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"Bones" Producer's Lawsuit Full of Great Vocabulary

When looking for vocabulary usage outside of the classroom, one doesn't usually turn to the world of television to satisfy the need for exciting words used in interesting ways. One exception seems to be "Bones" producer Barry Josephson's lawsuit against the Fox network, which was announced today and contains many fantastic words accusing Josephson's employers of all manner of shady dealings. Josephson may feel wronged by the actions he claims occurred, but he clearly had fun wording the lawsuit itself, sprinkling synonyms for bad behavior among his demands for the money he feels he is owed. Here are 11 words from the announcement of Josephson's lawsuit.
11 words 1398 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. fraudulent
    intended to deceive
    He also says he was "fraudulently threatened" by Rice and other execs into accepting a lower license fee from Fox or else face immediate cancellation of the show.
  2. chicanery
    the use of tricks to deceive someone
    "Simply put, the audit uncovered a veritable mother lode of accounting chicanery and self-dealing," the suit claims, hinting that tens of millions of dollars could be at stake.
  3. lode
    a deposit of valuable ore
    "Simply put, the audit uncovered a veritable mother lode of accounting chicanery and self-dealing," the suit claims, hinting that tens of millions of dollars could be at stake.
  4. cliche
    a trite or obvious remark
    But thanks to "Hollywood accounting" (which the complaint, in a nice touch, says "is so commonplace as to be cliche"), Fox underreported millions of dollars in revenue, which was revealed in an audit Josephson initiated of the first seven seasons of the show.
  5. wherewithal
    the necessary means (especially financial means)
    Profit participation claims are fairly common among the upper echelon of talent in Hollywood (meaning those with the wherewithal and financial incentive to initiate the time-consuming and expensive process of interpreting a complex contract and auditing).
  6. inducement
    act of bringing about a desired result
    The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, seeks unspecified damages on breach of contract, fraudulent inducement and other claims.
  7. audit
    examine carefully for accuracy
    But thanks to "Hollywood accounting" (which the complaint, in a nice touch, says "is so commonplace as to be cliche"), Fox underreported millions of dollars in revenue, which was revealed in an audit Josephson initiated of the first seven seasons of the show.
  8. unrelenting
    not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
    Bones executive producer Barry Josephson has filed a bombshell lawsuit against the Fox network and the parent of studio 20th Century Fox Television, claiming he's been shortchanged due to Fox's "unrelenting efforts" to cheat him out of his share of profits from the longest-running hourlong drama in Fox's history.
  9. breach
    a failure to perform some promised act or obligation
    The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, seeks unspecified damages on breach of contract, fraudulent inducement and other claims.
  10. allege
    report or maintain
    Barry Josephson alleges he's been cheated out of his share of profits from Fox's longest-running hourlong drama as Peter Rice, Dana Walden and Gary Newman are said to have strong-armed him into accepting a lower fee to keep the show going.
  11. veritable
    being truly so called; real or genuine
    "Simply put, the audit uncovered a veritable mother lode of accounting chicanery and self-dealing," the suit claims, hinting that tens of millions of dollars could be at stake.
Created on Wed Nov 25 15:19:29 EST 2015 (updated Wed Nov 25 16:13:05 EST 2015)

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