Romeo and Juliet Lawsuit

Romeo and Juliet Lawsuit Romeo and Juliet Lawsuit Romeo and Juliet Lawsuit


Romeo and Juliet Lawsuit

Romeo and Juliet Lawsuit Romeo and Juliet Lawsuit Romeo and Juliet Lawsuit
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    • The Sixties
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    • HOME
    • START HERE
      • Powerful Voices
      • Leonard Says Good-bye
      • Articles About Olivia
      • The Facts
      • The Law
      • The Evidence
      • BLOG
    • CURRENT LAWSUIT
      • Current Lawsuit
      • From Leonard And Olivia
      • Filings & Responses
      • Important Issues
      • Paramount Changes
      • Attorney Statement
    • PARAMOUNT EXPOSED
      • The Undeniable Truth
      • Guilt By Association
      • Did You Know?
      • Even More to Know
    • VIEWPOINTS
      • Perspectives
      • Public Opinions
      • Professional Opinions
      • Testimonials
    • TIMELINES
      • The Sixties
      • Notable Legal Decisions
      • The First Lawsuit
    • VICTIM SURVIVOR HERO
    • GALLERY
    • UPCOMING PROJECTS
    • CONTACT
    • Join Their Fight
    • EXPLORE AND LEARN
  • HOME
  • START HERE
    • Powerful Voices
    • Leonard Says Good-bye
    • Articles About Olivia
    • The Facts
    • The Law
    • The Evidence
    • BLOG
  • CURRENT LAWSUIT
    • Current Lawsuit
    • From Leonard And Olivia
    • Filings & Responses
    • Important Issues
    • Paramount Changes
    • Attorney Statement
  • PARAMOUNT EXPOSED
    • The Undeniable Truth
    • Guilt By Association
    • Did You Know?
    • Even More to Know
  • VIEWPOINTS
    • Perspectives
    • Public Opinions
    • Professional Opinions
    • Testimonials
  • TIMELINES
    • The Sixties
    • Notable Legal Decisions
    • The First Lawsuit
  • VICTIM SURVIVOR HERO
  • GALLERY
  • UPCOMING PROJECTS
  • CONTACT
  • Join Their Fight
  • EXPLORE AND LEARN

Timeline - the Sixties

Spring of 1966

In the Spring of 1966, Leonard Whiting, then 15 years old, and Olivia Hussey, then 14 years old, auditioned for the iconic film, loved by all, Romeo and Juliet.


Paramount executives, Director Franco Zeffirelli, and other producers were holding the auditions.


Hussey and Whiting were secretly chosen by Zeffirelli. Paramount and Zeffirelli withheld this information from the public, to build up the suspense behind who would be chosen for these leading roles.

Fall of 1966

Hussey and Whiting were sent to be trained for Zeffirelli's adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

May 25th, 1967

The roles of Romeo and Juliet were formally announced publicly in London, England. Hussey and Whiting were 15 years old and 16 years old at the time they were announced for their roles of Romeo and Juliet. 

June 24th, 1967

Filming began - Hussey and Whiting were both 16 years old on the first day of shooting the film.


Once in Italy, the young actors were exposed to drinking and smoking. Both actors never finished their high school educations nor were given tutors during the production of the film.

September 1967

The last scene to be shot was the bedroom scene. Zeffirelli changed the plans on the day of the shoot from flesh-colored undergarments to nudity. There was no one on the set to protect these underage actors from Zeffirelli's decision on that day. Franco assured the young actors that no nudity would be used or seen in the film. 


Underage consent = no consent


Paramount had the right to edit the film.


Approximately 4 years of Hussey and Whiting's young lives were dedicated to the preparation, production, and promotion of Romeo and Juliet. They were paid $2,400 (1,500 pds.) each for their roles as Romeo and Juliet, and to this date have received no royalties nor residuals. Paramount has sold Hussey and Whiting's underage nude images for over 55 years and both actors have received 0% of any profits.

March 4th, 1968

The Queen of England sees the worldwide premiere of the Romeo and Juliet film in London, England.

March 5th, 1968

Romeo and Juliet film released in the UK.

October 8th, 1968

Romeo and Juliet film released in the US.

October 16th, 1968

Romeo and Juliet film released in Italy.

The film, Romeo and Juliet was a colossal success. The film went on to win multiple Academy Awards:


Academy Award for Best Cinematography
1969 · Pasqualino De Santis


Golden Globe Award for Best New Star of the Year – Actor
1969 · Leonard Whiting


Golden Globe Award for Best New Star of the Year – Actress
1969 · Olivia Hussey


David di Donatello for Best Director
1969 · Franco Zeffirelli


BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design
1969 · Danilo Donati


David di Donatello Golden Plate Award
1969 · Olivia Hussey, Leonard Whiting


Nastro d'Argento for Best Costume Design
1969 · Danilo Donati


Golden Globe Award for Best English-Language Foreign Film
1969


Academy Award for Best Costume Design
1969 · Danilo Donati

Timeline - Other Notable Legal Decisions

March 6th, 1987

"Three in Traci Lords Sex Film Case Indicted"

Learn More

October 20th, 2023

 "Deutsche Bank wins approval for $75m settlement with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims" 

Read The Guardian Article

November 9th, 2023

 "Judge Approves JPMorgan’s $290 Million Settlement With Epstein Victims" 

Read the New York Times Article:

November 10th, 2023

Actor's Strike is settled.
A notable result of this strike was a first-ever requirement to hire intimacy coordinators on set for scenes involving sex and nudity

December 21st, 2023

 Lawsuit by Baby from Nirvana Album can move forward... 

Read the New York Times Article:

February 23rd, 2024

 "Top Gun" actor sues Paramount over use of his image in sequel

Read the Entertainment Article:

April 9th, 2024

"Norfolk Southern Settles Derailment Suit for $600 Million"

Read the New York Times Article:

April 17th, 2024

 "DOJ nearing settlement with sexual assault victims of Larry Nassar over FBI failures"

Read The Washington Examiner Article:

April 27th, 2024

Harvey Weinstein Wins Appeal

April 30th, 2024

 "Fox Pulls Hunter Biden Series After Lawyers Decry it as Illegal Revenge Porn"

Read the Los Angeles Magazine Article:

September 16, 2024

 Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested in New York following sex trafficking investigation

 

Read the USA Today Article

September 23, 2024

T.I., Tiny Win Whopping $71 Million Award at OMG Girlz Trial


Read the Rolling Stone Article

Timeline - The First Lawsuit

December 30th, 2022

Lawsuit filed against Paramount on December 30th, 2022

February 14th, 2023

Criterion releases a new high-resolution version of the 1968 film, Romeo and Juliet, while the lawsuit is pending. Now their child nudity is in high-resolution.

April 2023

Anti-SLAPP motion is filed by Paramount attorneys

May 2023

Judge Alison M. Mackenzie grants motion by Paramount attorneys


*Judge Mackenzie's former law firm, where she served as a Partner, represented Paramount Pictures.

September 17th, 2023

Hussey and Whiting serve notice of termination to their legal counsel 

November 10th, 2023

Actor's Strike is settled.


*A first-ever requirement to hire intimacy co-ordinators on set for scenes involving sex and nudity

November 20th, 2023

Hussey and Whiting file PRO SE to appeal Paramount's Attorney fees  

The American Rule


The American Rule is a rule in the U.S. justice system that says two opposing sides in a legal matter must pay their own attorney fees, regardless of who wins the case. The rationale of the rule is that a plaintiff should not be deterred from bringing a case to court for fear of prohibitive costs.

November 28th, 2023

Hussey and Whiting retain new legal counsel 


William A. Romaine, Esq.

559-625-6020   war@lawromaine.com


Zishan Lokhandwala, Esq.        

559-625-6020    zl@lawromaine.com



CONTINUE TO THE NEW LAWSUIT TIMELINE

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