A key prosecution witness whose testimony helped convict Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes of fraud sued Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) on Thursday over a latest Hulu miniseries that he says defamed him by portraying him as corrupt.
Adam Rosendorff, a former Theranos lab director, objected in a New York state court docket submitting to a fictional character who held the identical job in “The Dropout,” which starred Amanda Seyfried as Holmes, chronicling her rise and fall on the blood-testing startup.
Rosendorff mentioned the character, Mark Roessler, lined up Theranos’ fraud by ordering the destruction of damaging lab outcomes, falsifying information and fascinating in different dishonest and unethical conduct.
According to Rosendorff, the portrayal has had a “devastating effect” on his status and profession as a doctor as a result of media and even acquaintances have concluded that Roessler was based mostly on him.
“At the time of the trial, (Rosendorff) was considered a heroic whistle-blower, a witness who was instrumental in the jury’s verdict convicting Holmes,” the submitting mentioned. “Now he has been falsely portrayed as a perjurer, a criminal, and of being completely unfit to practice his profession.”
“The Dropout” made its debut final March.
Neither Disney nor Hulu instantly responded to requests for remark. Disney owns 67% of Hulu, whereas Comcast Corp’s (CMCSA.O) NBCUniversal owns 33%.
Richard Altman, a lawyer for Rosendorff, mentioned neither he nor his consumer would have extra remark.
Holmes, 39, was discovered responsible in January 2022 and later sentenced to 11-1/4 years in jail for defrauding buyers in Theranos, which was as soon as valued at $9 billion.
Now a mom of two younger kids, Holmes is making an attempt to delay her sentence whereas she appeals her conviction. Prosecutors have opposed a delay, calling Holmes a flight threat.
The case is Rosendorff v Hulu LLC et al, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 152734/2023.
