Why ER Star Julianna Margulies Was Once Sued By Her Former Managers

Most known for her starring roles as nurse Carol Hathaway on "ER" and as attorney Alicia Florrick on "The Good Wife," Julianna Margulies has had a successful television career since the 1990s. According to Courthouse New Service, her managers at D/F Management, a firm co-founded by her longtime former agent, Steve Dontanville, believe they were not paid their fair share for some of her success. In July 2012, the firm sued Margulies for $420,000 in unpaid commission and breach of contract. The suit claims that in February 2009, Margulies made an oral agreement with D/F Management to pay them 10% of her gross earnings. D/F claims her career was on the decline before it intervened to help her land the lead role in "The Good Wife" in 2009,, as well as a spokesperson gig for L'Oreal.

In October 2012, Margulies filed a counterclaim against Dontanville's management firm. According to the legal docs, Margulies was initially excited about collaborating with Dontanville, who'd reportedly helped her land her big break on "ER" earlier in her career, but those good vibes faded soon after they reunited. "Dontanville demonstrated a general lack of initiative, attention, focus and commitment," her counterclaim reads (via The Hollywood Reporter). "In addition, over time, Dontanville's behavior became inappropriate and the source of embarrassment, upset and concern for Margulies. As a result, Margulies grew increasingly dissatisfied with D/F's services."

After Julianna Margulies welcoming her first child in 2008, her working relationship with her former manager, Steve Dontanville, proved fruitful for her career. Yet, despite her past eagerness to work with him, she ended their professional relationship for good on April 29, 2011. She cited his unspecified personal problems for being the reason he had previously retired from William Morris in 2005 before co-founding D/F Management in 2009. Margulies went a step further to sue Dontanville in 2012, claiming she had paid for services that were not received and for failing to provide written confirmation of terms. 

"In light of her longtime professional and personal relationship with Dontanville and given her belief that Dontanville's personal problems had been resolved, Margulies was initially excited about having D/F act as her manager," read her court papers (via The Hollywood Reporter). "Unfortunately, Margulies' initial excitement about the relationship soon gave way to disappointment because D/F failed to provide the level and quality of services she had anticipated and which D/F had agreed to render."

The attorney representing D/F, Mathew Rosengart, fired back against Margulies' tactics to get out of commission payments. "My client was forced to sue Ms. Margulies for her failure to pay commissions for a show they strongly recommended she accept, as she has publicly acknowledged," he said (via The Hollywood Reporter). "It is disappointing that rather than abiding by her obligations, Ms. Margulies has chosen the tact of filing a meritless and malicious claim based upon personal attacks. My client will vigorously prosecute its claim." In August 2013, they announced they had finally reached a confidential settlement that was agreeable to both parties.