Monday, 09 November 2009 2:02PM
Los Angeles -- A Los Angeles judge today temporarily blocked distribution of private videos and a proposed film concerning Jennifer Lopez and her first husband, Ojani Noa, who reportedly wants to market intimate video footage of the former couple.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant's order is in effect until a hearing -- set to resume tomorrow -- is completed on whether to extend the order.
The order specifically applies to Noa and Ed Meyer, a man described in court today as his manager and a producer of the proposed film, "How I Married Jennifer Lopez: The J.Lo and Ojani Noa Story."
Chalfant said the information Noa and Meyer allegedly propose to divulge may violate an employment settlement agreement between the actress and Noa, in which both agreed not to divulge private information about the other.
According to court documents, Noa took a managerial job in 2002 at Madre's, Lopez's now-closed Pasadena restaurant, then was fired five months later. Noa, who was paid $1,000 a week while working for Lopez, received a $125,000 settlement and agreed not to disclose private information about their relationship or disparage his ex-wife, according to her court documents.
Lopez's lawyer, John H. Lavely, wants the judge to issue an order directing that videos and film footage related to the Lopez-Noa movie be turned over to him for review for possible contract violations.
Meyer's attorney, Frank Sanes Jr., urged Chalfant not to issue an order against his client, saying Meyer is not bound by any agreement between Noa and Lopez.
Noa, who came to court without an attorney, said he is not dissuaded by today's ruling.
"I'm going to fight this," Noa said.
On Friday, Lopez sued Noa over his alleged plans to contribute to a tell- all movie about their relationship. The lawsuit alleges a movie Noa is shopping around shows video footage of him and the singer/actress in sexual situations, including their time in a hotel room during their honeymoon.
Lopez -- alleging breach of contract -- seeks $10 million in damages and a court order preventing dissemination of any videos depicting the former couple being intimate.
Filmmmaker Ed Meyer also is named a defendant.
This is the second lawsuit the 40-year-old actress has filed against Noa, whom she married 1997 and divorced 11 months later.
In the first case, Lopez sued to prevent publication of a book Noa reportedly was writing about the couple.
The manuscript for the never-published, ghostwritten book alleged that Lopez had multiple affairs, including one with current husband Marc Anthony, when he was married to someone else. A description of the manuscript appeared in the New York Post in January 2006.
The first lawsuit culminated in an arbitrator awarding Lopez $545,000 for breach-of-contract. The actress said that Noa had signed an agreement not to publish details of their relationship.
The arbitration award consisted of $200,000 in compensatory damages for breach of the Lopez-Noa settlement agreement, nearly $300,000 in attorneys' fees and almost $48,000 in arbitration costs.
Lopez's second husband was choreographer Cris Judd, whom she married in September 2001 and divorced less than nine months later.
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