Judge Dismisses “Mob Character” Lawsuit Against Fox

A Los Angeles judge has dismissed actor Frank Sivero’s lawsuit against Fox, finding that the plaintiff did not have a likelihood of prevailing on the merits at trial. Mr. Sivero objected to the depiction of the character Louie on the popular show The Simpsons, alleging that the show based the character on him. Mr. Sivero has played mob characters in Goodfellas and The Godfather II. Under California’s anti-SLAPP statute which protects the right to free speech, a plaintiff must show that he is likely to prevail on the merits in order to overcome the defendant’s motion to strike.   More here from The Hollywood Reporter.

More on the original filing of the suit here from the Los Angeles Times.