The legal dispute between The Pitt’s producers and the Michael Crichton estate is heading toward a jury trial in Los Angeles after an appeals court upheld a lower court ruling against Warner Bros. Television. The case concerns the estate’s claim that the HBO Max medical drama is derived from ER, the series created by Crichton.
In its ruling, the court affirmed the denial of WBTV’s anti-SLAPP motion, which sought to have the case dismissed. It reversed the decision as it applied to the other defendants and instructed the lower court to dismiss them. Noah Wyle, executive producers John Wells and R. Scott Gemmill were among those dropped from the litigation.
The estate, represented by Crichton’s widow, Sherri Crichton, filed its breach-of-contract lawsuit in August 2024. It alleges that The Pitt emerged after negotiations to reboot ER fell apart. Warner Bros. and the producers have disputed the claim, arguing that the series was not made by copying or using ER.
Further discovery remains to be completed, and a trial could take place as early as next summer unless the parties reach a settlement. Sherri Crichton said she was gratified by the appeals court decision and looked forward to presenting the case to a jury. Warner Bros. and the producers did not respond to Deadline’s request for comment on the ruling.
The Pitt is in production on its third season, which is scheduled to premiere in January 2027.
Sources: Deadline.