Piven Off the Hook Due to Mercury Poisoning Claim

An arbitrator has ruled in favor of actor Jeremy Piven after his producers accused him of breaching his contract when he left the revival of "Speed-the-Plow" for health reasons.

Piven had to abruptly leave the production last December when his doctor told him he was suffering from mercury poisoning, writes The Associated Press. It's suspected that the actor was eating too much fish.

The producers filed charges against Piven early this year and the case ended up in arbitration. According to People, the arbitrator concluded that there was "sufficient evidence to establish that Piven's decision was a reasonable one."

The producers of "Speed-the-Plow" were disappointed by the ruling, saying that "While we respect the decision, we strongly disagree with it."

Piven told the New York Times that he now feels stronger than ever. "I had a real health scare, and now I can climb back on the stage and know that I'm strong and able to complete the mission. It's a great day," he said.

Jeremy Piven can be seen on the HBO series "Entourage."