José Luis Moreno Ordered to Return €35 Million to Partner Roemmers for Breach of Contract

The Madrid Court of First Instance Number 52 has ordered television producer José Luis Moreno to return €35,264,686 to his former partner, Argentine businessman Alejandro Roemmers, for breaching the agreement they signed to create the series 'Resplandor y Tinieblas', a major production intended to depict the life of Saint Francis of Assisi.

In the ruling, accessed by Europa Press, the Court upheld Roemmers' lawsuit and declared that Moreno and his companies Koping Gestión, Youmore TV, and Kulteperalia violated the 'partnership agreement' signed in October 2018, which was partially amended in 2019.

The judgment states that Moreno "should have delivered ten fully completed 45-minute episodes ready for marketing and broadcast." He failed to do so, nor did he fulfill the obligation to complete 24 episodes with a budget of €14 million, despite the funding exceeding €35 million.

In a press release, the consultancy responsible for the Argentine businessman's communication and defense explained that both "formed an alliance to bring Saint Francis of Assisi to life" and showcase "his influence in the Middle Ages." "Convinced of the project's artistic and commercial potential, Roemmers provided financial and creative support, trusting in Moreno's experience and promises, who was to take on the script, direction, and production of the series," it added.

In this context, it was noted that "the agreement between them envisaged an epic recreation that would not only explore the saint's life but also that of key figures of his time, such as Richard the Lionheart, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Philip II of France, and Pope Innocent III."

"However, what was meant to be a grand-scale project turned into a legal battle following Moreno's serious breaches, who received over €35 million and, in return, provided no compensation," the statement concluded.

It states that "despite receiving much more than the committed funding from Roemmers to develop the series, Moreno did not deliver a single completed episode, violating the terms of the partnership agreement signed in 2018 and modified in 2019."

It also celebrates that the judge "strongly rejected Moreno's counterclaim, who sought to demand compensation of nearly €300 million, accusing Roemmers of failing to meet his financial commitments."

The Argentine businessman's representation also recalled that the National Court is investigating Moreno in 'Titella', a case in which "Roemmers appears as an aggrieved party," and which investigates "the destination of the €35.2 million, of which at least a third was allegedly diverted without justification by Moreno."

Roemmers, for his part, has reaffirmed following this ruling "his confidence in the judicial system and hopes that this decision serves as a warning to prevent similar conduct in the industry."