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Not-So-<i>Perfect Storm</i>

The family of a dead fishing boat captain is suing the makers of the movie The Perfect Storm.

CBS News Correspondent Peter King reports Billy Tyne's family says the movie was less than flattering.

"His character was a fairly obsessed, despondent, reckless individual who seemingly put his own life and the lives of his crew members at risk to fight the big storm, to fight the good fight, to beat his subtle love interest," said attorney Stephen Calvacca in Orlando.

Tyne was played in the film by George Clooney. Stephen Calvacca represents Tyne's ex-wife and children, who live in Bradenton, Florida.

Time Warner, the film's maker, released a statement challenging the claim that Tyne was depicted in a negative light, and said it did not need permission from Tyne's family to make the film or portray him.

The film is based on the book by the same name by author Sebastian Junger. It tells the story of Tyne's final swordfishing expedition in October 1991 into the heart of storms that converged in the North Atlantic. Tyne and five crew members drowned; their boat, the Andrea Gail, was never found.

"Fiction portrayed as fiction is protected speech. Fiction masquerading as fact, is not," Calvacca told CBS Radio News.

The suit could go to court next year. As for what the family wants, Calvacca says he's looking at how much the movie has made — and the net worth of filmmaker Time Warner

©2000 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report

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