Today, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied SAG president Alan Rosenberg’s request for a temporary restraining order that would have overturned the firing of National Executive Director Doug Allen on Jan. 26. Judge James Chalfant denied the order on the grounds that Rosenberg had "no probability of success on the merits of their claims," according to a statement from SAG.
Rosenberg said he would appeal the decision. Nevertheless, SAG officials applauded the court action.
"I’m pleased that we can put this matter behind us and dedicate our complete focus to the needs of Screen Actors Guild members. There’s a lot of work ahead of us," said David White, SAG’s interim national director.
On Jan. 26, the moderates on SAG’s national board managed to boot Allen, replace him with two people, and obliterate the negotiating committee. The action came after an incendiary two-day board meeting last month, at which time Rosenberg reportedly gave an expletive-laced speech that included threats like "you want a f—ing civil war in this union? You do this, you will get a f—ing civil war" when moderate members first attempted to Allen.
The SAG board will reconvene this Sunday. The actors have been working without a contract since June.
