Disney's strategy during the hearing was to raise questions about the credibility of key participants, including Slesinger and her husband, David Bentson.
The hearing's most dramatic moment came last week during Bentson's testimony. Petrocelli played a tape of a message on the answering machine of a former high-ranking Disney executive about 18 months ago. The caller, which Petrocelli suggested was Bentson, tried to enlist the former executive to help the Slesingers' efforts, saying the person could "make a lot of money."
Bentson denied that he made the call, and the judge refused to admit the tape into evidence.
After the hearing concluded Tuesday, Patricia Slesinger said she had had enough of Disney's legal tactics. Standing outside McCoy's courtroom, a visibly angry Slesinger said she and her mother would channel their legal efforts to terminating the open-ended rights they gave to Disney. If successful, she said, the family could then turn to another entertainment company, such as Pixar Animation Studios.
"We're going to just terminate our contract and get our rights back," Slesinger said. "Pooh doesn't need Disney as much as Disney needs Pooh."
