Court upholds $4M verdict in A&E TV show dispute

[April 13, 2011]  CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- A federal appeals court has upheld a South Carolina real estate investor's $4 million verdict in a dispute over profits from the A&E reality television show "Flip This House."

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week upheld the verdict awarded to creator and one-time host Richard C. Davis.

A jury in 2008 awarded the money to Davis, who created the show and appeared on its first season. The Trademark Properties Inc. real estate investor sued after he said the cable network broke an oral agreement to split the show's profits.

Attorneys for A&E have said the network had no such agreement. A spokesman on Tuesday would not talk about the appellate decision.

Davis said Tuesday that he wants to return to television with a series about restaurant renovations.

[Associated Press]

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