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== MMG v. AXQG ==
== MMG v. AXQG ==
Konvitz was admitted to the State Bar of California on October 27, 1983 and has been an active member in good standing since 1983.<ref name=":0" /> Since at least 2017, Konvitz has represented Malek Media Group LLC (MMG) and Matthew Malek in a business dispute against AXQG Corp. and Anita Gou, among others.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=California Court of Appeal Decision|date=December 16, 2020|title=Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp|url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B299743.PDF|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=}}</ref> Malek is the principal of MMG, and Gou owns AXQG. The two companies had agreed to start a film production company, Foxtail Entertainment, LLC, but the relationship quickly soured.<ref name=":1" /> The parties arbitrated their dispute, AXQG won, and the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed the arbitration award. The arbitration was a JAMS arbitration.<ref name=":1" />
Konvitz was admitted to the State Bar of California on October 27, 1983 and has been an active member in good standing since 1983.<ref name=":0" /> Since at least 2017, Konvitz has represented Malek Media Group LLC (MMG) and Matthew Malek in a business dispute against AXQG Corp. and Anita Gou, among others. Malek is the principal of MMG, and Gou owns AXQG. The two companies had agreed to start a film production company, Foxtail Entertainment, LLC, but the relationship quickly soured.<ref name=":1" /> The parties arbitrated their dispute, AXQG won, and the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed the arbitration award. The arbitration was a JAMS arbitration.<ref name=":1" />


Konvitz proceeded to file an appeal on behalf of his client. The appeal of the Superior Court's confirmation judgement of Arbitrator Huebner's final award was grounded on alleged violations by the arbitrator of Code of Civil Procedure, Section 1286.2. There were issues raised in the appeal as to the improper exclusion of evidence but the primary challenge arose under Section 1286.2(6), which requires a potential arbitrator to disclose ''"grounds for disqualification of which the arbitrator was then aware."'' AXQG's Notice of Arbitration cited as a principal cause of action of sexual harassment of a prospective employee by Malek. The Notice of Arbitration was filed after the rise of the ''MeToo'' movement which was supported by GLAAD, an LGTBQ+ Social Justice organization. Arbitrator Huebner was a GLAAD co-founder, general counsel and GLAAD Person of the Year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-hails-selection-of-david-huebner | title=Human Rights Campaign Hails Selection of David Huebner }}</ref> Malek argued that these background facts should have been disclosed due to the Arbitration Notice's harassment allegations. They were not, nor did the Appellate Court take judicial notice of Arbitrator Huebner's public tweets.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=California Court of Appeal Decision|date=December 16, 2020|title=Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp|url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B299743.PDF|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=}}</ref>
Konvitz proceeded to file an appeal on behalf of his client. The appeal of the Superior Court's confirmation judgement of Arbitrator Huebner's final award was grounded on alleged violations by the arbitrator of Code of Civil Procedure, Section 1286.2. There were issues raised in the appeal as to the improper exclusion of evidence but the primary challenge arose under Section 1286.2(6), which requires a potential arbitrator to disclose ''"grounds for disqualification of which the arbitrator was then aware."'' AXQG's Notice of Arbitration cited as a principal cause of action of sexual harassment of a prospective employee by Malek. The Notice of Arbitration was filed after the rise of the ''MeToo'' movement which was supported by GLAAD, an LGTBQ+ Social Justice organization. Arbitrator Huebner was a GLAAD co-founder, general counsel and GLAAD Person of the Year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-hails-selection-of-david-huebner | title=Human Rights Campaign Hails Selection of David Huebner }}</ref> Malek argued that these background facts should have been disclosed due to the Arbitration Notice's harassment allegations. They were not, nor did the Appellate Court take judicial notice of Arbitrator Huebner's public tweets.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=California Court of Appeal Decision|date=December 16, 2020|title=Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp|url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B299743.PDF|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=}}</ref>
GLAAD has stated that it is closely allayed to the MeToo Movement, yet the Court of Appeals would not take judicial notice of those articles either.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/releases/glaad%E2%80%99s-inaugural-ariadne-getty-ally-award-be-presented-lgbtq-ally-and-metoo-advocate | title=Press Releases }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/amp/queer-survivors-guide-after-sexual-violence | title=A queer survivor's guide to intimacy after sexual violence | date=30 April 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/together | title=Together | date=23 March 2018 }}</ref>
GLAAD has stated that it is closely allayed to the MeToo Movement, yet the Court of Appeals would not take judicial notice of those articles either.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/releases/glaad%E2%80%99s-inaugural-ariadne-getty-ally-award-be-presented-lgbtq-ally-and-metoo-advocate | title=Press Releases }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/amp/queer-survivors-guide-after-sexual-violence | title=A queer survivor's guide to intimacy after sexual violence | date=30 April 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.glaad.org/together | title=Together | date=23 March 2018 }}</ref>


The Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court judgement. <ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=California Court of Appeal Decision|date=December 16, 2020|title=Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp|url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/B299743.PDF|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=}}</ref>
The State Bar was supplied with all the Appellate Briefs, which were reviewed by State Bar trial counsel.
The State Bar was supplied with all the Appellate Briefs, which were reviewed by State Bar trial counsel.
No disciplinary action was taken by the State Bar nor were any State Bar sanctions assessed. The State Bar closed the file in June 2021.
No disciplinary action was taken by the State Bar nor were any State Bar sanctions assessed. The State Bar closed the file in June 2021.

Revision as of 22:03, 19 August 2022

Jeffrey Konvitz
Jeffrey Konvitz
Born1944 (age 79–80)
Brooklyn, New York, United States [1]
Alma materCornell University
Columbia University School of Law
Occupation(s)Writer, Film Producer, Attorney

Jeffrey Konvitz (born 1944 in New York) is an American attorney, writer, and film producer.[2][3] He was raised in Woodmere, New York[1] and graduated from Hewlett High School in 1962. He continued his education at Cornell University (BA 1966) and the Columbia University School of Law (1969). Konvitz is probably best known for writing the novel The Sentinel,[4] published in 1974. It was followed by a film adaptation in 1977, which he produced and adapted from the novel.

He married Vicki Peters in 1980, but they were divorced after parenting one child, Kristen Nicole (1983) who is a Motion Pictures Packaging Agent in Los Angeles. Later, he married Jill McWhirter in 1998 and fathered a second child with her, Katherine Arielle (2002). He is Jewish.[5]

Konvitz was Managing Partner of VX119, a financing company in the entertainment industry.[6]

Film career

Jeffrey Konvitz 1974

Konvitz worked as an agent for CMA, general counsel for the Jerry Lewis theatre chain and a production executive for MGM. As an agent, it would have been usual for Konvitz to option properties and put a package together. Konvitz saw that anything good was being snapped up by studios before it was ever seen by him, so Konvitz set out to write original projects. Konvitz wrote the screenplay for “Silent Night, Bloody Night” which he also produced. Konvitz showed the treatment to the Producers and told them the screenplay was being typed. The Producers asked to see the script on Monday so Konvitz wrote the script himself in 4 days. [7]

Konvitz first pitched The Sentinel as a movie but was turned down by Studios. Konvitz decided to write The Sentinel as a novel, staying up writing until 4am while he practiced law in New York during the day. Simon and Schuster bought the rights to The Sentinel in September of ’73 and within six months he received an offer of $200,000 for the paperback rights and $500,000 for the movie rights from Universal. A first-time author had never before been hired by a major studio to adapt and produce a film from their own novel. [8] [9] The Sentinel would sell over 7 million copies.

Konvitz & Nielsen - Spy Hard 1996

Konvitz’s sequel to The Sentinel, The Guardian, sold out entirely in 10 days. It’s publisher, Bantam, went back to immediately print a million extra copies.[10] Konvitz dedicated The Guardian to Rufus, who is credited with editing Chapter 27. Rufus was Konvitz’s 170-Pound Great Pyrenese who ate the problematic Chapter, forcing Konvitz to successfully rewrite it.[11]

Konvitz rose to become one of the top Executives in Hollywood in the 1980s and 90s, leading two Nasdaq listed Entertainment companies: Kings Road Entertainment and Communications and Entertainment Corp.[12] Konvitz was at the forefront of a new wave of film-financing in the 1990s. This new model of film financing, packaging and gap financing spread throughout Hollywood.[13]

Works

Novels

  • The Sentinel, 1974
  • The Guardian, 1979 (the sequel to The Sentinel)
  • The Apocalypse, 1979
  • Monster: A Tale of Loch Ness, 1982

Screenplays

Producer

MMG v. AXQG

Konvitz was admitted to the State Bar of California on October 27, 1983 and has been an active member in good standing since 1983.[2] Since at least 2017, Konvitz has represented Malek Media Group LLC (MMG) and Matthew Malek in a business dispute against AXQG Corp. and Anita Gou, among others. Malek is the principal of MMG, and Gou owns AXQG. The two companies had agreed to start a film production company, Foxtail Entertainment, LLC, but the relationship quickly soured.[14] The parties arbitrated their dispute, AXQG won, and the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed the arbitration award. The arbitration was a JAMS arbitration.[14]

Konvitz proceeded to file an appeal on behalf of his client. The appeal of the Superior Court's confirmation judgement of Arbitrator Huebner's final award was grounded on alleged violations by the arbitrator of Code of Civil Procedure, Section 1286.2. There were issues raised in the appeal as to the improper exclusion of evidence but the primary challenge arose under Section 1286.2(6), which requires a potential arbitrator to disclose "grounds for disqualification of which the arbitrator was then aware." AXQG's Notice of Arbitration cited as a principal cause of action of sexual harassment of a prospective employee by Malek. The Notice of Arbitration was filed after the rise of the MeToo movement which was supported by GLAAD, an LGTBQ+ Social Justice organization. Arbitrator Huebner was a GLAAD co-founder, general counsel and GLAAD Person of the Year.[15] Malek argued that these background facts should have been disclosed due to the Arbitration Notice's harassment allegations. They were not, nor did the Appellate Court take judicial notice of Arbitrator Huebner's public tweets.[14] GLAAD has stated that it is closely allayed to the MeToo Movement, yet the Court of Appeals would not take judicial notice of those articles either.[16][17][18]

The Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court judgement. [14] The State Bar was supplied with all the Appellate Briefs, which were reviewed by State Bar trial counsel. No disciplinary action was taken by the State Bar nor were any State Bar sanctions assessed. The State Bar closed the file in June 2021.

Konvitz remains a California State Bar member in good standing.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b Thomas, Bob (August 7, 1974). "Konvitz decides on job". Clarksdale Public Register. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Jeffrey Steven Konvitz #112184 - Attorney Licensee Search". members.calbar.ca.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  3. ^ The New York Times
  4. ^ "The Sentinel". Modesto Bee. August 11, 1979. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Satan at the Door: The Sinister Events Surrounding The Sentinel". The Huffington Post. 20 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Jeff Konvitz J.D." VX119. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  7. ^ "The Los Angeles Times 23 Nov 1974, page 33".
  8. ^ "Asbury Park Press 05 Aug 1974, page Page 6".
  9. ^ "The Ithaca Journal 26 Nov 1974, page 19".
  10. ^ "Daily News 02 Feb 1979, page 6".
  11. ^ "The Los Angeles Times 08 Feb 1979, page 89".
  12. ^ "* Jeffrey Konvitz has been named executive". Los Angeles Times. 14 June 1992.
  13. ^ "More banks fall into gap". 10 July 1997.
  14. ^ a b c d California Court of Appeal Decision (December 16, 2020). "Malek Media Group LLC v. AXQG Corp" (PDF). Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "Human Rights Campaign Hails Selection of David Huebner".
  16. ^ "Press Releases".
  17. ^ "A queer survivor's guide to intimacy after sexual violence". 30 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Together". 23 March 2018.
  19. ^ "Jeffrey Steven Konvitz # 112184 - Attorney Licensee Search".

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jeffrey_Konvitz&oldid=1105363667"