THE NOT-SO-SECRET AGENT WAR

CAA and UTA attorneys battled in Santa Monica Superior Court this morning in the ongoing case of the mass exodus of agents from the former to the latter. The dispute centers on the terms of deals three CAA agents, Jason Heyman, Martin Lesak and Nick Nuciforo, had in place when the left for UTA; UTA says the contract length in each case exceeds the legal limit in California, which is seven years.

CAA says the deals were renewals. The judge did not agree to CAA's request for a trial date. UTA is seeking a summary judgment based on the seven-year rule.

Meanwhile, the legal conflict has a parallel battle in the civil sphere, where two other ex-CAA agents, Gregory Cavic and Gregory McKnight, are accused of joining a "conspiracy" on behalf of Heyman, Lesak and Nuciforo's defections and spilling trade secrets.

Private arbitration on the latter business is moving ahead.