Alston & Bird clients NFGTV, Inc. (Eastern TV), and Monami Entertainment LLC, production companies for VH1’s hit reality TV show “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta,” and superstar recording artist K. Michelle Pate (K. Michelle), have defeated an appeal by record producer Memphitz – whose real name is Mickey Wright, Jr. – in a four year defamation case in which he sued K. Michelle and the show’s producers. The victory also included Viacom International, which owns the VH1 network that airs the show.
In an unpublished opinion, Judge Herbert Phipps, joined by Judges Dillard and Peterson, of the Georgia Court of Appeals denied Wright’s appeal, saying that the evidence supported a lower court’s ruling against Wright last year and that there was no error of law.
In April 2015, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney awarded summary judgment in favor of all defendants, all of whom were sued by Wright for defamation based on comments made by K. Michelle – Wright’s ex-girlfriend and former artist under his record label – in several episodes of the show’s first season.
Alston & Bird partner Christy Hull Eikhoff and senior associate Jonathan Parente served as counsel to NFGTV, Monami Entertainment and K. Michelle. Derek Bauer of BakerHostetler represented Viacom.
In an unpublished opinion, Judge Herbert Phipps, joined by Judges Dillard and Peterson, of the Georgia Court of Appeals denied Wright’s appeal, saying that the evidence supported a lower court’s ruling against Wright last year and that there was no error of law.
In April 2015, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney awarded summary judgment in favor of all defendants, all of whom were sued by Wright for defamation based on comments made by K. Michelle – Wright’s ex-girlfriend and former artist under his record label – in several episodes of the show’s first season.
Alston & Bird partner Christy Hull Eikhoff and senior associate Jonathan Parente served as counsel to NFGTV, Monami Entertainment and K. Michelle. Derek Bauer of BakerHostetler represented Viacom.