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Article
Ovitz Performance In Disney Role Is Faulted at Trial
Wall Street Journal (2004)
  • John Donohue, Yale University
Abstract

Former Walt Disney Co. President Michael Ovitz's job performance and spending habits came under attack during testimony in a Delaware court case, as an expert witness said Disney's directors could have fired Mr. Ovitz for cause, rather than giving him the no‐fault termination he received. John J. Donohue, a Yale University law professor and witness for a group of Disney shareholders, testified that his review of California law, of Mr. Ovitz's employment contract and of depositions in the case showed that Disney's board had the right not to grant Mr. Ovitz a no‐ fault termination, which resulted in an estimated $140 million severance package in 1996, when he left Disney after 14 months.

Keywords
  • Disney,
  • Orvitz,
  • Donohue
Disciplines
Publication Date
October 22, 2004
Citation Information
John Donohue. "Ovitz Performance In Disney Role Is Faulted at Trial" Wall Street Journal (2004)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/john_donohue/75/