Celebrity
Lawsuits
Celebrity lawsuits never stop. Celebrity
lawsuits can run the gamut, but many times involve libel,
slander and defamation
of character types of personal injury
claims.
Nelson Mandela |
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Stalker and contract issues also claim
a fair number of the celebrity lawsuits as well, but since this
website is all about personal injury, we'll focus only on the
personal injury segment of the celebrity lawsuit spectrum.
In some instances, celebrity lawsuits are more difficult to win
that lawsuits brought forward by the less famous. One reason is
because celebrities have less of an expectation of privacy than
everyone else, so invasion
of privacy lawsuits are difficult at best to win.
A second reason is that a celebrity may even achieve a secondary
gain from bad publicity. Proving damages in these cases is increasingly
difficult. Nonetheless, some the celebrity lawsuits allege behavior
from others that is so egregious and defamatory that the celebrity
will take the time, trouble and expense to pursue a personal
injury case.
Some of the celebrity lawsuits that have made the news include:
1. David Schwimmer sued former Hollywood fund-raiser Aaron Tonken
alleging that Tonken told the National Enquirer that two Rolex
watches were required by Schwimmer in order to attend the charity
dinner.
2. Sharon Stone sued plastic surgeon Renato Calabria alleging
that he falsely told reporters that she had undergone a facelift.
3. "Wheel of Fortune's" Vanna White sued because someone
used a robot-like figure with a wig standing before a letterbox
similar to that used by Wheel of Fortune.
4. Bette Middler received $400,000 when she sued for a similar
voice that sang on a commercial.
5. Dustin Hoffman, won $3 million from a Los Angeles fashion magazine
for a Tootsie takeoff.
6. Robin Williams is suing a celebrity look-alike Michael Clayton
and his agent, Michael Pool, saying Clayton is being passed off
as the real Williams.
7. The British Sun is being sued by Cameron Diaz over a story
that implied Diaz was having an affair with a married man.
8. Nelson Mandela has filed a lawsuit against a former associate
in order to protect his name and a number of original paintings
that he had signed alleging forgery by his former associate.
9. Famed British couple, David and Victoria Beckham, are suing
their former nanny for telling the tabloids that their marriage
is in trouble. According to the lawsuit, the nanny's contract
contained an agreement not to talk about the celebrity couple's
private lives.
10. Cameron Diaz sues a photographer over topless photos. The
photographer says he has a signed model release and Diaz says
not.
11. Mexican dog psychologist, Cesar Millan, also known as the
"Dog Whisperer" is being sued for copyright infringement,
breach of contract and breach of confidential relationship.
12. Talk-show host Maury Povich is being sued by his producer
for allegations of sexual harrassment in the workplace.
13. Charlie Sheen, star of "Two and a Half Men" is being
sued by a woman who is claiming that the wacky, stalker lady next
door is modeled after her.
14. TV Producer, Aaron Spelling is suing his nurse for defamation
and breach of contract.
15. Jane Pauley is suing the New York Times for invasion of privacy
in divulging her struggle with bipolar disorder.
Many people find entertainment value in celebrity lawsuits since
many can be quite dramatic. Celebrity lawsuits also let us into
the personal lives of the people we see on screen and give us
access in ways we would normally not have. Celebrities, however,
are just like anyone else in that they can be libeled, slandered
and defamed. And when this type of personal injury happens to
a celebrity, it can cost them millions of dollars. Many multi-million
dollar sponsorships and endorsements may be lost just by the appearance
of impropriety on the part of a celebrity. This is why many celebrities
try to protect their names and images so vehemently through the
courts.
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