The First Of Many Future Bruno Lawsuits Filed
Sasha Baron Cohen’s Borat produced a number of lawsuits filed by people who were duped by Cohen and humiliated on a broad scale. Now Bruno hasn’t even been released on theatres yet and he’s already being sued.
Richelle Olson claims that an incident at a Palmdale, California bingo tournament two years ago left her disabled in a wheelchair. She is seeking unspecified damages of at least $US25,000.
Reports the AP:
Olson’s lawsuit contends Cohen has 30 sham companies that help him pull off his ruses and that is how the comedian and his camera crew gained entry into the Desert Valley Charities’ bingo tournament in May 2007.
Cohen was invited to the event because his handlers identified him as a “celebrity” who was filming a documentary on bingo, the suit states. The event was to raise money for nursing students.
According to the lawsuit, Cohen – in character as Bruno – started using vulgarities while calling the second bingo game in front of a mostly elderly audience.
A struggle ensued after Olson tried to grab the microphone away from Cohen. She claims he then called his camera crew over, who attacked her for at least a minute, hoping to “create a dramatic emotional response”.
Olson’s suit states she ran from the stage and was found moments later by a co-worker, sobbing uncontrollably. She then fell to the floor, hitting her head on a concrete slab.
The suit states she suffered brain bleeding as a result.
We would hope that if this lady genuinely suffered brain bleeding that left her in a wheelchair that she’s a asking for much more than $US25,000 in damages.
Woman Sues Comedian Over Bruno Skirmish [Google/AP]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Here's the thing: the $25K can just be the minimum necessary to sustain jurisdiction. Odds are she didn't specify a number in her complaint at all, and just said that she had jurisdictionally-sufficient damages, the exact amount of which would be determined later.
@chaz9205: I'm pretty sure Ashton Kutcher already has that covered.
When I suffered 'brain bleeding' as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage, I required brain surgery, & a lifetime commitment to taking anti-seizure meds. (blood on the brain causes epilepsy/seizures) My hospital bills added up to over $350,000.00.
I'm going to have to call "BULLSHIT" on this one
succulent
@jobsworth: Yeah, I thought about suing the makers of Manischewitz, but decided that it was too much trouble.
ShanghaiLil
"sobbing uncontrollably. She then fell to the floor, hitting her head on a concrete slab." I would re-watch that scene a couple of times.
As a lawyer who dabbles in PI cases (when my boss makes me), I don't think the timing is at all suspect. Most cases do not go into suit right away, usually there's a lapse in time trying to find a lawyer, there's a determination of the injuries- you really cannot sue for permanent injuries unless you have documentation to back it up, which means lots of doctor visits. Then there's trying to figure out who to sue, contacting them or their insurer trying to settle, getting them the pertinent medical info, and waiting. If that doesn't work, then you sue.
However, that being said, the injuries and the dollar figure don't match, and the causation is really tenuous. I'd love to read the complaint.
irishflyesq
@chaz9205: Call it bufucelebrity.com and I'm in.
@StickyGerbil: LOL.
irishflyesq
i am starting a web show pulling pranks and embarrasing the hell out of "celebrity's" so they can see how much shame they bring on people. it will be called Fucelebrity.com. Who is with me!?!?!?!?!?
chaz9205
@ShanghaiLil: Well yeah of course but I didn't realise I could sue someone for it!
jobsworth
25k sounds like a balloon payment on a trailer is coming due pretty soon.
StickyGerbil
@jobsworth: What? You've never done that? I did, just last weekend!
ShanghaiLil
Same reason Fox waited until the last minute to sue over Watchmen - Once the film is in the can and the marketing behemoth has started, the more willing producers/studios are to throw money around to prevent it from being derailed. It's a much stronger bargaining position.
EireRugby
@rcdl: I was thinking the same thing. Weird.
Why if she was so injured is she bringing a lawsuit 2 years later and only a month before the release of the movie? Smells fishy to me.
rcdl
I wonder how many of these future lawsuits are phony so that the movie can generate more publicity.
.Xenn.
Only $25,000? She must've truly addled her pate.
rudi_freude
Who knew that when Borat made me laugh and fall over it was actionable?
WretchedGnu
She cried so much that she fell over and hit her head?
jobsworth
I Don't believe her.
There should be film of the incident anyway, If it was true. That's whats going to make the case.
No No NO!!! he is the main one we need to get!!! go in with demi moore, ill talk to her, she will be in on it, we will pretend to make out in front of him. ya know, its believable, she just wants younger meat, he is getting to old for her, what is he like 27 now?
@Cicada:
chaz9205