While we often associate celebrity life with red carpet events and lavish homes, this is just one facet of life as a famous person. Unfortunately, the lives of celebrities aren’t always positive. Furthermore, maintaining such a high-profile lifestyle can be considerable — particularly when it comes to litigation.
Obviously, celebrities are more financially positioned to fight legal battles than the typical person, it’s sad how frequently they must face lawsuits. However, not all lawsuits are created equal and some can be more ridiculous than others.
From Lindsay Lohan to Nicolas Cage, some of the biggest celebrities’ names are sometimes embroiled in some of the most outlandish litigation you can think of.
Lawsuits are never something to take lightly, as it can cost a lot to navigate, even ones without merit. If you are ever hit with a legal dispute, knowing a good attorney can save you a lot of heartache. The Brandon Broderick Law firm is a good choice if you are in need of legal representation.
Lindsay Lohan Sues E-Trade Over Talking Baby?
Back in 2010, actress/tabloid mainstay Lindsay Lohan sued E-Trade, alleging that one of their commercials used her name and likeness without her approval. No, her actual name or photo was not used, but a newborn baby named Lindsay who is described as a “milkaholic.” Lohan took offense to someone being referred to as any form of -holic, with her lawyers claiming the baby was a parody of her life. Her team even referenced other personalities like Oprah or Madonna who go by just one-name. It seemed to be a bit of a stretch, but what do we know? Lohan filed for $100 million against E-Trade in damages. She did not win.
Tara Reid Sues Over Wardrobe Malfunction
Sky Las Vegas Condominiums added insult to injury to embarrassment Tara Reid suffered with an ad campaign that said: “Dear Tara Reid, Come Let It All Hang Out.” This came just months after she inadvertently exposed herself on the red carpet at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ 35th birthday party in 2005. The actress, who became famous for her role in the teen classic “American Pie”, sued the condo owners, alleging that the ad depicted her as “lewd or immoral” and implied that the wardrobe malfunction was deliberate. Reid’s lawsuit aimed to stop the Sky Las Vegas ad. She was awarded a partial settlement and the lawsuit was dismissed.
Fiddy Isn’t a Sell-Out, Taco Bell
50 Cent doesn’t allow his name to be used for free. In fact, this lawsuit proves just that. Back in 2008, 50 Cent filed a lawsuit against Taco Bell, saying they used his name without his consent and asked for $4 million. Taco Bell had delivered a letter to media outlets across the country, asking that 50 Cent alter his name to “79 Cent,” “89 Cent,” or “99 Cent” to promote their menu items in jest. He didn’t think it was funny. 50 discovered the campaign after websites labeled him a sellout for promoting Taco Bell. It’s unclear how the lawsuit was settled, but both parties agreed to terms.
AmEx Suspends Courtney Love’s Card
Courtney Love was sued by American Express in 2009 for over $350,000 unpaid fees that were run up on her AmEx Gold card. The credit card company would freeze her car after Love and her husband “refused” to make payments. Nearly a year later, Love countersued, alleging that the transactions were incurred by fraudsters on a “massive” number of cards issued in her name by AmEx without her knowledge. It’s unclear how this lawsuit ended.
Men At Work’s “Down Under” Copied a Song from 75 Years Earlier?
Throughout music history, artists have been accused of stealing from one another. Sometimes, they deny it, sometimes they get permission, and sometimes, they get sued and have to pay. This happened to Men At Work, who unintentionally copied a line from the 75-year-old Australian children’s song “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree”. In 1981, the brand released the hit song “Down Under”, but no one realized the flute riff sounded familiar until an Australian television game show established the link in 2009.
“Kookaburra,” which was composed by schoolteacher Marion Sinclair in early 1934, currently belongs to Larrikin Music Publishing, who would sue Men At Work, as well as Sony, and won. The litigation, which included just two bars of music, should serve as a cautionary tale to any artists in the future. Do you believe you’ve composed a new song? Be careful, it could be eerily similar to another song.
Ralph Lauren vs. Polo
There’s Polo and there’s Ralph Lauren. Polo, the official magazine of the United States Polo Association, both have been out there without issue for 22 years before 1997 came around… and an issue arose. The magazine opted to concentrate on the élite lifestyle rather than the equestrian sport of polo. So, what happened? Ralph Lauren sued Polo, arguing that it had no right to use the moniker Polo. He was concerned that Polo was stealing the same sort of image produced by his apparel company. Ralph Lauren would ultimately win the lawsuit two years later and Polo had to discontinue publishing. Victory, right? Not so fast. The decision was overturned on appeal in 2001, and Polo was resurrected. They did make it clear they were not linked to Polo Ralph Lauren.
Miley Cyrus vs. Asians
As a celebrity, you must be aware of any actions you make, because they can cause harm and drastically hurt your public image. Miley Cyrus offended people when she and some friends snapped a picture while making their eyes slanted. The picture prompted Lucie J. Kim of Los Angeles to bring a $4 billion lawsuit,. Alleging that it infringed on the civil rights of Asian Pacific Islanders. The pop star claimed she was being “goofy”, while the Asian woman stated that everyone of the 1 million Asian Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County deserved to be paid for the injury they experienced merely by viewing the photo. Cyrus, who was 16 at the time, made a public apology on numerous occasions. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed.
