Robert Baer

Today, a federal jury in New Jersey threw out a case brought against Sopranos creator David Chase by a certain Robert Baer. After the verdict was read, following less than two hours of deliberations, the defense attorneys hugged one another.

As we reported yesterday, Mr. Baer, a budding screenwriter and onetime prosecutor, claimed that he was not adequately compensated for helping Mr. Chase in 1995, when he was developing the pilot episode. Mr. Baer apparently arranged for the writer-producer to meet with several mafia experts during a tour of New Jersey, Mr. Chase’s native state. Both the Sopranos creator and Mr. Baer testified that the latter man turned down Mr. Chase’s offers to pay him thrice. He did, however, claim that Mr. Chase said he would “take care of him” if they show was a success.  read more »

Life imitated art in a New Jersey courtroom earlier today when David Chase, the mind behind The Sopranos, testified in the state's federal court to defend his creative ownership of the HBO series.

Twelve years ago, it seems, he collaborated with a man named Robert Baer, a budding screenwriter and former prosecutor who set up meetings between Mr. Chase and mafia experts during a tour of the Garden State. Mr. Baer, in part, claims that he was not adequately paid for his services—assistance that may have led to the show’s foundational plot. Asserting ownership of the pilot’s core themes, Mr. Chase, a New Jersey native, told the judge that he has been fascinated with the mob ever since watching The Untouchables. (Whether he was referring to the 1959 TV series or the 1987 Brian De Palma feature film was not made clear.) As if quoting Tony Soprano, Mr. Baer said he declined payment from Mr. Chase several times in 1995, if only because the series’ creator assured him that he would “take care of him” in due time. Likewise, the screenwriter has called the hired helper “self-delusional” in legal papers. [AP]

Former CIA analyst Robert Baer (author of a new novel, and of See No Evil, which became the film Syriana) said on the Charlie Rose show the other night what so many of us believe: Iraq is a total failure, and the presence of American troops is only making things worse for Iraqis. Baer told guest host Brian Ross that the answer (this is not verbatim) was to admit the failure and change the policy now. And to try and build an international coalition now to shore up Iraqi security, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey. (Maybe Syria, too, huh?) First George Bush must do something very brave, though not nearly as brave as what he is asking American kids to do every day, and renounce his policy. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone, including centrists and Republican and Democratic pols, would help him do this?

P.S. Baer also said that the Iran situation threatens to set off world war.