The Latest: Appeal in John Steinbeck lawsuit heard in court
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Latest on appeal in latest chapter of long-running dispute over John Steinbeck works (all times local):
12:35 p.m.
A battle waged for decades over who controls the works of iconic author John Steinbeck had another day in court Tuesday.
A three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was meeting in Anchorage to hear appeals, including one by the estate of Steinbeck's late son, Thomas Steinbeck.
The appeal challenges a 2017 federal jury verdict in California that awarded more than $13 million to the author's stepdaughter, Waverly Scott Kaffaga, in a lawsuit claiming Thomas Steinbeck and his wife, Gail Steinbeck, impeded film adaptations of the classic works.
The appeal also challenges a 1983 agreement between the two sides.
Kaffaga's attorneys say multiple courts have already upheld the agreement as binding and valid.
The appeals panel did not rule immediately on the case.
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10:07 p.m. Monday
Another chapter is set to play out this week in a decades-old family dispute over control of the classic works by author John Steinbeck.
A three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will be in Alaska's largest city on Tuesday to hear arguments in an appeal by the estate of Steinbeck's late son, Thomas Steinbeck, over a 2017 jury verdict in California.
In that case, a federal jury awarded the author's stepdaughter, Waverly Scott Kaffaga, more than $13 million in a lawsuit claiming Steinbeck's son and daughter-in-law, Gail Steinbeck, impeded film adaptations of the iconic works.
It was up to the Los Angeles jury to decide if Thomas and Gail Steinbeck interfered with deals and should pay up. Kaffaga had sued her stepbrother, his widow, Gail, and their company.
