TLC Network Being Sued for "All-American Muslim"

A California media company is suing Discovery Communications based on allegations that the recently premiered TLC series did not properly credit or pay the company for creating the show.

The suit was filed Nov. 30.

Visionaire Media states in its lawsuit that "Discovery requested that Visionaire create and develop a television series for TLC, a Discovery subsidiary, with the understanding and agreement that if Discovery liked and produced the series Visionaire would be paid and credited."

According to the suit, Visionaire came up with the idea for a television series that would follow five Muslim-American families in Dearborn.

In April 2011, then Visionaire president Noessa Higa left the company and allegedly continued working on All-American Muslim with TLC and Discovery.

The suit says that the show, which premiered on TLC Nov. 13, "follows the same families in Dearborn, Michigan, and utilizes other concepts, ideas and material developed by Higa and other Visionaire personnel prior to Higa’s departure from the company."

Visionaire is claiming breach of contract, interference with contract, and breach of confidence according to the suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday.

“This is a very important tv series and my clients are committed to protecting their rights and standing up for the truth," attorney Miles Feldman of Los Angeles-based Raines Feldman LLP law offices said in a statement. “Visionaire will seek a trial on this case as soon as possible.”

According to Visionaire Media's website, the company has led production on the documentary series Arab Muslim Women, as well as three seasons of on the Road in America, a documentary reality series about young Arabs from the Middle East traveling across America.