Actor alleges contract breach, sues Va. Beach firm

NORFOLK

Corbin Bernsen may have played a lawyer on television, but he had to seek out the services of a large Washington law firm for a civil action he has filed against a Virginia Beach marketing company.

Bernsen, probably best known for his role as the suave, blond-haired divorce lawyer Arnie Becker on "L.A. Law," is suing Innovative Legal Marketing for more than $600,000. Bernsen alleges that the company reneged on a $1 million contract.

The suit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court here.

In October 2009, Bernsen and Innovative signed a deal that called for Bernsen to be a spokesman for a media campaign aimed at lawyers and law firms.

Bernsen was required to make himself available for 30 days a year for five years for filming and photographing promotional announcements and for making public appearances. In exchange, Innovative was to pay Bernsen $200,000 a year in monthly installments.

Bernsen says in the suit that he fulfilled his end of the deal through June of this year, when Innovative abruptly terminated the agreement. Until then, Innovative had paid Bernsen nearly $332,000. Bernsen says he is owed the remaining $668,000.

The suit says Bernsen was notified by Innovative's managing director, Brien Johnson, that the campaign was not successful, except in New York state. Innovative continued to use the actor's promotional spots despite canceling the contract, the suit says.

There was no phone number for Innovative's office at 4854 Haygood Road. Another company, Dominion Advertising, is listed as being in the same location. On the website for Dominion Advertising, the president is listed as Brien Johnson. Efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.

The suit was to be served on Johnson this week, according to court records. Bernsen's lawyer also did not respond to a phone message.

Bernsen's career in Hollywood dates back almost 40 years. Besides "L.A. Law," he starred in the trio of "Major League" films and has appeared in scores of other TV shows and movies, including sitcoms, dramas and soap operas. He's a regular in the USA Network series "Psych" and has directed a new feature film called "25 Hill," about a soap box derby.

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com