Baskin V Royal Goode

Case 8:21-cv-02558-VMC-TGW Document 1 Filed 11/01/21 Page 1 of 21 PageID 1
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION
CAROLE BASKIN,
an individual,
and
HOWARD BASKIN,
an individual,
Plaintiffs,
vs. CASE NO. _______________
ROYAL GOODE
PRODUCTIONS LLC.,
a New York limited liability
company,
and
NETFLIX, INC., a
Delaware corporation,
Defendants.
_________________________________)
COMPLAINT
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF REQUESTED
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
Plaintiffs, CAROLE BASKIN, an individual, and HOWARD BASKIN,
an individual, (collectively “the Baskins”), sue Defendants, ROYAL
GOODE PRODUCTIONS, LLC, a New York limited liability company, and
NETFLIX, INC., a Delaware corporation and allege:

PARTIES
1. Plaintiff, Carole Baskin, is an individual residing in Hillsborough
County, Florida and has been a citizen of the State of Florida since 1978.
Carole Baskin is the founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue Corp., a Florida not
for profit organization based in Tampa, Florida that operates one of the
world’s most influential sanctuaries for exotic cats and is a leading advocate
for ending the abuse of captive big cats and saving wild cats from extinction.
Big Cat Rescue’s mission is to provide the best home we can for the cats in
our care, end abuse of big cats in captivity and prevent extinction of big cats
in the wild.
2. Plaintiff, Howard Baskin, is an individual residing in
Hillsborough County, Florida and has been a citizen of the State of Florida
since 1975. He is Carole Baskin’s spouse and serves as the Secretary,
Treasurer, Advisory Board Chairman and on the Board of Directors of Big
Cat Rescue Corp.
3. Defendant, Royal Goode Productions LLC (“Royal Goode”) is a
New York limited liability company with its principal place of business
located at 49 Bleeker Street, Suite 601, New York, New York, 10012. Eric
Goode is the sole member of Royal Goode. Royal Goode is a film
production company.
2
4. Defendant, Netflix, Inc., (“Netflix”) is a Delaware corporation
with its principal place of business located at 100 Winchester Circle, Los
Gatos, CA 95032. Netflix is registered the Florida Secretary of State as a
Foreign Corporation authorized to do business in the State pursuant to Fla.
Stat. § 617.1501 et seq. Netflix is an American pay television over-the-top
media service and original programming production company. It offers
subscription-based video on demand streaming services.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
5. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction under the provisions
of 28 U.S.C. § 1332 insofar as this action is between citizens of different
States and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of
interest and costs.
6. Royal Goode is subject to the personal jurisdiction of this Court
under the Florida Long-arm Statute, Fla. Stat. §48.193.
a. By operating, conducting, engaging in, or carrying on a
business or business venture in this state in connection with
filming and conducting interviews related to Royal Goode’s
production of various films including but not limited to Tiger
King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness under Fla. Stat.
§48.193(1)(a)(1).
3
b. By breaching the April 30, 2016 and April 13, 2018 Appearance
Release Agreements with Plaintiffs as set forth in detail below
and incorporated herein, Royal Goode has subjected itself to
the personal jurisdiction of this Court under Fla. Stat.
§48.193(1)(a)(7) by breaching a contract by failing to perform
acts required by the Appearance Release Agreement to be
performed in Florida.
7. Netflix is subject to the personal jurisdiction of this Court by
virtue of its voluntary registration with the Florida Secretary of State as a
Foreign Corporation authorized to do business in the State of Florida.
8. Venue is appropriate in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
1391(b)(2) insofar as a substantial part of the events or omissions giving
rise to the claims occurred in this judicial district as set forth below:
a. Royal Goode solicited Plaintiffs to be interviewed and filmed
in connection with the production of a film in Florida;
b. Royal Goode presented its standard Appearance Release
Agreement form to Plaintiffs in Hillsborough County,
Florida;
c. The April 30, 2016 and April 13, 2018 Appearance
Release Agreements were executed in Hillsborough
4
County, Florida;
d. Royal Goode interviewed and filmed Plaintiffs
predominantly at the Big Cat Rescue sanctuary in
Hillsborough County, Florida;
e. In March 2020, the Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness
Picture, which incorporated film footage and interviews
of plaintiffs, was broadcast on Netflix, which included
streaming transmission within the State of Florida;
f. In 2021, Royal Goode again approached Plaintiffs in
Florida with a request for a meeting, and presumably
additional filming and interviews in conjunction with a
sequel to the docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and
Madness;
g. Netflix has recently announced that it will broadcast Tiger
King 2 a sequel to the Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness
Picture, also via streaming transmission within the State of
Florida.
9. Venue is proper in this Division pursuant to Local Rule 1.02,
M.D.Fla. Local Rules.
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
5
THE BASKINS’ MISSION TO END THE ABUSE OF EXOTIC BIG CATS
10. Since 1995, Carole Baskin has operated the not-for-profit organization
Big Cat Rescue and its sanctuary for abused and discarded exotic felines that have
been bred and/or held in captivity.
11. She has successfully rehabbed and released 42 orphaned or injured
native bobcats. Big Cat Rescue is accredited by The Global Federation of Animal
Sanctuaries, which is to sanctuaries what the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
is to zoos, requiring the highest standards of care in the industry. Big Cat Rescue is
licensed by and in good standing with the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) and is registered with the state of Florida as a charity. Big Cat Rescue is
certified by Independent Charities of America as a “Best in America Charity” and
every year since 2011 has received the highest four-star rating from Charity
Navigator, the leading charity rating agency. Only 4% of the thousands of charities
they evaluate have received nine consecutive four-star ratings.
12. For almost three (3) decades, Carole Baskin has been a powerful voice
seeking to end the practice of keeping big cats in captivity. She has garnered
international attention to the plight of captive big cats on CNN, Fox, Animal
Planet, Discovery, U.S. News & World Report, People Magazine, The Today Show,
Good Morning America, Sports Illustrated, Netflix, Wondery, Dancing with the
6
Stars, all of the local media outlets and many more national and international
programs. She is frequently contacted by media around the world when there is a
big cat incident in the news. She has been featured in recent years in three
documentaries, Hidden Tiger, The Conservation Game, and a BBC production by
well-known UK documentary maker Louis Theroux, and she just filmed for
another UK production by well-known UK documentary maker Ross Kemp.
13. Carole and Howard Baskin are known as leaders and experts in big
cat advocacy. Carole Baskin has lectured in Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico and many
cities across the U.S. on legislative affairs, and sanctuary standards in Universities,
Law Colleges (including Stetson, Texas Lutheran University and University of
Miami), and in numerous animal association conferences. Howard was recently
asked to give a lecture on advocacy to the members of the Big Cat Sanctuary
Alliance to educate other big cat sanctuaries on how to do more advocacy.
14. Their advocacy work includes a broad spectrum of activities. These
include:
a. Convincing venues not to allow cub petting operations or adult cat
exhibitors on their grounds. The Baskins convinced the owners of
over 200 large shopping malls not to allow cub petting. The Baskins
convinced some major corporations like Citigroup, Porsche, Target,
PetSmart and numerous smaller venues like restaurants, all of
7
whom had allowed adult tiger exhibition at their locations at some
point, not to allow such exhibition in the future.
b. They have convinced major advertisers like Farmers Insurance,
Arby’s, and 5-Hour Energy who used big cats in their marketing ads
to discontinue such use.
c. They spend enormous energy in exposing those who they feel
mistreat big cats both by publicizing the mistreatment and by
reporting potential violations of federal and state laws to the
appropriate authorities. They are known as the people whistle
blowers should report potential violations to and have assisted
whistle blowers in filing formal complaints with agencies like
USDA. They maintain a website 911AnimalAbuse.com to provide a
public resource and database of news reports about and USDA
violations incurred by exhibitors and owners.
d. They work with state agencies around the country and with federal
agencies to strengthen the regulations that protect big cats. One
significant example was working along with other advocates to
convince the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to rescind what
was known at the “generic tiger rule.” This 1998 rule exempted
tigers of unknown genetic history (i.e., not known to be pure
8
subspecies) from the requirements of the Endangered Species Act.
This resulted in massive overbreeding of tigers. The rescission of this
rule in 2016 after five years of work by the Baskins and others,
including generating over 30,000 comments to USFWS, has already
resulted in prosecutions for what since the rescission has become
illegal trafficking. Other successes include the 2009 requirement that
those in Florida who possess Class I animals must post a $10,000
bond and the reclassification of a cougar in Florida to Class I,
making it illegal to own as a pet in FL.
e. The Baskins work with state and federal governments to change the
laws. They have helped change a number of state laws. At the
federal level in 2003 they worked with other advocates on the
Captive Wildlife Safety Act which passed Congress unanimously
and prohibited the interstate sale of big cats as pets. Since 2012, the
Baskins’ primary effort has been the Big Cat Public Safety Act. They
have been working closely and coordinating with a number of the
larger animal welfare Carole and Howard are recognized as leading
advocates for this legislation, devoting significant financial and time
resources to the bill. The bill passed the House in December 2020 by
more than a two-thirds vote but did not get a vote in the Senate. It is
9
expected to pass the House again this session and is making strong
progress in the Senate with 35 cosponsors including four
Republicans. The bill would end cub petting and photo ops with big
cats and phase out private ownership by individuals who are not
licensed by USDA as exhibitors.
f. To a large extent the success of this advocacy is accomplished by
marshalling the grass roots efforts of millions of social media
followers to send emails and make phone calls to venues, public
comment sites set up by agencies, and legislators. Personal lobbying
also plays a role.
15. With a Harvard MBA and law degree from the University of Miami,
Howard Baskin spent the first 11 years of his career at Citicorp, rising to become
director of strategic planning for the commercial real-estate division in New York
followed by 10 years as a management consultant for a succession of small
companies. Howard Baskin met Carole in late 2002 and from early 2003 became
her partner both personally and in pursuing her passion for ending the abuse of
large cats. Initially his focus was on Big Cat Rescue Corp.’s finances with the goal
of having the organization become financially capable of doing more advocacy.
Since 2010 a large portion of his time has been devoted to advocacy.
16. The Baskins’ advocacy is not without opposition. Those who desire to
10
practice the private ownership of big cats as well as the private roadside “zoos”
that exploit big cats through breeding and cub petting activities all for commercial
gain are frequent critics of the Baskins, Big Cat Rescue, and their mission.
17. In one highly publicized case, Joe Schreibvogel n/k/a Joe Maldanado-
Passage a/k/a Joe Exotic (“Joe Exotic”), the operator of a private roadside zoo and
prolific breeder of big cats and purveyor of cub petting services sought to discredit
and silence the Baskins’ and their advocacy through years of constant and
persistent intimidating and libelous social media attacks and physically during
one incident at Big Cat Rescue.
18. When Joe Exotic misappropriated the trademarks and copyrights of
Big Cat Rescue in an attempt to tarnish the Baskins’ goodwill by falsely suggesting
that Big Cat Rescue was – itself - engaged in commercial cub petting practices,
litigation ensued that resulted in a Judgment in excess of $1 million being entered
against Joe Exotic and his roadside zoo. Actions to enforce this Judgment allowed
the Baskins to succeed in finally shutting down Joe Exotic’s “zoo” and big cat
breeding mill.
19. Faced with the financial pressure of the ongoing litigation and the
Baskins’ successful exposing of his mistreatment of animals, in 2017 Joe Exotic
solicited a “hitman” to murder Carole Baskin. The plot was uncovered, and Joe
Exotic was arrested and convicted, not merely for the murder-for-hire plot, but
11
also for numerous violations of federal law related to the killing of and illegal
trafficking in big cats.
ROYAL GOODE PRODUCTIONS FILMS THE BASKINS
20. On July 18, 2014, Rebecca Chaiklin – a producer with Royal Goode
Productions – telephoned Big Cat Rescue seeking out Carole Baskin. In her
message, Chaiklin said that she was a feature film director who was doing a
feature documentary on the wildlife trade. She described the project as a big cat
version of Blackfish. 1 Chaiklin expressed a desire to visit Big Cat Rescue and film
and interview Carole Baskin.
21. Thereafter, in subsequent telephone calls and finally at a face-to-face
meeting, Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin of Royal Goode Productions repeatedly
emphasized that the intended goal for the project was to create s single
documentary feature film that would be an expose’ of the big cat breeding and cub
petting trade akin to the documentary feature film entitled Blackfish. Eric Goode
touted his credentials in the realm of turtle conservancy and Rebecca Chaiklin
touted the involvement on their production team of Fisher Stevens, well known
for his involvement in the acclaimed animal welfare documentary The Cove 2, as
1 Blackfish is a 2013 American documentary film directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. It

concerns Tilikum, an orca held by SeaWorld and the controversy over captive killer
whales. See generally https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfish_(film) .
2 The Cove is a 2009 American documentary film directed by Louie Psihoyos which
analyzes and questions dolphin hunting practices in Japan. It was awarded the
12
bona fides to induce the Baskins to participate in the Royal Goode Productions
documentary.
22. Royal Goode first filmed the Baskins on July 23-25, 2014. The next
filming occurred April 29-30, 2016. The third filming session occurred on April 3,
2018. In 2019, Royal Goode Productions conducted four additional filming sessions
of the Baskins on May 16, October 10 & 17 and December 7. With the exception of
the October 17, 2019 filming while the Baskins were lobbying Congress in
Washington, D.C., all filming of the Baskins occurred at the Big Cat Rescue
sanctuary. All told, the Baskins estimate that Royal Goode Productions filmed
more than 50 hours of footage involving the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue.
23. In conjunction with its filming and while on-site at Big Cat Rescue,
Royal Goode Productions submitted to the Baskins two (2) Appearance Releases in
a form drafted by Royal Goode Productions. Carole and Howard Baskin each
signed Royal Goode Productions’ Appearance Releases on April 30, 2016 and
April 3, 2018. (hereinafter the “Appearance Releases”).
24. The Appearance Releases were identical in form with the exception of
the tentative title of subject “documentary motion picture.” The 2016 Appearance
Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2010. The film is a call to action to
halt mass dolphin kills and captures, change Japanese fishing practices, and inform and
educate the public about captivity and the increasing hazard of mercury poisoning from
consuming dolphin meat. See generally
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cove_(film)
13
Releases listed the tentative title as “Stolen World” and the 2018 Appearance
Releases listed the title as “currently untitled.”
25. In September 2018, Royal Goode Productions shared three videos as
examples of its progress on the project. One was a five-minute video titled “Sizzle
Real,” another was a thirteen-minute video they referred to as “Rough Carole
Scenes,” the third was a forty-five minute video they referred to as “CNN Pilot.”
The Sizzle Reel and CNN Pilot both involved multiple species and included
footage filmed in Africa. While nowhere akin to the quality of Blackfish or The Cove,
it did appear that Royal Goode Productions was attempting to create an animal
welfare-oriented documentary. Even more significant was the Rough Carole
Scenes video. It clearly portrayed Carole as the heroine battling the cub petters. It
even had a text screen saying:
26. Thereafter, Royal Goode Productions advised that its deal with CNN
had fallen through. Subsequently they advised that they had a new deal with
Netflix.
TIGER KING: MURDER, MAYHEM, AND MADNESS AIRS ON NETFLIX
14
27. In the late winter of 2020, Netflix announced the upcoming
airing of a series entitled Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness.
(hereinafter “Tiger King 1”) to begin on March 20, 2020.
28. Upon learning of the Netflix announcement and viewing
promotional trailers for Tiger King 1, the Baskins were confused as to the
source of the series. They had been told by Eric Goode of Royal Goode
Productions that Joe Exotic would only be a small portion of the
documentary, so it seemed to Howard Baskin that this announced film
could not possibly be the one Royal Goode Productions was making. On
the other hand, it was hard to imagine Netflix having two productions at
the same time involving big cats. Howard Baskin e-mailed Eric Goode of
Royal Goode Productions expressing his confusion and asking if the
announced Tiger King 1 was Royal Goode Production’s film. After no reply
and a second inquiry two days later, Eric Goode finally called but avoided
accurately explaining how Carole Baskin was portrayed.
29. Far from being a documentary motion picture that seeks to
expose the illicit trade of big cat private ownership, breeding and cub
petting, Tiger King 1 is a seven (7) episode series focused primarily upon
portrayal of Joe Exotic as a sympathetic victim and Carole as the villain.
Even the producer of Blackfish criticized Tiger King 1 saying that issues
15
surrounding big cats were "lost in the show's 'soap opera-esque drama.’”
30. Tiger King 1 was particularly harsh and unfair in its depiction of
the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue. The Tiger King 1 series wrongly attempted
to suggest that Big Cat Rescue abused its animals by keeping them in very
small cages while not making clear that the animals actually reside in
expansive enclosures. Also, Tiger King 1 incorrectly suggests an
equivalency between Big Cat Rescue and Joe Exotic’s roadside zoo, and
more broadly that there is no difference between roadside zoos that exploit
and mistreat animals and accredited sanctuaries that rescue and provide
excellent lifetime care to the animals. Perhaps most pernicious is the over-
arching implication in Tiger King 1 that Carole Baskin was involved in the
disappearance of her first husband in 1997.
31. Since its release, the Baskins have been vocal critics of Tiger King 1 as
has much of the community focused on ending big cat abuse. A number of
media outlets questioned the ethics of making Carole out to be the villain,
including suggestions that misogyny was a factor as this strong woman
stood up to all these dangerous men.
TIGER KING 2
32. Following the release of Tiger King 1, Eric Goode of Royal
Goode Productions said that he didn’t want to “milk this into more
16
episodes.” “You could keep going. I just think my intellectual curiosity has
kind of ended…This is not a story that we can continue to chronicle with
our main characters.”
33. However, at some point, Royal Goode Productions
reconsidered and embarked on a sequel (hereinafter “Tiger King 2”).
34. Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin contacted the Baskins asking
to meet to “clear the air” and presumably seeking to secure their
participation in the sequel. Carole Baskin’s response was clear and
unequivocal: “No. And lose my number.”
35. Understanding that the Appearance Releases limited Royal
Goode Productions’ use of the footage of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue to
the single, initial documentary motion picture, the Baskins believed that
any sequel – though odious – would not include any of their footage.
36. On September 25, 2021, Netflix announced that it would air the
sequel, Tiger King 2, beginning on November 17, 2021. On October 27, 2021,
Netflix also released its “Official Tiger King 2 Promotional Trailer”
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/joe-exotic-tiger-king-2-trailer-
1248832/ that prominently depicts the Baskins as a central element of the
sequel through the use of the film footage acquired by Royal Goode
Productions.
17
COUNT I
Breach of Contract (New York law)
37. Paragraphs 1 through 36 are incorporated and realleged by
reference.
38. The Baskins have performed all conditions, covenants, and
promises on their part to be performed in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Appearance Releases.
39. The Appearance Releases limited Royal Goode Productions
right to use film footage of the Baskins to “a documentary motion picture.”
Throughout the Appearance Releases there is only reference to and
mention of “the Picture.” No mention is made of granting Royal Goode
Production sequel rights, rights to create derivative works from “the
Picture” or additional seasons or episodes.
40. Upon information and belief, Royal Goode Productions has
assigned its rights and obligations in the Appearance releases to Netflix.
41. By utilizing the film footage of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue
secured by Royal Goode Productions under the Appearance Releases in
“sizzle reels” and promotional trailers for the sequel entitled Tiger King 2,
the Defendants are in breach of the terms of the Appearance Releases.
42. Upon information and belief, Defendants are utilizing film
18
footage of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue secured by Royal Goode
Productions under the Appearance Releases in the sequel entitled Tiger
King 2. This use is in breach of the terms of the Appearance Releases.
43. Defendants’ unauthorized use of the film footage of the Baskins
and Big Cat Rescue secured by Royal Goode Productions under the
Appearance Releases will cause the Baskins irreparable injury for which
the Baskins have no adequate remedy at law.
COUNT I
Declaratory Judgment
44. Paragraphs 1 through 36, 38 & 39 are incorporated and
realleged by reference.
45. Pursuant to the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §
2201 et seq., the Baskins request the declaration of the Court that the
Appearance Releases restrict Defendants’ use of the resulting film footage of
the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue to a single documentary motion picture. In
this instance Tiger King 1.
46. By using film footage of Carole Baskin secured under the
Appearance Releases in “sizzle reels” and promotional trailers for Tiger King
2, coupled with the statements of Royal Goode Productions that it retains
and can use film footage of the Baskins secured under the Appearance
19
Releases that was not used in Tiger King 1, circumstances exist that constitute
and represent an actual controversy that is not conjectural, hypothetical, or
contingent.
47. There is a substantial likelihood that the Baskins will suffer
injury in the future that only can be remedied or redressed by a favorable
judicial decision in this action.
PRAYER AS TO ALL COUNTS
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs demand:
a. Royal Goode Productions and Netflix, their agents, servants,
employees and, attorneys, and all those persons in active
concert or participation with it, be preliminarily and
thereafter, permanently enjoined and restrained from: Using
any film footage of the Baskins or Big Cat Rescue filmed by
Royal Goode Productions in the sequel series entitled Tiger
King 2 or in any advertising or promotion the sequel series
entitled Tiger King 2 or in any manner whatsoever other than
in the existing series entitled Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and
Madness;
b. That this Court declare that Defendants have no rights under
the Appearance Releases to use the film footage of the Baskins
20
and Big Cat Rescue for any purposes other than directly
related to Tiger King 1;
c. That Plaintiffs have and recover their costs in this action
pursuant Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1);
c. That Plaintiffs have such other and further relief as this court
may deem just and proper.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Plaintiffs hereby demand trial by jury on all issues so triable.
/s/ Frank R. Jakes

Frank R. Jakes
LEAD COUNSEL
Florida Bar No. 372226
Joseph J. Weissman
Florida Bar No. 0041424
E-Mail: [email protected]
JOHNSON, POPE, BOKOR,
RUPPEL & BURNS, LLP
P.O. Box 1100
Tampa, FL 33601-1100
TEL: (813) 225-2500
FAX: (813) 223-7118
Attorneys for Plaintiff
7356039
21

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Case 8:21-cv-02558-VMC-TGW Document 1 Filed 11/01/21 Page 1 of 21 PageID 1

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

vs. CASE NO. _______________

INJUNCTIVE RELIEF REQUESTED

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Plaintiffs, CAROLE BASKIN, an individual, and HOWARD BASKIN,

an individual, (collectively “the Baskins”), sue Defendants, ROYAL

GOODE PRODUCTIONS, LLC, a New York limited liability company, and

NETFLIX, INC., a Delaware corporation and allege:

1. Plaintiff, Carole Baskin, is an individual residing in Hillsborough

2. Plaintiff, Howard Baskin, is an individual residing in

since 1975. He is Carole Baskin’s spouse and serves as the Secretary,

Treasurer, Advisory Board Chairman and on the Board of Directors of Big

Cat Rescue Corp.

3. Defendant, Royal Goode Productions LLC (“Royal Goode”) is a

Goode is the sole member of Royal Goode. Royal Goode is a film

4. Defendant, Netflix, Inc., (“Netflix”) is a Delaware corporation

Gatos, CA 95032. Netflix is registered the Florida Secretary of State as a

Foreign Corporation authorized to do business in the State pursuant to Fla.

Stat. § 617.1501 et seq. Netflix is an American pay television over-the-top

media service and original programming production company. It offers

subscription-based video on demand streaming services.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

5. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction under the provisions

of 28 U.S.C. § 1332 insofar as this action is between citizens of different

States and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of

interest and costs.

6. Royal Goode is subject to the personal jurisdiction of this Court

under the Florida Long-arm Statute, Fla. Stat. §48.193.

a. By operating, conducting, engaging in, or carrying on a

business or business venture in this state in connection with

filming and conducting interviews related to Royal Goode’s

production of various films including but not limited to Tiger

King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness under Fla. Stat.

Release Agreements with Plaintiffs as set forth in detail below

and incorporated herein, Royal Goode has subjected itself to

the personal jurisdiction of this Court under Fla. Stat.

§48.193(1)(a)(7) by breaching a contract by failing to perform

acts required by the Appearance Release Agreement to be

7. Netflix is subject to the personal jurisdiction of this Court by

virtue of its voluntary registration with the Florida Secretary of State as a

Foreign Corporation authorized to do business in the State of Florida.

8. Venue is appropriate in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

1391(b)(2) insofar as a substantial part of the events or omissions giving

a. Royal Goode solicited Plaintiffs to be interviewed and filmed

in connection with the production of a film in Florida;

b. Royal Goode presented its standard Appearance Release

Agreement form to Plaintiffs in Hillsborough County,

c. The April 30, 2016 and April 13, 2018 Appearance

Release Agreements were executed in Hillsborough

d. Royal Goode interviewed and filmed Plaintiffs

predominantly at the Big Cat Rescue sanctuary in

Hillsborough County, Florida;

e. In March 2020, the Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness

Picture, which incorporated film footage and interviews

of plaintiffs, was broadcast on Netflix, which included

streaming transmission within the State of Florida;

f. In 2021, Royal Goode again approached Plaintiffs in