Groth vs Ellison: The Fantagraphics side
At New York’s Book Expo America today, Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth took time out from a busy schedule with booksellers, rights agents and talent to talk to ComicMix‘s Martha Thomases and Mike Gold briefly about the upcoming arbitration session to settle Harlan Ellison’s lawsuit. We asked why he wasn’t able to go to Los Angeles for the May 29 session, as originally scheduled. "I’m a single father. My son turns 13 tomorrow," he said. "I just couldn’t go to Los Angeles then to New York in three days." Fantagraphics is headquartered in Seattle.
Does he hope the arbitration process will work?
"Yes, I obviously have some hope or I wouldn’t spend the money or take the time to fly down."
Is the process binding?
"It’s binding if we agree on an arrangement we can both sign off on. I don’t know what that would look like. It won’t involve any money damages, because there is no money. That was a condition of our agreement to participate.
At the booth, Fantagraphics was distributing postcards urging interested parties to view the court documents at http://www.fantagraphics.com/support-html.
Groth was in New York promoting a wide variety of Fantagraphics projects, including the Pogo series we mentioned previously and their boxed-set tribute to Bill Mauldin’s classic World War II feature, Willie and Joe. The latter is scheduled for February.
and here I thought that both parties, on the advice of their lawyers, had agreed to make no further public comments about the lawsuit. Including any potentially binding arbitration discussions
Both parties have discussed the issue with ComicMix. Neither revealed what I would consider strategy, nor would I except them to. That wouldn’t stop us from asking…
and here I thought that both parties, on the advice of their lawyers, had agreed to make no further public comments about the lawsuit. Including any potentially binding arbitration discussions.
Interestingly enough, I just settled a lawsuit by arbitration – non comics related. It was in another state, no California, so I was present by phone, though my lawyers were there in person. I wonder what the law is specifically in California about attending the arbitration physically, and why Groth would not do it by phone if he could. From all that I read, the set up was EXACTLY the same. The two parties meet. Statements are made. They separate to their own rooms. Then the aribitor (sp?) went from room to room hearing the arguments and helping each side come to a settlement agreement that all sides were happy with. My arbitor(sp?) was a former judge who was VERY frank in telling me which parts of the case he thought were justified and which he thought were BS. It was a really incredible thing to go through and I was very happy with the result. I was on the phone for the opening comments – and then was available by phone if my lawyers had any questions.My concern here is…if the set-up was the same, why would Groth not participate? That would lead me to believe he is not serious about the arbitration proceedings.