Toronto’s C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures/C.O.R.E. Film Productions has been hit with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit from a shareholder who claims he was forced out of the company.

Five partners in the computer animation and effects house have been named as defendants in the suit, filed late last month in Ontario Court (General Division) by Derek Grime. The partners are: Ronald Estey, John Mariella, Kyle Menzies, Robert Munroe and actor William Shatner.

Grime is seeking more than $4 million in damages and the fair value of his 18% stake in core, rumored to be worth more than $20 million. He also wants the court to order core to turn over its financial and corporate records dating back to its inception in 1994.

The statement of claim alleges that last Sept. 9 Grime was told he was ‘no longer with the company,’ and was reportedly offered just over $60,000 for his 18% share of core, to be paid over three years. A Unanimous Shareholders Agreement, signed in April 1997 by all partners except Shatner, in effect gave the partners the ability to vote on the termination of any partner. Grime says he signed under duress and is asking the court to set aside the agreement.

According to court documents, Grime was kept in the dark about the business dealings and finances of core and its German offshoot. Grime alleges that he discovered that two-thirds of core’s revenues were not accounted for, and several days after confronting Estey, he was dismissed.

Grime, Menzies and Munroe established core in December 1993 after working on Tek War. Several months later Shatner and Mariella joined as equal partners. In 1994 C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures was incorporated, operating out of Grime’s home. Shatner financed core after each partner pledged half his shares to be held in escrow. core’s German operation was established in early 1995, with the five partners owning a 39% stake. C.O.R.E. Film Productions was incorporated that fall, wholly owned by the five partners.

Grime claims a June 1996 audit revealed core’s total worth was between $20 million and $60 million. The company has earned a strong reputation, working on projects such as Fly Away Home, The Dark Zone and the upcoming Doctor Dolittle.

The defendants have not yet filed a statement of defence, and none returned calls. Grime referred inquiries to his lawyer, Carol Jackson, who could not comment on the case while it is before the courts. Grime is now working at Command Post/toybox.