Former Paramount Skydance president Jeff Shell reaches a resolution with Robert James “R.J.” Cipriani, a gambler who filed a lawsuit in March. Across reports, Cipriani alleges that he was told about confidential or sensitive business dealings at Paramount and that he performed high-value crisis communications work for Shell. Cipriani’s suit named Shell, Shell’s wife, Paramount and the Ellison brothers, among others, and sought $150 million, according to coverage. Shell, in contrast, disputes Cipriani’s claims and characterizes the dispute as extortion rather than any leak-related misconduct.
Multiple outlets report that the parties settle and that Cipriani moves to dismiss the case. Deadline and the Los Angeles Times say Cipriani asks a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to dismiss the action with prejudice, indicating the lawsuit is ended permanently. Variety similarly reports that Shell settles litigation with Cipriani after the allegations and counter-allegations around the purported leaking of confidential information and crisis PR services. The reported settlement ends the legal fight that contributed to Shell’s exit from Paramount.
