By admin 
Attorney General Rob Bonta canceled a Monday meeting with Paramount executives where he was set to discuss the company’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Brothers and potentially resolve a lawsuit challenging the merger.
Read more Was sheriff’s seizure of 650,000 ballots legal? California Supreme Court weighs case
Bonta accused Paramount of leaking details of the meeting, which was first reported by the New York Times, as the two sides were set to negotiate over a high-profile lawsuit California and 12 other states filed last month challenging the proposed merger on antitrust grounds.
The two sides convened Friday to discuss the terms of Monday’s scheduled meeting, where Bonta was expected to ask Paramount CEO David Ellison to sell off a handful of cable channels and agree to keep its film studio separate from Warner Brothers, according to the Wall Street Journal.
In a statement, Bonta accused Paramount of violating the meeting’s confidentiality.
“Not only did Paramount leak the alleged substance of settlement discussions, but they misrepresented these discussions, demonstrating a lack of good faith,” he said. “As soon as Paramount stops playing games and engages sincerely, my office is happy to meet again.”
Read more ‘We are also leaders.’ Jag Nagendra gets involved to break stereotypes
Paramount declined to comment.
The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in March, but Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have urged the sides to settle, citing economic ramifications if the merger does not go through as Hollywood has hemorrhaged jobs in recent years.
On Friday, Newsom told reporters that he had spoken with a number of people involved in the litigation, and said he took seriously Ellison’s threat to decamp to Tennessee.
“I don’t think it’s the company’s long-term interest, but I take it seriously,” he said. “You give me a name, and I’ve likely spoken to them. So, you know, I’m very mindful what this means to the state. I’m concerned about the state, our reputation.”
Read more 49ers owner Jed York arrested in Ohio on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct