Ashton Kutcher Sues DMV Over Botched Reality Deal

Actor's production company says California-run organization breached a contract agreement.

By Sajid Farooq
|  Wednesday, Jun 20, 2012  |  Updated 11:41 AM PDT
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Ashton Kutcher is reportedly suing the DMV for allegedly violating a contract.

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Ashton Kutcher's production company Katalyst Media is suing the California Department of Motor Vehicles for allegedly pulling out of an agreement to produce a half-hour reality show built around the state-funded and run facility.

The show "DMV" was set to "capture the variously humorous, emotional, dramatic, moving, humanizing and entertaining situations that arise on a daily basis at DMV's more than 170 offices across the State of California," according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Tuesday.

E! Online obtained a copy of the suit Wednesday.

The suit alleges that Kutcher's production company entered into an agreement with DMV Director George Valverde.

It says he committed to give access to the production company for four episodes for the documentary series in a letter, according to the filing.

According to Katalyst Media, it negotiated a contract with TruTV to air the show relying on the agreement from Valverde.

But six weeks after signing the agreement, the DMV allegedly sent a letter to Katalyst that "simply declared that DMV no longer considered the series to be in its 'best interests' and would therefore 'not be moving forward on such a project,'" according to the filing.

The company is asking for no less than $1.4 million in damages for pre-production work it says it already carried out.

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Posted Jun 20, 2012
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