Katzenberg Gets His Date in Court

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Wednesday set a Nov. 18 trial date for former Walt Disney Co. studio chief Jeffrey Katzenberg’s $250-million breach-of-contract suit against the company. Judge John Ouderkirk also scheduled a status conference for Nov. 13.

Katzenberg, who left Disney in 1994 after Chairman Michael Eisner decided not to promote him to president, is seeking $250 million from his former employer, based on his claim that he should be entitled to a portion of the studio’s profits from blockbusters such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King.”

Disney contends that he relinquished his rights to share in the profits of those films when he opted out of his contract early.

Hollywood insiders say a lawsuit involving Disney and Katzenberg could prove damaging to both sides as details of what has been a private squabble between two Hollywood giants become public.