Opinion ID: 3037655
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: “Any and All Arrangements”

Text: Next, Marder claims that the release of any claims relating to “any and all arrangements” does not apply to claims relating to her alleged writing contributions. The language at issue immediately follows the release of claims related to “any matters” discussed above, and states, in relevant part: Without limiting the generality of the foregoing Release, Marder hereby releases and discharges [Paramount] from each and every claim . . . hereto- fore or hereafter arising out of or in any way con- 5 Marder states that, hypothetically, a broad interpretation of “matters” would preclude her from bringing suit if Paramount defamed her dance routine. Paramount counters that the intent of the Release is to protect Paramount against claims with some nexus to Marder’s contributions to Flashdance. California contract law states: “However broad may be the terms of a contract, it extends only to those things concerning which it appears that the parties intended to contract.” Cal. Civ. Code § 1648. Marder’s claims to co-ownership, based in her contributions to the creation of the film, fall within the language of the Release. Her hypothetical is unpersuasive because a defamation claim would be based on events entirely unrelated to the creation of the movie. Such a claim would lack a sufficient nexus to the “matters” contemplated by the Release. 6538 MARDER v. LOPEZ nected with, either directly or indirectly, any and all arrangements (including but not limited to research, interviews, costumes, photographic sessions, assistance, services and technical advice of any kind) in connection with the preparation of screenplay material and the production, filming and exploitation of the motion picture tentatively entitled “Flashdance” .... (emphasis added). Marder states that this portion of the Release only applies to a specific set of “ancillary services” that she provided during the movie’s creation, including arranging interviews and photo shoots with other dancers. According to Marder, those services did not include any of her writing contributions to the screenplays. Therefore, she alleges that the release of claims relating to “arrangements” cannot include any claims in the instant suit, which are based solely on her writing contributions. [8] Marder’s reading of the release relating to “arrangements” is strained. Here, “arrangements” is followed by an explanatory parenthetical that lists examples of services Marder might have performed, “including but not limited to research, interviews, costumes, photographic sessions, assistance, services and technical advice of any kind.” Marder released Paramount from claims relating to services including but not limited to those listed in the parenthetical. Thus, we believe that any “writing contributions” she made in connection with the screenplay were included in the category of “arrangements.” More importantly, the language of the Release states that Paramount is released from “any and all arrangements . . . in connection with the preparation of screenplay material.” (emphasis added). A plain construction of “preparation of screenplay material” necessarily includes any of Marder’s alleged writing contributions to the screenplay. We therefore hold that the release of claims relating to “any and MARDER v. LOPEZ 6539 all arrangements” necessarily includes Marder’s writing contributions.6