Thomas Steinbeck

The Supreme Court is seen in Washington, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. The high court, which begins its new term in the coming week, is confronting cases related to the election and to religious rights. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Supreme Court declines to get involved in Steinbeck dispute

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is leaving in place a decision awarding the late John Steinbeck’s stepdaughter $5 million in a family dispute over abandoned plans for movies of some of Steinbeck’s best-known works.

FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2017, file photo, Gail Steinbeck, widow of Thomas Steinbeck, the son of author John Steinbeck, leaves federal court in downtown Los Angeles. A federal appeals court has thrown out $8 million in punitive damages against the daughter-in-law of author John Steinbeck in her long-running copyright spat with the late author's step-daughter. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, upheld a $5 million verdict against Gail Steinbeck and told her it's time to end her legal saga. (AP Photo/Brian Melley, File)

Court cuts jury award, warns Steinbeck kin to end litigation

Judges to hear appeal in lawsuit over John Steinbeck works