Jeff Shell Reaches Settlement in Gambler’s Shakedown Lawsuit

Former Paramount Skydance president Jeff Shell has settled litigation with gambler R.J. Cipriani, who had accused him of leaking confidential information and attempting to shake him down for up to $150 million in off-the-books crisis PR work. Both sides dropped their suits with prejudice; Paramount and Shell are understood not to have paid Cipriani. Cipriani’s securities-law claims were tied to Shell’s alleged disclosure of confidential information about Paramount’s bidding dynamics, while Shell argued Cipriani sought an undeserved payday. Paramount’s internal investigation previously found no securities violations, and Shell stepped down in April to focus on the case.