CAA Cleared in Terrence Howard's Empire Pay Dispute

A lawsuit filed by Terrence Howard against CAA has been dismissed by a court, ruling that the agency is not liable for issues related to his contract negotiations for the series Empire. Howard had sued CAA in 2023, alleging that his agents had a conflict of interest and persuaded him to accept salaries below market value during his six-season tenure on the show.

The court's dismissal hinged on the specific compensation structure for Howard's role. Fox dealt with his loan-out company, Universal Bridges, which then paid Howard a fixed salary. The court determined that even a successful negotiation for a higher salary might not have resulted in additional direct payments to Howard. Consequently, the alleged damages were deemed too speculative to warrant a trial.

Howard's claims included breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud, and fraudulent misrepresentation. He had sought profit participation and other perks, aiming for terms similar to those of other prominent actors. However, court documents indicate that Fox repeatedly rejected attempts to renegotiate his deal. The ruling, issued on July 31, highlighted that Fox had the final decision-making authority on any contract adjustments.