The Walt Disney Company has petitioned a California federal judge to impose $532,815 in sanctions against the legal representatives of animator Buck Woodall, who alleged that Disney’s 2016 film “Moana” was derived from his own Polynesian adventure narrative. Disney contends that Woodall’s attorneys either knew or should have known that a pivotal document in the case was a forgery.
This development follows a jury’s decision in March 2025, which found that Disney did not infringe upon Woodall’s copyrights. Woodall had claimed that “Moana” unlawfully copied elements from his project, “Bucky the Surfer Boy,” including a script and storyboards he shared with film executive Jenny Marchick in the early 2000s. The jury concluded that the creators of “Moana” never had access to Woodall’s materials. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/disney-wins-us-copyright-trial-over-animated-hit-moana-2025-03-10/?utm_source=openai))
In its motion for sanctions, Disney argues that Woodall’s attorneys engaged in “sanctionable misconduct” by pursuing baseless trade secret misappropriation claims that were untimely and based on a forged document. The company asserts that this conduct unnecessarily prolonged the litigation, resulting in significant legal expenses. ([law360.com](https://www.law360.com/articles/2328968?utm_source=openai))
The court has yet to rule on Disney’s request for sanctions. This case underscores the importance of due diligence in legal proceedings, particularly when allegations involve substantial financial claims and potential reputational damage.