Judge Dismisses ‘George & Tammy’ Lawsuit Against Showtime Over Portrayal of George Richey

variety.com:

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic A judge in Delaware has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Showtime over the limited series “George & Tammy” and its portrayal of the late George Richey, who was married to Tammy Wynette after her divorce from George Jones.

In tossing the suit out, the judge ruled that, whatever merits there might be to the complaints of the plaintiff, Sheila Slaughter Richey, there was no basis for including Showtime Networks in the suit at all, let alone as the sole defendant.

The suit hadclaimed that George Richey was disparaged and made into the villain of “George & Richey.” Judge Stephanos Bibas did not take issue with that characterization made by Sheila Slaughter Richey’s lawyers, and he dismissed it without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled.

But his ruling said essentially that the plaintiff’s beef was solely with Georgette Jones, the daughter of George Jones, who was not named as a defendant, and not with Showtime. “Normally, a plaintiff who cries unjust enrichment must have actually enriched somebody,” Bibas wrote in his judgment. “Sheila Slaughter Richey alleges that (1) Georgette Jones breached a contract with her, and (2) the breach helped Showtime make a hit TV show.