Amazon MGM Studios executive solicited kickbacks for postproduction contracts, lawsuit alleges

An Amazon MGM Studios enforcement allegedly solicited kickbacks from an aspiring vendor successful speech for post-production declaration awards connected shows, according to a precocious filed lawsuit.

Joe Eckardt, proprietor and president of Hollywood-based postproduction services steadfast Unbreakable Post, alleged that the studio’s caput of postproduction, Frank Salinas, told him during a concern luncheon successful 2023 that Salinas could “ensure” Unbreakable Post would beryllium included arsenic an approved vendor to bid connected Amazon-affiliated projects.

Salinas would springiness Eckardt the people fund fig for his company’s bid and “effectively warrant that Unbreakable would beryllium awarded the work,” the suit states.

After the declaration was awarded, Eckardt would past wage Salinas a percent of the task worth arsenic a kickback, the suit says.

After Eckardt refused, helium alleges that his declaration opportunities with Amazon dried up.

He states successful the suit that though helium had done “substantial” work, served arsenic a postproduction advisor oregon selected vendor connected shows specified arsenic the Mexico, Brazil and Argentina productions of the world bid “Temptation Island” and the 3rd play of documentary bid “Coach Prime,” helium was not selected by Amazon for a declaration with those projects.

In 2025, Eckardt alleges that helium reported Salinas’ behaviour to Amazon and aft six months of accusation gathering, the institution told him that “its probe had concluded and that the allegations were ‘not substantiated.’”

Amazon MGM Studios did not respond to a petition for comment. Salinas declined to comment.

Eckardt’s suit was filed Wednesday successful Los Angeles County Superior Court. He alleges that helium mislaid much than $1 cardinal successful contracts, income and aboriginal concern opportunities. He is seeking a assemblage trial.