Inside the bizarre would-be lawsuit professional gambler is launching against Paramount president Jeff Shell

A draft complaint surfaced on February 20th, revealing a potential lawsuit by R.J. Cipriani, a professional gambler and Hollywood fixer, against Paramount president Jeff Shell. Cipriani alleged Shell didn't pay him for consulting services and improperly shared confidential studio information. He claimed to have saved Paramount millions by assisting Shell in negotiations with “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, contributing to their $1.5 billion deal.

Paramount launched an investigation through Gibson Dunn, while Shell retained Patricia Glaser for legal counsel. However, it was Glaser who initially connected Cipriani and Shell, and she has previously represented Cipriani, who is also reportedly an FBI informant. Sources suggest Cipriani’s lawsuit demonstrated knowledge of Paramount’s internal affairs, and he alluded to an SEC matter in the draft complaint.

While Cipriani seemingly overstated his contributions, Paramount has experienced recent leaks, and Cipriani is known for leveraging media contacts. Glaser stated that if Cipriani proceeds with the lawsuit, they will “strongly respond,” dismissing the draft complaint as containing “clear errors of fact and law.” Cipriani responded to inquiries about Glaser’s dual representation with a cryptic message, suggesting a potentially revealing story.

(Source：New York Post)