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Dieter Strikes Back!
HOLLYWOOD - Now's the time on "Sprockets" when we tap dance, legally speaking. Mike Myers has launched a counter-offensive in the continuing "Dieter" litigation thing. After being on the receiving end of two separate multimillion-dollar lawsuits (the first one was slammed by Universal in June and the second one -- filed just late last week -- came from Imagine Entertainment), the "Austin Powers" guy and erstwhile "Saturday Night Live" comedian is flexing a little legal muscle of his own.
Myers' lawyers filed a countersuit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court against the studio and production company, alleging everything from fraud and negligent misrepresentation to intentional infliction of emotional distress and assault.
In a 36-page complaint, Myers says Universal and Imagine are trying to bully him into making the comedy "Dieter," even though the script (which he wrote) isn't up to snuff.
In a nutshell, Myers says he was willing to continue rewriting the script until it was (in his estimation) good, but Universal wanted to go ahead and film the existing script, which was (again, in his estimation) bad.
Myers also says his privacy was violated by a process server, hired by Universal, who allegedly stalked and chased him near his home.
Based on an old "SNL" skit about a German avant-garde talk show host and his pet monkey, "Dieter" was scheduled for a summer 2001 release. The court fiasco began last month when Myers walked away from the project, and the lawsuits followed.
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