Warner Bros. Discovery Sued by Motor Trend Joint Venture Partner

Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is facing litigation in Delaware over claims it deliberately mismanaged Motor Trend Group LLC—intended as a one-stop media shop for automotive enthusiasts—in a bid to reduce the joint venture’s value before buying out its partner.

The lawsuit, made public Monday, accuses WBD of dragging its feet on critical aspects of the collaboration, then trying to fudge the books in a scheme to reduce Motor Trend’s appraised price when it became clear Global Automotive Holdings LLC would exercise its contractual right to be bought out.

The media empire “intervened behind the scenes” to pressure Motor Trend management ...