Passion of the Christ Screenwriter Sues Mel Gibson  2/12/08

Mel Gibson stands accused of fraud, breach of contract and unfair business practices in a lawsuit filed by the co-screenwriter of his religious epic The Passion of the Christ.

Benedict Fitzgerald accuses Gibson, who directed the controversial 2004 film, of engaging in a "chronic and conspiratorial pattern of deceit" by telling the writer he was working on a project with a budget of between $4 million and $7 million.

Fitzgerald claims he was only paid $75,000 and that he had to borrow $200,000 from Gibson to cover expenses, reports People.com.

The Passion Of The Christ went on to gross an estimated $600 million worldwide.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday (11Feb08), reads: "Gibson preyed monetarily on Ben, taking advantage of his unbridled enthusiasm for the project and with full cognizance of Ben's fundamental personal and spiritual beliefs."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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