A federal judge denied the WME’s request for an injunction that would have ended the WGA boycott of the agency until the antitrust case could go to trial. It is a major legal victory for the guild and should add pressure on the WME to resolve the longstanding dispute and sign the WGA franchise agreement, as well as all other major talent agencies.
In his ruling on Wednesday, United States district judge André Birotte Jr. said he denied the WME’s request because “The court has no jurisdiction to file an injunction because this issue involves a labor dispute as defined by Law Norris-LaGuardia ”. According to the Norris-LaGuardia Act, “No court shall have jurisdiction to issue any injunction in a case involving or arising out of a labor dispute, except in strict accordance” with the requirements of the law.
“In short,” decided the judge, “the Court has no jurisdiction to issue an injunction because the NLGA prevents it from doing so. As the precautionary measure is precluded, the Court need not delve into the merits of the (WME) FCC or any of the other strict requirements for issuing a precautionary measure. “
Read the decision here.
During a hearing on the matter on December 18, the judge urged the guild and agency to resolve the 20-month dispute, saying: “Come on, guys. Get together. Do it. “
The WME then gave the guild a new proposal, which the guild rejected yesterday. Earlier today, WME said it still wants to reach an agreement with the guild.