, or form! I'm starting to think he needs to be committed to an insane asylum for all his ranting and such. Does anyone in their right mind actually feel like they are omnipotent?

[Pirromount]

If Sheen wants to spend whatever money he has left trying to sue, I say, let him. He'll go through his money, lose the case, and then ultimately lose his porn goddesses who everyone but he can see that when the money is gone, so are they.

[Jrwkilleen]

Charlie Sheen called his former co-star Jon Cryer a turncoat, a traitor, and a troll. He then turned to a different page in his dictionary and called him a ukulele, an umbrella, and a unicorn.

Nut case extraordinaire.

[mala]

The coin is finally dropped.. no more two and a half men with Charlie ever.
Deeply dissapointed.

[Wepo]

Guys,

He was doing fine at his job, the show is no.1 in the US - does anyone here credibly believe that (as the lead) Sheen wasn't at least in significant part doing his job and making the show the huge cash cow it had become for the network. So he had a little time off to go for treatment, lots of people enjoy that right, have all the execs in the studio lived drug free lives?

Is Charlie messed up? Yes, but God I wish I was lucky enough to be as messed up as he is (millionaire, loved by millions, surrounded but beautiful women and raising hell) but alas I'm just not that lucky!

Good luck Charlie - hope you take 'em for their houses!

[Raymond A Motley]

Sheen has a first Amendment right to complain about about the producer foiled him and how he has been treated on the show. All the players including the studio are Public Figures so there can not be defamation unless it was done with malice. Hence the Studio was wrong in punishing Sheen for exercising a fundamental right to speak out. His delivery is not the issue nor is his personal life. He should win the $100 million plus punitive damages in opinion.

[paperneedsaneditor]

"believes it contract with Sheen" - replace "it" with "its" and you are back in business!

Sadly, there are fewer typos on TMZ's breaking news posts.

[Jon K.]

Unless there's a clear morals clause in his contract, I think this could be a tough one for Warner Brothers.

[arty]

Who f*c*e* cares!! This is getting ridiculous. Any media that gives him the times of day should loose their reputation for being serious about the news. Your no more reputable then a teen magazine.

[Joe Flint]

To Paper needs editor.

We write fast and post fast and sometimes typos and errors slip through the cracks. We try to catch them and try to correct them.

[Arif Shah]

Charlie Sheen, just days after being fired from CBS' "Two and a Half Men," has fired back with a $100-million lawsuit on behalf of himself and the show's crew against Warner Bros. and Chuck Lorre, the studio and executive producer of the show, respectively.
==========================================================
786
V
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>Mr. Charlie SheenWala Ho Aalam<

Arif Shah
U S A

[antyfed]

He's "Winning!" He WILL get money from the studio.

[Mariah Gonzalez]

If National Enquirer can lie and sell stories about whoever public figure they want without getting sue. I don't understand why Charlie Sheen cannot talk about the Chuck Lorre or whoever he feels like.
If the guy likes to talk that his personal problem (a talker) but if he is a good actor and responsible with his job that is what counts.

Same thing happen to Rick Sanchez I though that what a democracy is. You can talk!

[Big Sam]

"Sheen was fired because he had become a liability on the show and his erratic off-stage life had started to affect his ability to perform. " I did not know the ratings for the show had been adversely affected. It was not until he had a problem with Chuck Lorre and Warner Bros. that all of this hoopla over his behavior surfaced and became an issue. What a sham.

[Rod]

Sheen's character is a wealthy, alcoholic, prostitute soliciting guy that lives in Malibu.

It was a real stretch for Charlie to pretend he doesn't live in Malibu.

[budhardt3]

I am shocked by some of the comments posted here. I cannot believe that there are still some people stupid enough to think Charlie Sheen's nutball antics are great.

Every time he opens his mouth lately he is only proving that his brain is quickly deteriorating.

He is not winning, people!! He is slowly dying right before our very eyes.

It's sad and tragic.

[parker]

Charlie needs money to pay for that multi million play house he just bought and lifestyle, i do not think he was canned so much for his public and online antics as much as calling out everyone he worked with on the show. Even if you have adversed opinions about the Company you work for it is always best not to burn any bridges by insulting fellow employees or your Boss you never know when you may need that Option again.If you are moving on move on with dignity and humilty. He would still be on the show if he would have just kept his mouth shut. Charlie is the best example of how Fame can go to your head. Good luck with Major League3 dude.

[Chris]

I don't see how he has a leg to stand on in this. The breakdown of his mind and body happened so publically he can't rely on the benefit of the doubt. Nothing he has done in this can be considered rational.
WB, and I don't speak for them, probably hasn't gone after him because of his condition which is fatal if not treated. They'd be seen as the bully kicking a wounded puppy.

No matter what anyone thinks Sheen's illness is obvious to most anyone with knowledge of addiction. This is pretty much what all addicts do in some form or another when they lose touch with reality and become homeless becuase they can no longer function in normal society. Sheen has got money so he won't be homless very soon, but sooner than most would think given the poor choices he keeps making.

I would also like to point out something I learned about addiction and that is an addict always seeks the company of those with whom he can compare himself favorably. As the addiction progresses and behaviors on the list of "I'd never do that" things gets shorter and shorter, the quality of these people diminishes. Thus his hanging out with porn actresses. He has to fall pretty far before he starts haveing to compare himself favorably with someone in an even lower social position. His mysogyny also helps here.

Do you notice there are no successful men permanently in his life? Regular long term contact with a well adjusted healthy successful man would make him have to confront his condition internally. The constant contact would make it so he'd have to start making the comparisons that we all do, and his negative behavior would be too apparent for him to maintain denial. So he'd have to sabotage the relationship (ie; his dad, Chuck Lorre, John Cryer etc...) so he could have a "reason" for ending the contact that makes him uncomfortable.

It sounds kind of knowitall but I think its very apt and its true of all addicts. I've never known one who didn't do this including myself.

I hope he comes out of this but I think we've seen the last of the Charlie Sheen we all liked to watch on tv and film a while ago. If he lives through this to regain sobriety he's going to be like Gary Busey, the man we came to know and love is gone and the man who is left is unrecognizable.