Design and lifestyle gurus Chip and Joanna Gaines have, over the past decade, built a business empire worth nearly $1 billion, by some estimates.
The Waco, Texas-based couple , which was published last month. Joanna received a $7 million advance for the project, “with more expected to be earned in royalties,” according to the lawsuit. And since the book was “delivered and published before any of the remaining three books in the Agreement,” the suit says it should thus count as the third of the five titles in the original contract.
Treating it as separate, according to Vigliano, was “an intentional breach” of the deal intended to cut him out of his rightful proceeds.
Vigliano is asking for “no less than” $2 million, plus interest, from the Gaineses and UTA for breach of contract and tortious interference.
“It’s really a very simple story,” Hutcher, Vigliano’s attorney, told The Daily Beast. “My gut tells me that [Vigliano] got caught in the crossfire between the desire of the Gaineses to oust their existing management, and [Vigliano was] collateral damage.”
He added, “It’s important [to consider] who you get into business with… These are people who profess to have the highest Christian values. But they had no problem ignoring my client’s rights, so it all comes down to character.”
