The family of famed Wiley College debate coach Melvin B. Tolson sue Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios for compensation...
From The Hollywood Reporter
According to the complaint, when the film was being made Tolson's son offered producers assistance in the form of recordings of their father for the purpose of Washington's study. Later, the family was invited and did attend the film's premiere. Harpo staffers allegedly told the family, "We are going to take care of you."
"In so doing, defendants dissuaded the plaintiffs from hiring a lawyer and exploited the plaintiffs' lack of business experience and relative lack of education, as well as their trust in their understanding of the character (mis)represented by Winfrey, Denzel Washington and the defendants," states the complaint.
The family allegedly later attempted to contact Winfrey, but never got in touch.The film about the Black debate team was released in 2007.
