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

[jack]

WB, Lorre, and CBS don't have a legal leg to stand on. They can't claim that his behavior ruined the show when he was playing his TV character in real life. Also, he has a valid claim of psychological damages from public humiliation by Lorre on Vanity Cards, and he was ready to work.

Only a fool and a troll, someone who's mind is dumbed down by low quality writing such as Lorre's, and vaccines, cannot see the brilliance and winning qualities of Charlie Sheen.

[Judy C S]

Charlie who? Hey, Chuck Lorre, I'm with you and I can't wait for Rob Lowe to replace the idiot, trouble-maker!

[sandra]

listen everyone we all no they made a big mistake getting rid of charlie from two and a half men. And if they think it well still make the money that they where making with charlie there wrong because with out him there is no two and a half men. personaly i am a big fan of the show and im writting you all the way from manitoba and everyone here feels the same way i do. the only reason they are talking crap about him is because he is famus. you need to be a shame of your selfs. what he does on hes own time is no ones bussness.

[Hung Lo]

Charlie seems to be "Winning" at what cost? At least he could update us on the "Score".

[Claude]

Charlie Sheen rules!! Lorre YOU´RE GOING DOWN!!

[LiChDom]

You call what is happening to this man Winning?? What is money if you are 6 feet under? He has lost just about everyone's respect. He couldn't act on the last few shows because his mind is so fried. His co-stars have the good grace to see someone they have worked with for 8 years going down the toilet and have refused to contribute to this fiasco. They have shown more compassion for Charlie then the 2 blond idiots at his elbow ever did. Anyone who hopes he wins this lawsuit has no real interest in him getting help. This man is drowning. I feel so sorry for his family and "true" friends.

[Kid_Rock1]

He can sue anyone and has a good chance, Ray doesn't understand the laws. What reputation of the show are you talking about, have you ever watched the show.

[John C Palka]

What's charlie's thinking?Chuck woke up one morning,heard charlie said lick my feet and then fired him?No matter how much money charlie has,i'm guessing Chuck Lorre has more.I'm sure Mr. Lorre contacted his highy skilled and paid team of attorney's with his plan.Apparently those lawyers who get alot of money to read every page of those contracts told Mr.Lorre that he was well within his legal rights to fire that deadbeat.Good luck Mr.Sheen.

[James S]

I hope he wins and his co stars back him against WB

[tw]

Lets face it, Charlie is a mess....no insurance company will bond him for his next
television or film role because he's too much of a risk.....and with that on the table, no producer or director will touch him...he's to unreliable, a loose cannon and he needs 6 months or rehab......

[Jim Valko]

If Sheen wins this because addition is an "illness" I'm moving to another country. The shrinks have pulled off the biggest scam of all time: convincing everyone that behavior is an "illness." What ever happened to personal responsibility?

[LA DOC00]

Go Sheen! To heck with WB. Down with the suits! Up with the artists!

[Drew]

I guess Charlie isn't going to own the fact that he is strung out on blow. Just like all Hollywood babies and abusers, blame someone else.

[Lin Ting]

To: Raymond A Motley
His delivery is not the issue nor is his personal life. He should win the $100 million plus punitive damages in opinion.

Maybe YOU should pay him since you seem to lack understanding of what this idiot has caused to so many people. Of course his delivery is the issue, when you are too worn out due to a 36 hour coke fest that you have to lean on a prop, you are not doing your job well.

Why would this idiot even deserve the 1.8 million he was getting per episode and now you think he deserves 100 million. It is because of people like you that celebrities think they are entitled to anything and you allow this type of behavior.

I am so sick of seeing his sick face all over the TV, I will never watch him again.

[gwl]

TV shows get canceled all the time for whatever reason. If the show creators or CBS feels that their product is suffering or cannot resume production, they have every right to stop production.

[L4F]

He's a drug addict! He broke the law! He has no right to sue and if the judge has any sense of decency he or she should throw away that junk lawsuit ASAP.
http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/

[scoot]

He just might win the lawsuit, if he doesn't die from an overdose first.

[sidewalk]

The downside of an employment contract - it encourages the most disgraceful, insulting behavior because a lawsuit can be filed if the person gets fired. Most people who work do not have the privilege to insult their boss publicly and get away with it by flipping the middle finger. Charlie is setting the worst kind of example for our children.

[Pepina]

A short note to the "I hope he wins" -ers.

The guy is not eloquent, he's not ballsy, he's not prophetic, and he is certainly not brave, noble and passionate. The guy is sick. Period. Amazes me, to no end, that the very people who would not dream ingesting a hotdog and who regularly cross the street to avoid a wisp of cigarette smoke, have not taken into account the mental and physiological damage that was done by his over the top drug use.

There is, often, a manic period, following the cessation of heavy drug use, that is similar to the DTs (delirium tremens) that alcoholics experience. If his "friends" had bothered to recognize his symptoms, rather than capitalizing on them, he might be getting the help he so urgently needs. And to those fans who reverently express their adoration for Mr. Sheen; if you really cared one whit about him, you would be urging him toward treatment rather than applauding his obvious physical and mental fragmentation.

[jojo]

Only reason Sheen is getting the bum rap is because he questioned Spet 11 2001 attacks and for obvious reason Israel Firsters need to rub him our.
Sheen-even with his drug related problems--he is a brave man.
Sad part is that the slogan--Home of the brave, Land of the free--sure does not apply too many obtuse Americans :^(

[NotOrlyTaitz]

I smell a Motion to Compel Arbitration coming! In the 11 page letter sent to Sheen's lawyer the other day, WB lawyers referenced an arbitration clause in the contract. Of course Sheen's lawyers know this; they just wanted to milk more publicity out of this. Oh, and good luck trying to recover on behalf of Plaintiffs you don't represent!

[Erwin]

Lawsuits like this are won by whoever has the deepest pockets to hire the best legal team. Sorry Charlie.

[rory]

I'm a big fan of 'Two and a Half Men' here in Dublin Ireland. Charlie Sheen is excellent as are the others particulary the mother but they are lucky they have such good writers. Aside from some of the gross out lines the writing is top notch. The episode where Alan starts to think he might be gay is one of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV. That said it really has run it's course at this stage and Charlie and the others should realise that however good they are they are really just actors who got lucky. Very lucky. Considering what people are going through here and in America and elsewhere with reposessions and the like, Charlie Sheen should be ashamed of himself to abuse his good fotune like he's doing. He really needs Bertha to put him in his place.

[Mark]

Try as I may to find real news on this website...so out of morbid curiosity I saw this piece about an uneducated blivot whos entire world is "me,me,me...more about me"...and the really sad thing, is that people actually follow this stuff and spend their time to determine who's right, who's wrong...as if this man is their neighbor, friend or relative.
Hello people, this is a person that you don't know, he's not a friend and he's addicted to seeing his picture or likeness in the media...like every other sad court jester that this town worships...get your priorities in check will you

[Pepina]

Jojo.. you've been listening to Randy Quaid again, haven't you.... Your time might be better spent learning to 1) type, 2) spell and, last but not least, 3) refrain from insulting a people that you, obviously, know nothing about.