Legal appeal targeting SAG talks denied

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles judge has denied Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg's appeal aimed at disrupting the union's contract talks with industry executives.

The Hollywood Reporter said a special appeal filed as part of Rosenberg's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit against the union was denied Friday.

Rosenberg's fellow SAG officials -- Anne-Marie Johnson, Diane Ladd and Kent McCord -- are also serving as co-plaintiffs in the appeal and related lawsuit.

The SAG officials are suing their own union in an attempt to disrupt ongoing negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The talks involve a new contract for television and theatrical works.

The lawsuit also seeks the reinstatement of former SAG chief negotiator Doug Allen, who was removed from his negotiating post through a national board action.

The denied appeal marked the most recent attempt by the disgruntled SAG officials to block next Tuesday's scheduled contract talks between SAG and AMPTP negotiators, the Reporter said.