Critics Choice Association and Hollywood Creative Alliance settle disputes

The Hollywood Creative Alliance has ended its defamation lawsuit against the Critics Choice Association after both parties announced Friday that they had reached an “amicable agreement.” In a joint announcement between CCA CEO Joey Berlin and HCA CEO Scott Menzel, the two parties said the Critics Choice Association will once again allow its members to be part of the Hollywood Creative Alliance.

Also, Berlin has joined HCA’s advisory committee to “provide advice on best practices in awards show production and nonprofit management,” and HCA has agreed to advise CCA on “best accessibility practices at its events. ”

In January, the Hollywood Creative Alliance (formerly known as Hollywood Critics Association) sued the Critics Choice Association after the organization told its members they had to resign from the HCA in order to remain members of the CCA.

“The reason CCA has taken this action is because we have evidence that an HCA representative falsely suggested to at least one studio (and we suspect more) that this could influence the Critics Choice Awards voting on a manner that led to that studio reaching out to CCA and requesting that action be taken to protect the integrity of our awards,” the Critics Choice Association stated as the reason. “Of course the HCA threat was empty, but CCA cannot ignore this.”

The HCA responded to that move with a defamation suit in court documents alleged that the CCA had defamed the organization in an “attempt to boycott and steal members of the HCA” and was seeking “interim and permanent injunctive relief” along with “appropriate compensatory relief and fees and costs” in response to the actions of the organization.

Now, as part of the settlement, “both organizations recognize and respect that they are part of the entertainment industry ecosystem that seeks to support and elevate the best in film and television,” the organizations said in their announcement.

“An unfortunate misunderstanding has been corrected and we are pleased to continue on our journey to serve our members, the public and the entertainment community,” said Berlin.

Menzel added: “We are grateful that we have resolved this matter mutually and look forward to working productively together. We know both organizations can have a positive impact on the entertainment industry.”