No Injunction on 99-Seat Plan

Fifteen actors who filed a lawsuit against Actors’ Equity over the union’s proposed Actors’ 99-Seat Theatre Plan lost a round in federal court Thursday, when U.S District Court Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. refused to grant them a preliminary injunction.

The actors, some of whom are also small-theater producers, had hoped such an injunction would forestall implementation of the plan, scheduled for Oct. 3.

In denying the injunction, Hatter urged the two sides to get together for “collective bargaining” before the case goes to trial.

Attorney Leo Geffner, representing the actors’ union, said he would recommend such negotiations. Until now, Actors’ Equity has refused to negotiate with the actor-producers on the grounds that the new plan is not a contract.

Representing the 15 plaintiffs, attorney Jerome Birn said, “I was encouraged by the judge’s questions.”