Dr. Phil is embroiled in a significant legal battle with Trinity Broadcasting Network, facing potential sanctions and a deposition. This ongoing dispute revolves around contract breaches and bankruptcy issues.
Dr. Phil Faces Legal Challenges with Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting has laid its cards on the table, and the clock is ticking on whether Dr. Phil will face a judge today in Dallas regarding potential sanctions or soon find himself answering questions in a deposition amid his ongoing legal battle with the Christian TV giant.
Ongoing Legal Dispute
“We are again confronted with the same discovery failures the Court has already fully addressed,” declared TBN in an emergency relief filing concerning a $500 million production and distribution deal gone awry. This dispute arises from Phil McGraw’s Peteski Productions and Merit Street Media’s attempts to evade creditors through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
After leaving CBS and entering a lucrative agreement with Trinity Broadcasting in April 2024, Dr. Phil sued the faith-based network for breach of contract, coinciding with Merit Street Media’s bankruptcy filing. Last week, TSN, supported by TKO Group Holdings (Ari Emanuel’s firm) and Professional Bull Riders, countersued McGraw and Peteski for their alleged misconduct, including deceit and coercion for millions while delivering little in return. A spokesperson for Dr. Phil claimed, “TBN’s latest lawsuit is riddled with provable lies.”
Upcoming Deposition
On Tuesday, TSN, again backed by PBR, requested a hearing at 5 PM CT regarding emergency relief and financial sanctions against Dr. Phil for failing to provide court-ordered documents. Regardless of the outcome, Dr. Phil is scheduled for a potentially grueling seven-hour deposition on Thursday. TBN believes this could leave them unprepared for questioning on August 28 due to Dr. Phil’s alleged “discovery gamesmanship.”
“By its own admission in a meet-and-confer between counsel on August 26, 2025, Peteski still has not produced all of Phillip C. McGraw’s emails and text messages, nor has it provided all documents concerning Envoy,” stated TBN’s legal representatives in their filing. “Peteski’s delay tactics persist, indicating a deliberate disregard for the Court’s orders.”
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Concerns Over Document Production
PBR’s legal team echoed these concerns, suggesting that the bankruptcy was a scheme to divert employees and intellectual property to Envoy, a competing business Dr. Phil founded just before the case was filed. PBR withdrew its programming from Merit Street Media last year as the venture became less viable.
“It appears Mr. McGraw is controlling Peteski and limiting production to avoid his deposition,” TSN claimed. They are seeking legal fees, a brief adjournment of the upcoming hearing, and possibly postponing Dr. Phil’s deposition if necessary, contingent on the full document handover occurring promptly. “This is not the first time Mr. McGraw has gone to great lengths to avoid a deposition,” they added.
“Mr. McGraw does not want to sit for a deposition at all. However, he should not be rewarded for his discovery tactics with a postponement or cancellation of his deposition.”
Representatives for Dr. Phil did not respond to inquiries regarding the latest filings and the impending deadline. With just over 30 minutes until the requested hearing time, there is no indication of a hearing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas.
TBN’s lawyers stated, “The time for patience has passed,” echoing Dr. Phil’s sentiment that “that dog don’t hunt for me.”
