Federal Judge Lewis Liman once characterized the ongoing legal saga of Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni as ultimately “a feud between PR firms.” The blunt comment by the esteemed brother of director Doug Liman certainly could be skinned over the evolving battle between MPRM Communications and 42West now that its officially gone to the courts.
On September 17, the same day Jimmy Kimmel was sidelined by Disney over his remarks about the MAGA response to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, MPRM’s outside lawyers at Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae promised in writing to the PR outfit’s ex-Film & Entertainment EVP Sylvia Desrochers, 42West and others that they’d “pursue any and all available remedies through litigation, if necessary.”
Well, as a potential MPRM sale now paused and clients out the door, two days later they did exactly that to 42West, Descrochers and nearly other dozen ex-MPRMers who took their talents and clients to the rival.
In a Fraudulent Concealment and 11 other claims complaint filed in LA Superior Court in the evening of September 19, the Mark Pogachefsky co-founded MPRM want “an order enjoining Defendants from using or possessing MPRM’s trade secrets,” and a boatload of unspecified damages and restitution.
“On or about September 15, 2025, Plaintiff MPRM, LLC dba MPRM Communications (“MPRM”) was devastated to learn that half of its workforce, including its entire senior leadership team, was leaving MPRM for one of its competitors, Defendant 42West, LLC (“42West”),’ the jury trial seeking document states. “The nefariousness of 42West in orchestrating this hostile departure became apparent two days later, on September 17, 2025, when Sylvia Desrochers, a former Executive Vice President of MPRM, sent an email to Mark Pogachefsky, MPRM’s President, asserting that several of MPRM’s most valued customers were terminating their relationship with MPRM in favor of 42West.”
With whispers of all sorts of strong arming and underhanded moves going on from both sides filling up text chains around town this weekend, the LASC filing goes on to say: “The fix was already in, and this plan had been underway for some time. Desrochers, and other former MPRM leadership, including Defendant Caitlin McGee Swartz, conspired to raid MPRM’s employees and clients while they were still employed by MPRM. They concealed their movements until they were ready to hatch their plan. By and through this lawsuit, MPRM seeks to hold 42West, and the former MPRM employees now working for 42West, accountable following their illegal attempt to demolish the decades of investment and work that Mr. Pogachefsky and many other dedicated MPRM employees have accomplished in their effort to build MPRM into the successful company it has become.”
Amidst that, a rep from 42West tells Deadline, they have not been served yet.
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