Lawyers for Conan O’Brien say he’s finally been served a $600,000 lawsuit by a San Diegan alleging copyright violation over stolen jokes.
O’Brien and fellow defendants Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney of the “Conan” show on TBS “all accepted service without incident” this week, said Erica Van Loon, writing for a team of attorneys.
“At no point have defendants evaded service,” as suggested by writer Robert Alex Kaseberg’s lawyer.
But San Diego federal Judge Janis Sammartino still sided with the San Diego comedy writer, ordering a 30-day extension on his 120-day deadline to hand legal papers to O’Brien, his executive producer and head writer.
O’Brien’s lawyers had opposed the extension, saying the failure to serve notice was the fault of Kaseberg and his Carlsbad lawyer, Jayson Lorenzo.
- Legal filing: O’Brien’s opposition to extension of deadline to serve suit
- Judge’s order: Robert Alex Kaseberg granted 30-day extension
- Earlier: Conan O’Brien Getting Last Laugh: San Diegan Can’t Serve Suit
“Plaintiff made no attempt to serve the individuals named as defendants until this week, with the exception of sending a process server to the gates of the Warner Bros. Studios property,” Van Loon wrote.
“The process server’s failure to gain entry into the gated, private studio to effectuate service is not surprising nor attributable to defendants, as this attempt at service was not even known to defendants.”
A jury trial has been requested by other defendants in the case, including O’Brien’s production company and Turner Broadcasting System, which airs the weeknight “Conan” show.
