Woman Sues Over 'Girls Gone Wild'

AP (via NY Times) ^ | January 22, 2002 | By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[chriservative]

This is too funny. I actually saw the tapes a couple of weeks ago (don't even bother, they're silly and not that exciting) and was discussing this exact issue with my fellow paralegals and lawyers. Suing for damages is completely out, as the article suggests, especially considering that posing for the cameras at the request of the camera-holder (which happens in almost every instance) is a form of implied consent. However, I wonder whether someone could successfully sue for royalties. Either way, this reminds me of a Saturday Night Live sketch. Very funny. Anyone who has seen it knows what I'm talking about.

[GeronL]

she would have a better case asking for royalties... slightly better at any rate.

[CharlieDarwin]

My guess? Some magazine will offer to pay her to pose privately, doing what she did for free in a public place, and she will sign on the dotted line. Looks like a publicity ploy to me.

I'd think that anyone genuinely outraged would do everything she could not to call herself to the attention of the press - like NOT filing a lawsuit.

The reaction at my neighborhood bar? A titter went through the crowd. (ouch!)

[cincinnati_Steve]

Becky Lynn was the September 2000 girl for this calender. She "loves to meet people!" Hmmm...

[RedBloodedAmerican]

She wants the money from the lawsuit.

Order Online

	Becky Lynn Gritzke    · Height: 5'8"    · Zodiac: Gemini	Sound Bites: Real Player Required No interview currently available.          Order Your Copy Now!
	About Miss September: Hobbies: Alpha Kappa Psi Favorite Part About The Calendar: Meeting new people. Email Me! I want to hear from you! bgritzke@campuscalendars.com	Biography: Becky is our Miss September 2000, she is very involved with campus activities at Florida State University, where she is studying Accounting and Finance. Becky is a South Florida native, hailing from Ft. Lauderdale. Miss September is an Alpha Kappa Psi. Order Now

Copyright © 1999, Campus Calendars. All Rights Reserved.

[Hodar]

After thinking of this a bit ... I have to agree with you. Simply by being in public, does not mean you concent to having your picture circulated for public consumption, whether it's to promote a video, a hotdog or beer.

If you were photographed at a ball game, enjoying a beer and a hotdog ... and Budweiser chose to promote their product using your picture in their advertizement .... no one would question whether you were entiteled to compensation.

[GeronL]

She'll be worth millions in a few years

She'll be worth a half million for a short time.... then she'll be worthless and people will make fun of her behind her back

[cincinnati_Steve]

Dang, sorry about the duplicate...you beat me to the pic.

This chick doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hades of getting this frivolous suit into court.

[philosofy123]

But your honor, I wanted to show my boobs to the people at Burbon street that night; not to the people all over the world every night?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

email her bgritzke@campuscalendars.com

[BibChr]

My response too, almost verbatim.

[Delbert]

"Gritzke is seeking unspecified damages."
Shouldnt be too hard, they can pay her in beads! Beads were valuable enough to get her to take off her shirt, should be good enough for payment!!

[ColdSteelTalon]

Any woman or man who gets naked in public is loose. Plain and simple...

[thatsnotnice]

Almost all courts have historically ruled for compensation when a person's likeness has been used without permission. In this case, its not meerly her likeness, its her picture, which she was not payed for. The company will settle if they are smart.

Interesting. The San Francisco Chronicle photographer was snapping pictures of a warehouse fire once. Happened to catch me in the middle of the shot crossing the street. Printed in on the first page of the Bay Area section, IIRC.

Hmmm, I'm starting to think that the paper is sold for money... they never approached me for a release or permission... they printed my picture without compensation... Hey, I've been screwed. At least I kept my clothes on, which is good for everyone involved.

[malakhi]

Based on the picture of her on their web site, they're not real anyway...

[GeronL]

hehehehe.... she won't feel like such a private person if those e-mails get read

[Hodar]

If your picture were used for commercial gain ... you should have a case to sue. As you happened to be present during a news-breaking story, your picture is part of the story.

Now, if "Firehouse BBQ" were to use that picture to adverise their ribs, and presented you as a customer rushing to get a plate... your likeness would be used as a model, or spokesperson (without your consent). Then, you would have compensation due to you.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Gritzke is seeking unspecified damages

$15,000

[thatsnotnice]

She is a business major and made a trade like that?

That's probably part of the problem. After sobering up, IMO, she realized she made a dumb mistake. She'll always wonder from now on when she enters some business meeting whether all the males in the room saw the video. Every time someone says, "hey, haven't I seen you somewhere before?" she'll wonder… Also, I'd hate to be the first person to overhear someone saying that to her and snicker or something. That would probably get you involved in a sexual harassment charge or similar.

[Lance Romance]

Can I stick a bone of contention into her legal briefs?