A Writer Has Filed Lawsuit Against TV Show “Ray Donovan”

The writer Brian A. Larsen has alleged that his pitch for a TV show "The Swissman" included major aspects which are also found in the TV drama “Ray Donovan” in which Liev Schreiber is playing the lead role as a Hollywood fixer. Larsen has put severe allegations and filed court case on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court asserting that his idea has been stolen by the producers of Ray Donovan.

According to the Brian's case, his idea revolved around a "middle aged lead character that makes his living by working as a 'fixer' – also termed as a person who engineers the assassinations or else brutally getting rid of targeted individuals according to the contract of the person who hires him to do the job." Furthermore, the central character would have a "disruptive" relationship with his father, have a "disturbed affiliation" with a catholic priest, and handle a brother who is always causing difficulties for him in his work.

"The unmistakable central theme is whether a fixer has a moral obligation to do the right thing or if he is simply supposed to 'do his job," the suit reads.

Brian's suit explains that he got the idea for a TV drama in the 2005, and made a great effort on the script for 3 years, chronicling the ideas with the WGA in September 2009. After that, he worked with the literary organization called Richmond Weavers and Spinners Guild (RWSG), and then in 2010 he became involved with Universal Cable Productions to arrange conferences with distributors and production organizations in order to convert his script into a TV drama.

The suit further shows that, in 2010, Brian pitched the concept to Danielle Gelber – Showtime development executive – who reportedly assured him that she would "pitch like hell" to get the channel work on this script. After a couple of months, he was introduced with other Showtime executives, but was later told the channel was unable to work on his project.

Brian is bringing a court case for violation of entailed contract as well as confidence. He is now seeking compensation and broad reimbursement at a trial by panel of adjudicators, plus he wants the production of the show to be stopped. Ray Donovan season 2 is projected to be launched this year.

A Showtime spokesperson said, "As Showtime has not been served with this lawsuit, we have no comment."