George Hedges
Encyclopedia
George Reynolds Hedges was a lawyer with a list of celebrity clients including Mel Gibson
and David Lynch
who gained attention in the field of archeology for his discovery of the ancient city of Ubar.
there, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in the classics. Hedges used his vocal talents to pay for college by working as a wedding singer. After graduating in 1975, he went to Greece
to attend the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
, where he did a fellowship.
where he was awarded a degree in law in 1978. He clerked for a judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
following graduation. Thereafter, he joined the firm of Kaplan, Livingston, Goodwin, Berkowitz & Selwin before going off on his own, establishing the firm of Hedges & Caldwell in 1988. He was hired to join the Quinn Emanuel (now Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges) law firm, as part of its effort to increase its Hollywood presence.
An active Hollywood lawyer, Hedges listed one of his favorite cases as one that allowed super-agent Ed Limato
, a partner and co-president at International Creative Management
, to leave the firm and take clients including Richard Gere
, Mel Gibson
, Steve Martin
and Denzel Washington
, despite a non-compete clause
that would have prevented him from staying in the business.
He obtained a $6.5-million judgment for director David Lynch
against CiBy 2000 for an unreleased film, making it one the largest such judgments in a case in which talent is not paid.
Hedges worked for 20 years on a pro bono basis on behalf of Adam Miranda, who had been given the death sentence after being convicted of two murders. Arguing that a confession to one of the murders had been withheld by the prosecution, the California Supreme Court decided in May 2008 to overturn the death sentence and change it to life in prison. An editorial in the Los Angeles Times
credited Hedges for his persistence in finding the evidence that another man had confessed to the murder that had been used to justify the death penalty for Miranda, lamenting the fact that "Most of the 669 people on San Quentin's death row aren't nearly as lucky".
Los Angeles
named him a "California Super Lawyer" and the Hollywood Reporter selected him for its list of the Top 100 Power Lawyers.
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After a conversation with filmmaker Nicholas Clapp
, Hedges learned about the lost city of Ubar, a major hub in the ancient trade of frankincense
over 3,000 years ago. Clapp's training in the classics and knowledge of archaeology led him to become involved in the quest to find a place that many had unsuccessfully searched for before and that many thought didn't exist.
The two worked together with Jet Propulsion Laboratory
scientists Ronald Blom and Charles Elachi
, who were able to locate NASA photographs that showed traces of trade routes used by caravans in southern Oman
. The locations where these routes intersected were identified as locations to be investigated as sites of Ubar.
Together with archaeologist Juris Zarins
of Southwest Missouri State University, they traveled to Oman and found a site near a present-day settlement of Shisr in the Rub' al Khali in early 1991. Excavating beneath an ancient fort, they found a limestone cavern into which the fort collapsed after an earthquake. In subsequent years, satellite imagery was used to find similar sites in southern Yemen
located at the intersection of caravan routes that were also found to have forts similar to the one found at Ubar.
, at his home in South Pasadena, California
. He was survived by his wife, Christy Shonnard Hedges, and his two sons George Shonnard Hedges, a film editor, and Duncan Fox Hedges, a USC Law student.
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
and David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
who gained attention in the field of archeology for his discovery of the ancient city of Ubar.
Biography
Hedges was born in Philadelphia on February 26, 1952 and attended the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
there, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in the classics. Hedges used his vocal talents to pay for college by working as a wedding singer. After graduating in 1975, he went to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to attend the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
American School of Classical Studies at Athens
The American School of Classical Studies at Athens is one of 17 foreign archaeological institutes in Athens, Greece.-General information:...
, where he did a fellowship.
Law
Returning to the United States, He attended the University of Southern California Law SchoolUniversity of Southern California Law School
The University of Southern California Law School , located in Los Angeles, California, is a law school within the University of Southern California...
where he was awarded a degree in law in 1978. He clerked for a judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States District Court for the Central District of California serves over 18 million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population...
following graduation. Thereafter, he joined the firm of Kaplan, Livingston, Goodwin, Berkowitz & Selwin before going off on his own, establishing the firm of Hedges & Caldwell in 1988. He was hired to join the Quinn Emanuel (now Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges) law firm, as part of its effort to increase its Hollywood presence.
An active Hollywood lawyer, Hedges listed one of his favorite cases as one that allowed super-agent Ed Limato
Ed Limato
Edward Frank "Ed" Limato was an American talent agent and a senior vice president at the William Morris Agency, representing clients such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Mel Gibson, Steve Martin, Richard Gere, and Denzel Washington...
, a partner and co-president at International Creative Management
International Creative Management
International Creative Management is a talent and literary agency with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and London. ICM is a full-service agency representing creative and technical talent in the fields of motion pictures, television, fiction and nonfiction publishing, music, live performance,...
, to leave the firm and take clients including Richard Gere
Richard Gere
Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
, Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
, Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
and Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
, despite a non-compete clause
Non-compete clause
A non-compete clause , or covenant not to compete , is a term used in contract law under which one party agrees not to pursue a similar profession or trade in competition against another party . As a contract provision, a CNC is bound by traditional contract requirements including the...
that would have prevented him from staying in the business.
He obtained a $6.5-million judgment for director David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
against CiBy 2000 for an unreleased film, making it one the largest such judgments in a case in which talent is not paid.
Hedges worked for 20 years on a pro bono basis on behalf of Adam Miranda, who had been given the death sentence after being convicted of two murders. Arguing that a confession to one of the murders had been withheld by the prosecution, the California Supreme Court decided in May 2008 to overturn the death sentence and change it to life in prison. An editorial in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
credited Hedges for his persistence in finding the evidence that another man had confessed to the murder that had been used to justify the death penalty for Miranda, lamenting the fact that "Most of the 669 people on San Quentin's death row aren't nearly as lucky".
Los Angeles
Los Angeles (magazine)
Los Angeles magazine is a monthly regional magazine of national stature. Published by Emmis Communications and produced monthly since the spring of 1961, LA Magazine is a combination of award-winning feature writing, investigative reporting, service journalism, and design, the definitive resource...
named him a "California Super Lawyer" and the Hollywood Reporter selected him for its list of the Top 100 Power Lawyers.
Ubar
Nicholas Clapp
Nicholas Clapp is a Borrego Springs, California based writer, film-maker, and amateur archaeologist. He has often been called the "real Indiana Jones" and he has received 70 film awards and several Academy Award nominations. He has two daughters, Jennifer and Cristina...
, Hedges learned about the lost city of Ubar, a major hub in the ancient trade of frankincense
Frankincense
Frankincense, also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, particularly Boswellia sacra, B. carteri, B. thurifera, B. frereana, and B. bhaw-dajiana...
over 3,000 years ago. Clapp's training in the classics and knowledge of archaeology led him to become involved in the quest to find a place that many had unsuccessfully searched for before and that many thought didn't exist.
The two worked together with Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
scientists Ronald Blom and Charles Elachi
Charles Elachi
Charles Asshur Al-Wadad Elachi is the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory , located in Pasadena, California. He has held this position since May 1, 2001 and also holds professorships in electrical engineering and planetary science at Caltech....
, who were able to locate NASA photographs that showed traces of trade routes used by caravans in southern Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
. The locations where these routes intersected were identified as locations to be investigated as sites of Ubar.
Together with archaeologist Juris Zarins
Juris Zarins
Juris Zarins is an American-Latvian archaeologist and professor at Missouri State University, who specializes in the Middle East....
of Southwest Missouri State University, they traveled to Oman and found a site near a present-day settlement of Shisr in the Rub' al Khali in early 1991. Excavating beneath an ancient fort, they found a limestone cavern into which the fort collapsed after an earthquake. In subsequent years, satellite imagery was used to find similar sites in southern Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
located at the intersection of caravan routes that were also found to have forts similar to the one found at Ubar.
Personal
Hedges died at age 57 on March 10, 2009 due to melanomaMelanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
, at his home in South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 25,619, up from 24,292 at the 2000 census. It is located in in the West San Gabriel Valley...
. He was survived by his wife, Christy Shonnard Hedges, and his two sons George Shonnard Hedges, a film editor, and Duncan Fox Hedges, a USC Law student.