There are no lawyers or dramatic courtroom scenes in HBO’s hit show Entourage, but nevertheless, this TV series offers many real-world lessons about legal strategy in the entertainment industry. If you haven’t seen the show, Entourage revolves around the fictional Hollywood movie star Vincent Chase (played by Adrian Grenier) and his “entourage” of childhood friends, including his manager Eric Murphy (played by Kevin Connolly), who everyone refers to as “E”; Vincent’s older half-brother Johnny “Drama” (played by Kevin Dillon); and Turtle (played by Jerry Ferrara).

In one episode, Turtle accidentally finds a “mixtape,” a homemade music CD produced by an unknown hip-hop artist.38 Turtle loves the music on the mixtape, and he eventually tracks down the musician, whose stage name is “Saigon.” Turtle then signs the up-andcoming hip-hop artist to a management deal. As Saigon’s new manager, Turtle promises to get Saigon a record deal with a major label. Turtle keeps his end of the bargain and gets Saigon a major record deal, but when the day comes for Saigon to sign with the record label, he is nowhere to be found.39 Along with his friend Johnny “Drama,” 

Turtle drives all over Los Angeles trying to find Saigon, and after a bit of detective work, they finally locate him partying in a swank hotel suite . . . along with Saigon’s other manager! Saigon forgot to tell Turtle that he was already contractually obligated to another manager before signing with Turtle and that they had just signed a better deal with a hip-hop music label. To make things right, Saigon asks his new (old)manager to buy Turtle out for $40,000, the same 38Synopsis: Entourage: Good Morning Saigon (season 2,episode 12) (HBO, not dated), https://www.hbo.com/entourage/  season-02/12-good-morning-saigon/synopsis. 39Synopsis: Entourage:I Wanna Be Sedated (season 3A, episode10) (HBO, not dated), https://www.hbo.com/entourage/  season-03a/10-i-wanna-be-sedated/synopsis. amount of money Turtle would have made if Saigon had signed with Turtle’s record label. Should Turtle accept Saigon’s offer?

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

1. Assume that Turtle’s commission from his record deal—if Saigon had showed up to sign with Turtle’s record label—would have been $40,000. Is this monetary amount equivalent to compensatory damages, consequential damages, liquidated damages, or restitution?

2. If you were Turtle, would you prefer to sue Saigon in court, or would you rather settle out of court by accepting Saigon’s offer of $40,000? Likewise, if you were Saigon, would you offer to settle with Turtle out of court for $40,000, or would you make Turtle take you to court?