Lisa Kudrow And Ex-Manager Battle Over Millions

Lisa Kudrow testified in a Santa Monica, Calif. courtroom yesterday as to whether or not she owed her ex-manager Scott Howard a substantial amount of money. Howard represented Kudrow during her highes...
Lisa Kudrow And Ex-Manager Battle Over Millions
Written by
  • Lisa Kudrow testified in a Santa Monica, Calif. courtroom yesterday as to whether or not she owed her ex-manager Scott Howard a substantial amount of money.

    Howard represented Kudrow during her highest level of fame: as an actress on the smash hit comedy, Friends.

    Through negotiations as the series blew up in popularity, Kudrow was able to see her earnings balloon from $13,500 an episode to nearly several million dollars by the time the series ended in 2004.

    Kudrow and Howard parted ways three years later.

    The enraged ex-manager is now claiming the two had an “oral agreement” that Kudrow has since reneged on. According to Howard, Kudrow had promised that he would continue to receive 5% of profits earned from their time together even after their work relationship ended.

    Before being fired, Howard saw his share of earnings cut from 10% to 5% as Kudrow stated that at the time she didn’t think it was fair that Howard was earning more than the agents. Later during a conversation with Howard, Kudrow mentioned that everyone around her was letting go of their managers.

    Said Kudrow, “I think I wanted him to know that having a manager was unnecessary.”

    Necessary or not, a deal is a deal as far as Howard is concerned. He is suing the actress for $1.8 million over fees that Howard feels he was denied despite Kudrow continuing to earn royalties.

    Said Howard of the alleged verbal agreement, “I always believed that a personal handshake kind of cemented that personal relationship, and that anything more formal felt awkward.”

    Awkward or not, something more formal such as a signed document may have made things easier on the former manager. Especially since Kudrow is telling a different story altogether.

    According to the actress’s testimony, she promised Howard nothing beyond the first round of residuals.

    Over $8 million is said to be at stake in the ongoing case.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

    Get the WebProNews newsletter delivered to your inbox

    Get the free daily newsletter read by decision makers

    Subscribe
    Advertise with Us

    Ready to get started?

    Get our media kit