‘Cagney, Lacey’ Producer Wins $2-Million Suit

A jury has awarded television producer Mace Neufeld more than $2 million in a breach-of-contract suit against fellow “Cagney & Lacey” producer Barney Rosenzweig and Orion Pictures Corp.

After a 16-day trial, a Superior Court jury in Santa Monica on Wednesday assessed Rosenzweig $1.25 million and Orion $758,978, plus interest amounting to an additional $500,000.

Superior Court Judge Laurence Rittenband will decide Oct. 9 whether to certify, reduce or overturn the verdict.

“In my judgment, there is absolutely no legal basis for either the judge or the Court of Appeal to diminish or reverse the jury award,” said Neufeld’s attorney, Daniel C. Rosenberg.

Neither Orion nor Rosenzweig would comment, saying the matter is still in the courts.

Neufeld said he had contracts with Orion, then Filmways, and Rosenzweig entitling him to 50% of whatever the studio paid Rosenzweig during the first five years of “Cagney & Lacey.” The 1982-88 CBS police drama starring Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly was a Rosenzweig Prods.-Mace Neufeld production.

Rosenzweig made more than $5 million from the series in addition to the amount included in his original contract, Neufeld said, arguing that he was entitled to a corresponding increase.