'Crash' director sues producer over film profits

LOS ANGELES - The Canadian director of the film "Crash," Paul Haggis, has filed a lawsuit against his partners in the production of the Oscar-winning picture, alleging a financier owes him nearly five million dollars, court authorities said on Monday.

Haggis and Bobby Moresco, who shared an Oscar in 2006 for best original screenplay for the movie that focuses on racial tensions in Los Angeles, are accusing co-producer Bob Yari with breach of contract.

Haggis, who directed and co-wrote the film, was also a producer for the critically-acclaimed work.

It is the second lawsuit launched against Yari related to "Crash," which earned nearly 100 million dollars worldwide.

Another co-producer for the film, Cathy Schulman, alleges Yari also owes her money. Her case is due to start on April 21.

Yari has argued in court documents that "Crash" was not a particularly profitable movie when various costs were taken into account.

As for the lawsuit filed on Friday by Haggis and Moresco, Yari's lawyer, Mark Wendorff, reportedly declined to comment saying he had not seen it.

Yari previously sued the Producers Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over the removal of a credit naming him as a producer of "Crash." A Los Angeles judge dismissed the suit.

With a cast including Don Cheadle, Thandie Newton, Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon and Ryan Phillippe, "Crash" was considered a top contender for a best picture Oscar but lost out to "Brokeback Mountain."