‘Sahara’ Trial Opens

A trial featuring dueling lawsuits between "Sahara" author Clive Cussler and Crusader Entertainment, the Philip Anschutz-owned company that made the book into a film, got under way February 2nd in Los Angeles with attorneys for both sides blaming each other for the film’s flop.

In opening statements, Cussler attorney Bert Fields accused Crusader of breaching an agreement giving the writer a large measure of creative control over the script by ignoring his suggestions and eliminating vital story lines.

"It was supposed to be Mr. Cussler who decided what would be cut out," Fields said. "They made this movie even if he didn’t approve of all these changes."

In Crusader’s countersuit, it’s alleged that Cussler duped Anschutz into paying $10 million for film rights by inflating his book sales to more than 100 million copies.

In their opening statement Crusader’s lawyers claimed that Cussler’s rights of approval changed into a consultation role once a director was hired, according to BBC News.

"[Mr. Cussler] doesn’t get final say," the company’s lawyer Alan Rader said. "Every single complaint Mr. Cussler has made about changes to the screenplay happened after the director was hired."

The trial seeks to settle a long-running dispute between Anschutz and Cussler over the project, which ultimately lost $105 million. Released in 2005, the film flop starred Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz.

Jury selection is currently under way in the trial. Both sides are seeking millions of dollars in general and punitive damages.

Among the accusations that have been bandied about in the press are claims of sabotage, fraud, profligate spending and racism, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The witness list included Anschutz; former Paramount Pictures Chairwoman Sherry Lansing; Breck Eisner, son of former Walt Disney Co. chairman Michael Eisner; McConaughey and Cussler.