Leno cleared of WGA strike violations

HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Comic Jay Leno has been cleared of violating the Writers Guild of America's strike rules during a 100-day strike in late 2007-early 2008, the guild said.

WGA-West issued a message to members in which it detailed decisions of trial committees investigating allegations brought by members of strike rule violations, Variety reported Wednesday.

Besides its decision in the Leno matter, the guild took action against two members and a non-member.

Leno was accused of violating guild rules against writing for companies struck by guild members when he returned as host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" in early January 2008 after a two-month hiatus following the strike. Members filed complaints against Leno for performing a nightly monologue during the six-week stretch when the show was produced without writers. Leno was questioned by a WGA-West trial committee earlier this year.

In the other matters announced Tuesday, WGA-West said the trial committees found the two members guilty of violating strike rules, and decided to bar permanently a non-member from joining the WGA after he was found guilty of writing and submitting scripts to a struck company, the guild said.