wife Josephine, Melvin Franklin (qv)s  mother Rose, and David Ruffin (I) (qv)s family, filed suit  against Williams, Motown, De Passe Entertainment, Hallmark  Entertainment, and NBC for use of their likenesses in the film,  defamation of character, and emotional distress. The plaintiffs  claimed that they and/or their relatives and certain events were  portrayed inaccurately. The judges ruled in favor of the defendants.  The plaintiffs appealed but the original ruling was upheld. Otis  Williams later stated that while his book was the source material  for the film, he did not have control over the making of the film.