A Texas state judge ordered the publisher of “Fifty Shades of Grey” to set aside $10 million for the publisher’s former partner, Jennifer Pedroza, after the jury found that she was entitled to her share of the book’s royalty rights.
In her order, State District Judge Susan McCoy ordered the money be deposited in a court registry by September 25 as negotiations for a judgment amount take place for Pedroza.
In her case against Amanda Hayward and TWCS Operations Proprietary Ltd., Pedroza claimed that Hayward restructured the company to essentially make Pedroza an independent contractor and then fired her. As a result, Pedroza missed out of the $40 million sale of the Fifty Shades trilogy to Random House. Earlier this year, the jury determined Hayward and TWCS defrauded Pedroza in inducing her into a Service Agreement and deprived her of her share of royalties.
Pedroza was one of four original partners in the company that published “Fifty Shades of Grey,” which sold more than 100 million copies. According to court document, Pedroza is entitled to 25-percent stake or $10.7 million.
While Hayward said she would appeal, both parties are still expected to meet again in late September to get the court’s approval of the terms of the negotiated judgment amount.