Actor Mel Gibson’s attorneys have accused the producer of American-Irish drama film “The Professor and the Madman” of seeking to swindle Irelands tax authorities. Gibson is engaged in a legal battle with producer Voltage Pictures over the film, which tells the dark origin story of the Oxford English Dictionary.
Gibson is engaged in a pitched legal battle with producer Voltage Pictures over the film, which tells the dark origin story of the Oxford English Dictionary. The director, Farhad Safinia, first accused Voltage in July of trying to inflate expenses on the film, which would result in a larger tax rebate from the Irish government.
Gibson, who co-produced and starred in the film as lexicographer James Murray, filed an answer to a cross-complaint on Wednesday, in which he joined in the accusation. Gibson’s attorneys allege that producer Zev Foreman offered a $1.3 million fee to Safinia, on the condition that Safinia then rebate $1 million to Voltage under the guise of buying a literary property.
“Mr. Foreman also indicated he had perpetrated similar fraudulent transactions in connection with Voltage’s production of films in the State of Louisiana to obtain tax credits there,” Gibson’s attorneys state.
The filing states that Warren Dern, Safinia’s lawyer, asked Foreman for a letter from a recognized law firm stating that such an arrangement would be legal. No such letter was provided. Safinia has previously said that he he rejected the deal. The new filing also asserts that Voltage made a similar offer to Vicki Christianson, the COO and CFO of Gibson’s company, Icon Productions. She also rejected it, the attorney’s state. Voltage’s attorney, Jeremiah Reynolds, previously said that the tax scam allegation was fabricated. Voltage declined to comment on the latest claims.
Gibson alleges that in retaliation for refusing to go along with the scheme, Voltage CEO Nicolas Chartier canceled plans to shoot essential scenes at the University of Oxford.
