Arbitrator Says 21st Century Fox Has to Pay Nearly $180 Million to Stars of ‘Bones’

An arbitrator has concluded that 21st Century Fox owes nearly $180 million to some of the stars and producers of their television show “Bones.”

Arbitrator Peter Licthman, a retired Los Angeles Superior Court judge, said Fox engaged in “intentional fraud and malice.” The decision was revealed in a court petition filed by the plaintiffs.

Fox says it will contest the decision.

The $179 million sum Licthman reached includes $128 million in punitive damages.

He said the sum is “reasonable and necessary to punish Fox for its reprehensible conduct and deter it from future wrongful conduct.”

David Boreanaz (pictured above left) and Emily Deschanel (above right), who led the crime drama from 2005 to 2017, sued 21st Century Fox in 2015 claiming that Fox intentionally denied them profits by licensing “Bones” to Hulu and Fox’s TV division.

Executive producer Barry Josephson and Kathy Reichs, who wrote the novels the series is based on, also joined the stars in the lawsuit.

“We are so proud of the hard work we did on ‘Bones’ for 12 seasons and only ever wanted Fox to live up to its promises and contractual obligations,” Deschanel said in a public statement.

“We are so proud of the hard work we did on Bones for 12 seasons and only ever wanted Fox to live up to its promises and contractual obligations.”

“It’s clear that what we were saying all along was true: We were owed additional compensation for our work,” Boreanaz added in another public statement.

Fox put out its own public statement denouncing the recent arbitration decision.

“The ruling by this private arbitrator is categorically wrong on the merits and exceeded his arbitration powers,” the company said.

“Fox will not allow this flagrant injustice, riddled with errors and gratuitous character attacks, to stand and will vigorously challenge the ruling in a court of law.”

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