Leonardo DiCaprio has been ordered to testify in a $25 million lawsuit filed against the 2013 film, "The Wolf of Wall Street" by Andrew Greene, who is suing Paramount Pictures and others for depicting his character Nicky "Rugrat" Koskoff. With P.J. Byrne portraying Rugrat, the film allegedly portrayed Greene as a drug abuser who loves prostitutes. Greene claimed such damaged his reputation, causing his fiancée to leave him.
Aside from Paramount Pictures, Greene is suing producers including Red Granite Pictures, Sikelia Productions and the DiCaprio-owned Appian Way Productions over the character of Rugrat. Greene said the movie changed his nickname "Wigwam" to "Rugrat" but spread false stuff about him. He asserted that the filmmakers libelled him.
The film's director and screenwriter, Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter already gave testimonies. Greene's lawyers Stephanie Ovadia and Aaron Goldsmith attempted to depose DiCaprio but he was very busy.
The defendants argued that DiCpario should not be involved as he did not write the screenplay and has nothing to do with the "Rugrat" part of the film. Greene's attorney claimed that DiCaprio is a co-producer of the film, and knows some significant issues about the case. His busy schedule is not an excuse because he was even able to travel between the east and west coast with ease.
At a hearing on June 16, Thursday, arguments that DiCaprio's testimony would only be coercion and harassment were overruled. The United States magistrate Judge Steven Locke in New York granted the motion of Greene to compel deposition on DiCaprio, and have both parties come up with a reasonable schedule and venue. Pleased with the decision, Greene's lawyer released a statement to E! News.
"We are glad that the Judge recognized Mr. DiCaprio's evasiveness and look forward to continuing our pursuit of justice for Mr. Greene," Andrew Goldsmith stated. "We are very pleased with the testimony coming forward from all kinds of witnesses so far in depositions."
The judge allowed the actor to be the third to be deposed and expected to narrate the early involvement of the Appian Way with the film. Authorities are looking into the source of money which Red Granite used to finance the movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Watch the 'Wolf of Wall Street' trailer below.