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Intellectual Property

May 20, 2026

Attorney sanctioned $532K for prolonging lawsuit over Disney's 'Moana'

The penalties include more than $532,000 in sanctions against lead attorney Gustavo D. Lage for "unreasonably and vexatiously" prolonging the five-year litigation.

A federal judge has finalized nearly $2.1 million in financial penalties arising from independent animator Buck Woodall's failed claim that Disney's hit film "Moana" was stolen from his unproduced project. The penalties include more than $532,000 in sanctions against lead attorney Gustavo D. Lage for "unreasonably and vexatiously" prolonging the five-year litigation.

In two orders, U.S. District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall awarded Disney $1,555,518.10 in...

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