After setting up a new legal drama at Fox a month ago (titled “Justice”, which is loosely inspired by her life), real-life “fixer” Judy Smith adds to her growing slate of projects, with another scripted drama also sold to Fox, from writer Sheldon Turner, via his (and Jennifer Klein’s) Vendetta Productions, which will tackle what is certainly a timely and hot-button topic: rape on college campuses.

Fox has given a pilot commitment to “Controversy,” as the project is titled, which will also follow the trials of a successful female crisis-management consultant who faces a crisis of conscience when she is hired to advise a university on a case involving a student who accuses football players of gang-raping her. The crisis-management consultant then teams up with a lawyer representing the university to seek out the truth.




“Controversy” is scripted by Sheldon Turner, with Judy Smith executive producing alongside John Requa and Glenn Ficarra.

By the way, Smith, a real-life top crisis-management consultant (and the inspiration for Shonda Rhimes’ “Scandal” on ABC), has worked with a number of high-profile clients, including universities.

Smith also executive produced “BrainDead” on CBS.  Its central plot about alien bugs taking over the brains of American politicians is certainly fitting for the times.