VICTORY FOR THE PATTERSONS WHO WON A $30,000 JUDGEMENT AGAINST GORDON PICTURES WITH THE AID OF IATD
Tommy Ray (Middle) Celebrates IATD client’s win for Derrick Patterson and wife Mimi Patterson over
Gordon Pictures owned by Leroy and Shameka McDonald
Screenwriter Derek Patterson won a $30,000 FRAUD judgement against husband and wife team, Leroy and Shamika McDonald, of Gordon Pictures. The McDonalds induced the Pattersons into partnering with them to make a faith-based movie based on a novel Derek Patterson was working on. The McDonald’s convincing story initially passed muster as their Christian Film production ministry has produced independent films in the past. However, much of the content on their website had been lifted from other film industry professionals’ websites. At times, the McDonalds did not even bother to remove the branding off of the copyrighted websites they stole from.
Leroy McDonald, is Founder and CEO of Gordon Pictures, and also, a minister. The pair drew up a bogus contract and claimed that they would finance the Patterson’s film with funds from their investors. However, it was later learned that there were no investors. Also, they had asked the Pattersons to co produce the project by paying $25,000 to match Gordon Pictures’ $25,000 and also offset the $150.000 from investors that they knew did not exist.
The Pattersons contacted IATD back in November of 2014. IATD secured a pro bono attorney to draft the pleadings for the Pro Se couple after they had consulted with the entertainment agency Sheba Media Group , who pointed to several issues with the contract language. Specifically, clauses that were not industry standards, as well as the lack thereof proper clauses and inclusion of improper clauses. IATD was also able to have four out of five of Gordon Pictures Wix Websites taken down under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, due to their infringement on Derek Patterson’s work. Prior to that, Leroy McDonald repeatedly refused to comply with her request at the behest of the Pattersons. The judge agreed with the entertainment agency’s findings and also concluded that the contract which ended every duty or promise Gordon Pictures was responsible to perform with clauses such as “If God willing” was bogus.
