Anthony Spinner filed the law suit in LA claiming he was contracted in 1977 to write a script for a TV series about a plane crash called 'Lost' where the survivors struggle to stay alive in a junge inhabited by dangerous creatures.
Spinner is also claiming he was asked to produce and direct the programme by ABC. He is seeking 'unspecified damages' for not receiving writer credits, royalties and a percentage of profits.
Spinner, who has worked as a writer and producer on programmes including 'Cannon' and 'The Man from Uncle', claims he has a signed contract to write the show.
The show was eventually created by 'Felicity' and 'Alias' writer and producer J.J. Abrams along with Jeffrey Lieber and 'Crossing Jordan' creator Damon Lindelof.
However, the show was initially pitched to Abrams by long-time ABC executive Lloyd Braun, formerly chairman of ABC's Entertainment Television Group, who is said to have long been fond of a show about a plane that crashes on a tropical island. It's unclear if Braun, who is now at Yahoo!, has any connection to Spinner.
ABC Television and Touchstone Television, responsible for making the series, declined to comment on the lawsuit.
'Lost' debuted on Channel 4 two weeks ago pulling in 6.4m viewers -- the highest ever for a US import opening night.
In the US, the Emmy-nominated series has boosted ABC's ratings. Episodes regularly pull in 17m viewers, while 21m tuned in for the first season finale.
Viewers have seen the plane crash survivors stalked by an unknown creature, with speculation that the it could be a dinosaur, but Lindelof recently ruled this out.
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