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victory after a long-running battle over its accuracy.

By 6-1 vote, The Florida Supreme Court ruled against the family of real-life

swordfish captain Billy Tyne whose life and death at the helm of the Andrea

Gail became the basis for the Warner Entertainment movie that grossed more than

$150 million.

Tyne's family sued shortly after the motion picture's release, claiming the

company altered facts to make the movie more marketable. The family sought

monetary damages under a Florida law against portraying someone in false light

to promote a product or commercial enterprise.

Specifically, the family objected to the film's portrayal of Tyne as a

quarrelsome captain who derided his crew and unnecessarily risked their lives

in the quest to return his catch to port in the face of the unprecedented New

England storm.

Filmmakers countered that the movie clearly stated that it was only based on

Tyne's life and included fictionalised accounts, making it protected by the

First Amendment right to freedom of expression. Florida's highest court

agreed.

The lawsuit was filed in Orlando, Florida, by Tyne's ex-wife, Jodi Tyne, and

the couple's two daughters.

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