The Stan Laurel Correspondence Archive Project

Legal Agreement | Typewritten

April 8, 1939

THIS AGREEMENT AND RELEASE made and entered into this 8th day of April, 1939, by and between STAN LAUREL, hereinafter sometimes called "LAUREL", STAN LAUREL PRODOCT!ONS, INC., a corporation, hereinafter sometimes called "PRODOCT!ONS", First Parties, and HAL ROACH STUDIOS, INC., a corporation, hereinafter sometimes called "STODIOS", Second Party,
    WITNESSETH:
    There is now pending aact1on No. 434444 in the Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the County of Los Angeles, entitled: Stan Laurel and Stan Laurel Productions, Inc., a corporation, Plaintiffs, vs. Hal Roach Studios, Inc., a corporation, Defendant. The parties desire to compromise that litigation and to that end agree as follows:
    (1) The contract referred to in said action is hereby cancelled.
    (2) Concurrently herewith, plaintiffs in said action have delivered to defendant in said action a dismissal with prejudice, to be filed by defendant forthwith.
    (3) LAUREL and PRODUCTIONS, jointly and severally, release STUDIOS from any and all claims which they or either of them have against STUDIOS, except claims under the agreement hereinafter mentioned. STUDIOS hereby release LAUREL and PRODUCTIONS, and each of them, from any and all claims which STUDIOS has against them, or either or them, except claims under the agreement hereinafter mentioned.
    (4) Concurrently herewith, STUDIOS has paid LAUREL the sum or five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), and concurrently herewith STUDIOS is delivering to Benjamin W. Shipman a note in his favor, 'for thirty-five thousand dollars, which said note is delivered to said Benjamin W. Shipman as a part of the settlement of said litigation and in consideration thereof. Nothing hereinbefore contained shall be deemed to be a release of said note.
    (5) STUDIOS agrees that no claim, defense, judgment or other matters affecting Stan Laurel may be used as an off-set, counter-claim or defense against said promissory note for thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00), and said note will be enforceable no matter what the disposition may be of the contract mentioned in the next succeeding paragraph.
    (6) Concurrently herewith, STUDIOS has entered into an agreement with LAUREL, dated April 8th. 1939, for the performance of services by LAUREL for the STUDIOS for a term of one (1) year.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this agreement the day and year first above written.
Stan Laurel Signature
    STAN LAUREL
    STAN LAUREL PRODUCTIONS, INC.
    President
    First Parties

    HAL ROACH STUDIOS, INC.
    By FRANK ROSS, President
    MAT D. O'BRIEN, Secty.
    Second Party

Hal Roach Studios Adds

There is now pending action #434444 in Superior Court of State of California, in and for County of Los Angeles, entitled: Stan Laurel and Stan Laurel Productions, Inc., a corporation, Plaintiffs, vs. Hal Roach Studios, Inc., a corporation, Defendant. The parties desire to compromise that litigation and to that end agree as follows: 1) Contract referred to in said action is hereby cancelled. 2) Concurrently herewith, plaintiffs have delivered to defendant a dismissal with prejudice, to be filed by defendant forthwith. 3) Laurel and Productions and studio hereby release each other from any and all claims, except claims under agreement hereinafter mentioned. 4) Concurrently herewith, studio has paid Laurel $5,000 and concurrently is delivering to Benjamin w. Shipman a note for $35,000 as part of settlement of said litigation and in consideration thereof. Nothing hereinbefore contained shall be deemed a release of said note. 5) Studio agrees no claim, defense, etc., affecting Stan Laurel may be used as off-set, counter-claim, etc., against said promissory for $35,000, and said note enforceable no matter what disposition may be made of contract. 6) Concurrently, studio has entered into agreement with Laurel dated April a, 1939, for performance of services by Laurel for studios for term of one-year.

1939 LETTERS