Court allows Crichton estate's lawsuit against 'The Pitt' to proceed

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 22:50 · Archive

A California appeals court has ruled that a lawsuit by Michael Crichton's widow alleging 'The Pitt' is an unauthorized reboot of 'ER' can move forward.

A three-judge panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled unanimously on Wednesday that the trial court correctly rejected a motion to throw out the lawsuit brought by Sherri Crichton. The case alleges that the HBO Max series 'The Pitt' is an unauthorized reboot of 'ER', the NBC show about a Chicago emergency room that ran from 1994 to 2009.

Michael Crichton wrote the pilot script for 'ER', which redefined the medical drama genre and drew tens of millions of weekly viewers. 'The Pitt' shows a real-time day in the life of a Pittsburgh emergency department. The lawsuit was filed two years before 'The Pitt' aired.

The case involves two major Emmy-winning television series. 'ER' was among the most important and acclaimed shows of its era, whilst 'The Pitt' has won two Emmys for best drama for its first two seasons and two best actor Emmys for Noah Wyle, who starred in and produced both shows. The judges dismissed Wyle and two other producers from the lawsuit, though Warner Bros. Television, which produced both series, remains a defendant.

How it is being reported

• 'ER' and 'The Pitt' are similar enough for lawsuit to move forward, appeals court findsA California appeals court has found enough similarity between “ER” and “The Pitt” for a lawsuit by Michael Crichton's widow to proceed.News4Jax · 5 Nov, 22:05
• 'ER' and 'The Pitt' are similar enough for lawsuit to move forward, appeals court findsA California appeals court has found enough similarity between “ER” and “The Pitt” for a lawsuit by Michael Crichton's widow to proceed.Clickorlando · 5 Nov, 22:05

In this story: Michael Crichton · Sherri Crichton · Noah Wyle · Warner Bros. Television · California's 2nd District Court of Appeal

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