The lawsuit over HBO Max medical drama “The Pitt” and its alleged similarity to “ER” continues in California. Lawyers for “The Pitt” submit final briefing as they ask an appeals court to overturn claims that the show is a knockoff of “ER,” which are being pursued by the estate of “ER” creator Michael Crichton. Multiple outlets report that the dispute stems from a filing by Crichton’s estate against Warner Bros., filed in 2024. In the latest stage of the appellate process, “The Pitt” attorneys argue the knockoff claims are baseless and seek a definitive rejection of the allegations. Deadline reports that no argument date has been set at the California court of appeals, while Variety characterizes the effort as an attempt to defeat the “ER” claims in appeal. NME similarly highlights that the show’s lawyers deny the premise that “The Pitt” is an “ER” rip-off and describe the legal fight as ongoing. The reporting reflects competing positions in court, with the estate asserting substantial similarity and “The Pitt” contesting that characterization through its appellate filings.