Fury artists Dick Ayers and John Severin. Ownership contention In the 2000s, Friedrich expressed public disagreement about the genesis of the supernatural Ghost Rider. In 2001, Roy Thomas claimed that: Friedrich responded: Ploog recalled, in a 2008 interview: On April 4, 2007, Friedrich filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Marvel Enterprises, Sony Pictures, Columbia TriStar Motion Pictures, Relativity Media, Crystal Sky Pictures, Michael DeLuca Productions, Hasbro and Take-Two Interactive, alleging his copyrights to the Ghost Rider character have been exploited and utilized in a "joint venture and conspiracy". The lawsuit states that the film rights and merchandising reverted from Marvel to him in 2001. The case was transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 14, 2008, and Friedrich amended the complaint on March 25, 2011. The suit concluded on December 28, 2011, with Marvel prevailing on all but one count. U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest ruled that Marvel Entertainment owned the character, saying Friedrich gave up any ownership claim when he signed checks containing language relinquishing all rights. She said Friedrich had also signed a 1978 agreement with Marvel relinquishing rights. Marvel countersued with the parties reaching a settlement in which Marvel dropped the suit in exchange for Friedrich paying $17,000 in damages, ceasing to sell Ghost Rider-related items of his own creation and ceasing to promote himself as the creator of the character for financial gain. Friedrich was allowed to sell his autograph on officially licensed Ghost Rider merchandise. On June 11, 2013, Second Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Denny Chin overturned the original decision, calling the contract language "ambiguous" and sending the case back to trial. set for November. On September 6, Friedrich's attorney told the court both parties "have amicably agreed to resolve all claims." Personal life As of 2009, Friedrich lived in Jefferson County, Missouri with wife Jean and daughter, Leslie. He died on August 29, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease and near-total hearing loss. Awards Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, written by Friedrich beginning with issue #42 (cover-dated May 1967 and on sale two to three months prior), won the Alley Award for Best War Title in 1967 and 1968. Inkpot Award 2007 Bill Finger Award 2010 Books Nonfiction Brown, Len, and Gary Friedrich, Encyclopedia of Rock &