Alexander Payne Sued for 'The Holdovers' Copyright Infringement by 'Luca' Screenwriter

Simon Stephenson, who has a story by credit on "Luca" and contributed to "Paddington 2" and "Wonka," is suing Alexander Payne in federal court alleging that Oscar-nominated screenplay "The Holdovers" was plagiarized from his script "Frisco." Along with Payne, the lawsuit names "The Holdovers" screenwriter David Hemingson, producer Mark Johnson, Miramax, Focus Features and Universal Home Entertainment. The defendants have been accused of copyright infringement and plagiarism. According to the complaint, Stephenson alleges that "Payne read [Frisco] in 2013 and again in . . .