![]() The lawsuit claims the scripted series was designed to make Eckhardt into the bad guy in the partnership, with Gramenos the victim. (the HGTV parent), Big Table Media (the Windy City Rehab producers) were named in the Eckhardt suit, but Gramenos was not. The second season of the series focused on Gramenos’s attempts to deal with the fallout of those actions and finger-pointed at Eckhardt.ĭiscovery Inc. and Big Table Media award Eckhardt in excess of $2.2 million for actual, punitive and compensatory damages for counts of “defamation” and “intentional infliction of emotional distress.”Įckhardt had a falling out with Alison Victoria Gramenos over work performed on several projects, and was portrayed as the reason for several legal actions suffered by the former business partners. The second season of the show featured his cohost Alison Victoria lamenting her partnership with Eckhardt and various business dealings. The judge rejected that argument, saying remote testimony could be allowed, obviating any physical travel needs.Įckhardt is appealing the decision. His attorney argued that it would be burdensome for witnesses to travel across the country to testify. Judge Patricia O’Brien Sheahan ruled that Eckhardt’s contract called for legal disputes to be settled in a California courtroom. UPDATE: A Cook County, Illinois judge has dismissed former Windy CIty Rehab cohost Donovan Eckhardt’s defamation claim against the program’s showrunners. The judge denied that claim, writing, “Simply put, even if Plaintiff produced some evidence that Season Two was scripted/fictionalized, and/or that Defendant had input regarding the storylines, this is a far cry from evidence that Defendant created any of Gramenos’ statements and/or had any knowledge they were false or even a reason to doubt they were true.” “They knew she harbored animus against plaintiff, and they didn’t investigate.” “They knew they were relying upon an unreliable source based upon her prior false public statements and based on the fact that she’d been sued multiple times for fraud,” he said. ![]() He claimed they knew she was making false statements, but forged ahead with the production. Although show host Alison Victoria was not sued, she was mentioned in the arguments by Eckhardt’s attorney. The lawsuit failed to prove that Scripps acted with malice, a necessary proof. 'Farmhouse Fixer' Starring Jonathan Knight Renewed For Season 3 By HGTV ![]()
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