Baer v. Chase
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
392 F.3d 609 (2004)
Before The Sopranos aired, former prosecutor Robert Baer (plaintiff) gave show creator David Chase (defendant) ideas and connections about the New Jersey Mafia, including arranging meetings with police officials, and commented on drafts of the pilot script. Baer and Chase orally agreed Baer would be paid the "value of his services" if the show succeeded, and Baer turned down an upfront payment in favor of that arrangement. After the show became a hit, Chase never paid Baer, and Baer sued for breach of contract. The district court granted summary judgment for Chase, and Baer appealed.
Whether an oral agreement to pay someone the "value of his services" if a television show becomes successful is enforceable as a contract when the parties never agreed on a price, a definition of success, or a duration for the agreement.