Suit in Cal. State Superior Court charging Exec. Producer Mark Bu...
Suit in Cal. State Superior Court charging Exec. Producer Mark Burnett, CBS and others with fraud in production of network’s reality program Survivor has been sent to FCC by plaintiff and former contestant Stacey Stillman. In suit, filed Feb.…
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5 in San Francisco, Stillman accused Burnett of violating Sec. 508 of Communications Act -- which was added to Act following rigged quiz shows in early 1960s. Section makes it crime “to engage in any artifice or scheme for the purpose of prearranging or predetermining in whole or in part the outcome of a purportedly bona fide contest.” Stillman claimed Burnett and others connected with program conspired to induce other contestants to vote her off program in early episode, saying: “Defendants violated the law by interfering in the voting decisions of the Survivor contestants, which determined, in whole or in part, the outcome… Defendants… supplied to certain contestants special and secret assistance whereby the outcome of the purportedly bona fide contest of the Survivor was in whole or part prearranged and predetermined.” Commission had no comment. Meanwhile, defendants in Stillman suit filed countersuit in L.A. court charging breach of contract, extortion, defamation and disparagement.