Stewart Jacobson Files Lawsuit Against Walt Disney Co.for $100 Million Over ``Cirque duSoleil''.

Business Editors

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2000

Following is a statement by Stewart Jacobson and his attorneys regarding a lawsuit filed against Walt Disney Co.:

"When it rains, it pours and Disney has not seen a sunny day in months...Producer

and Promotion Marketing Consultant says in a $100 million lawsuit that Burbank-based Walt Disney Co. stole his creative idea and concept, which was to be a joint venture with Disney, by having `Cirque du Soleil' at the Disney Theme Parks. Stewart Jacobson of Beverly Hills, president of Stewart Jacobson Productions, alleges in the lawsuit that was filed in U.S. Superior Court in Los Angeles, that Disney had entered a 12-year deal to have `Cirque du Soleil' perform a total of 10 shows a week at the Florida Disney Resort, which has been open since December, 1998. They have plans in the near future to open a `Cirque du Soleil' in Paris and Tokyo. It was in July, 1994 that Jacobson first made contact with Disney Chairman Michael Eisner at Cedars Sinai Hospital through Jane Eisner, who acted as a liaison. Jacobson dropped off some promotional material and a letter of introduction for Mr. Eisner to go over and review. Mr. Jacobson was at the hospital visiting a relative at the time. Mr. Eisner personally wrote a letter to Mr. Jacobson in November, 1994 saying that he was forwarding his promotion material to Mr. Bertrand Gaillochet -- Director of Disney Marketing and Sales at Disneyland Paris and that he would be in touch with Mr. Jacobson in the near future. Jacobson then received a fax from Paris on the early morning of Feb. 24, 1995, from Mr. Gaillochet asking to meet with Jacobson and go over the proposal that he created for Disney. They had a meeting and were impressed with the many ideas and concepts in the proposal and said they would get back to Jacobson. About four months went by with no contact from Disney. Mr. Jacobson then called Paris many times and all he heard was `Bonjour.' Mr. Gaillochet's office said they sent a letter, but when Jacobson asked for it to be faxed, they never sent it. They finally mailed it, but it was sent to the wrong mailing address. They re-mailed it. According to Jacobson's attorneys -- Mayer Morganroth/New York & Detroit, and Rosaline L. Zukerman/Los Angeles, the lawsuit alleges: breach of contract, actual fraud, negligent and intentional misrepresentation, bad faith and fair dealing. Besides Walt Disney Co. the lawsuit also names as defendants Chairman Michael Eisner; Disney Marketing and Sales Director in France -- Bertrand Gaillochet; Disney Director of Communications in France -- Beinot Peyrefitte; and President of Disney Resorts -- Paul Pressler."

Background Note: Stewart Jacobson has worked with motion picture

director Otto Preminger and Academy Award winning producer and

director Phil D'Antoni of "Bullitt" and "The French Connection"

fame. Jacobson also produced the Chaplin mural at A&M Records in

Hollywood, which is now a famous Historic Landmark by the City of

Los Angeles.