MBC responds to $10 million US lawsuit

An American judge has thrown out a nearly $10 million lawsuit against MBC by a New Jersey-based Arab-American TV station, Dandana TV, according to northjersey.com.



Dandana TV, a channel on the Dish TV network aimed at the Arab American community, claimed in its suit against MBC that the Dubai-based broadcaster promised them 30 per cent of its profits -- which it estimated were just under $10 million -- for being carried on the Dish Network, but only paid $250,000. A judge made the award in November, after MBC failed to defend itself in US District Court in Newark.

But the same judge threw out the decision on Feb. 15 when MBC claimed it was never served with court papers and knew nothing about the judgement.

A spokesman from MBC, reached by The National today, made the following comment:

"A Federal Judge in the U.S. set aside a judgment against MBC that was improperly obtained by Dandana without notice to MBC.  As a result, the case will proceed forward and it is MBC's intention to vigorously defend against all claims being asserted against it by Dandana."

Many thanks to John Parnell at Digital Production Middle East for alerting us to the story.