Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Legal: 'The Hurt Locker' allegedly steals war hero's identity - makers face multimillion dollar suit

There will be a press conference on March 3, 2010 AT 11:00 a.m.. EST to announce the filing, in Federal District Court, of a multimillion dollar lawsuit on behalf of an Iraq war hero, Master Sgt. Jeffrey S. Sarver, and against the makers of the Academy Award nominated film "The Hurt Locker."

Master Sgt. Jeffrey S. Sarver, is, in fact, the film's main character "Will James" or "Blaster One" [which was Master Sgt. Sarver's "call signal" during his tours of duty in Iraq].

The suit alleges that the screenwriter of "The Hurt Locker," Mark Boal, was allowed, as part of an armed services press program, to be embedded in Master Sgt. Sarver's unit. Virtually all of the situations portrayed in the film were, in fact, occurrences involving Master Sgt. Sarver that were observed and documented by Screenwriter Boal. Master Sgt. Sarver also coined the phrase, "The Hurt Locker" for Boal.

Ultimately, a magazine article about Master Sgt. Sarver, written by Screenwriter Boal, appeared in Playboy Magazine. That story was later adapted by Boal for the screenplay of "The Hurt Locker." The suit alleges that the film's makers falsely claim that the characters portrayed in the film are fictional when, in fact, the film's main character "Will James," IS Master Sgt. Sarver.

The suit alleges that the movie's screenwriter and makers decided to cheat Master Sgt. Sarver [a man who has repeatedly risked his life for his country] out of financial participation in the film, and any acknowledgment of his heroic actions in Iraq. Master Sgt. Sarver only learned of the Appropriation of his identity after the film's release.

Photo Ops will be available with Master Sgt. Jeffrey S. Sarver. Copies of the Complaint along with Boal's original Playboy article will also be available.

Source: The Fieger Law Offices

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