Mon Dec 21, 2009 @ 09:51AM PST
By Eriq Gardner
In his legendary 50-year career, Roger Corman produced nearly 400 low-budget films, including "Death Star 2000" and "Battle Beyond the Stars." He also tutored the likes of James Cameron, Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Coppola and a host of others.
But Corman is now caught up in a squabble with his children, who claim they were unfairly fired from the family production business after raising questions about the family trust.
The Corman children are now suing their father and his companies for employment discrimination.
In a
complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the children say they were terminated after requesting an accounting of trust assets. In response to the requests, the kids allege that Roger's wife, Julie, declared that the assets of the family trust were hers, and made concealed attempted to move the trusts to other states and even offshore so as to gain greater control. One of Roger's sons said he spoke out about transactions he perceived as potentially being unlawful and having serious tax ramifications. Julie allegedly threatened to leave Roger if he ever discussed finances with his children without her present.
On October 13, the children say they each received e-mails informing them they would no longer be working at Corman's New Horizons Picture Corp., which has lately taken steps to become The New Education Foundation.