1940s Fighter Files Suit for $600,000 Against Stallone
An ex-fighter filed a $600,000-plus plagiarism suit Tuesday against Sylvester Stallone, accusing him of stealing the story of his controversial boxing career for the upcoming “Rocky V” movie.
The suit filed in U.S. District Court on behalf of Joey Barnum said the “Rocky V” script represents an episode in the life of Barnum, a 1940s-era prizefighter who was the No. 3 contender in the lightweight division.
The Barnum story was also the subject of a one-hour “Westinghouse Playhouse” TV special in 1955, Barnum manager and business partner Joe Seide said.
Named in the suit filed by Barnum, now a bail bondsman, was Stallone; his mother, Jacqueline; his brother, Frank; Chartoff-Winkler Inc.; Robert Chartoff; Irwin Winkler; Harold Stone, and MGM-UA Distribution Co.
“He submitted the story idea to Stallone. He was good friends with Jacqueline and Frank,” Seide said. “The story is an episode of the life of Joey Barnum.”
Stallone publicist Paul Bloch said he was unaware of the suit.
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