Brenda Song

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BUCHALTERNEMER
A Professional
Corporation
LAWRENCEB. STEINBERG(StateBarNo. 101966)
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LSteinberg @buchalter.com
APR
25 203s
CHERYL M. LOTT (StateBarNo. 232548)
[email protected]
JohnA. ClwkeTfi.eclttive
Ofllcer/Clerk
1000WilshireBoulevard,
Suite1500
//(
arLos Angeles,CA 90017-2457
ByMARy G(ncte,Depury
(213) 891-0700
Telephone:
(213)896-0400
Facsimile:
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Attorneysfor PlaintiffBRENDASONG
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SUPERIORCOURTOF THE STATEOF CALIFORNIA
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COTINTYOF LOS ANGELES
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BRENDA SONG,anindividual,
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Plaintiff,
VS.
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VIBE MEDIA, INC., a California
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Corporation;CITYVIBE.COM, a business )
entity unknown;ALI ASKARI, an
)
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individual;andDOES l-50, inclusive,
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Defendants.
CaseNo.
8C589695
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COMPLAINI FOR DAMAGES AND
INJI]NCTTVE RELIEF FOR:
(l)
LrBEL PER SE
(2)
INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
(3)
COMMERCIALMISAPPROPRIATION
OF PHOTOGRAPHAND LIKENESS
$ 33441
lCal.Civ.Code
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Plaintiff BRENDA SONG, for her complaint herein, allegesas follows:
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l. BrendaSong,a twenty-year-oldactressbestknown for her work on the successful
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Disney Channeltelevisionseries,The SuiteLde of Zack & Cody, is one of the most popular
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young female starsin televisiontoday. Ms. Song,who has a long and promisingcareeraheadof
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her, scrupulouslymaintainsand cultivatesher image as a well-behaved,matureand law-abiding
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adult escort
role model for her many young fans. In this lawsuit, Ms. Song suesan unscrupulous
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photographsfrom the Internet
servicethat has illegally and shamelesslytakenone of Ms. Song's
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possiblyillegal, enterprise'
and usedit to advertisewhat is undoubtedlya thinly-disguised,and
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U C H AL T E RN EME R
Paot$noil^r
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cOltoi.llor
ANGSIES
r903a07-?.DOC
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGESAND INJIINCTIVE RELIEF
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PARTIES
2' Plaintiff. Plaintiff BRENDA SONG ("Song") is, and at all relevanrtimes was, an
individual who residesin Los AngelesCounty,California.
3. Defendants.
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(a) Plaintiff is informed and believes,andbasedthereonalleges,that at all times
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mentionedherein,defendantVIBE MEDIA, INC. ("Vibe") was and is a California corporation,
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having its principal businessin Los Angeres,California,and is duly authorizedto conduct
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businessin the Stateof California.
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O) Plaintiff is informed and believes,andbasedthereonalleges,that at all times
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mentionedherein,defendantCITYVIBE.COM("Cityvibe") conductsbusinessin the Stateof
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California. On informationand belief, Cityvibe, a businessof unknown legal characterand
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citizenship,is affiliated and/orcontrolledby Vibe.
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(c) Plaintiff is informed and believes,andbasedthereonalleges,that at all times
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mentionedherein,defendantALI ASKARI ("Askari") is, and at all relevanttimes was, an
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individual who residesin Los AngelesCounty, California. On information and belief, Askari is
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the president,owner and principal shareholderof vibe and cityvibe.
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(d) The true namesand capacities,whetherindividual, corporate,associateor
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otherwise, of defendantsDOES 1 through 50, inclusive, are unknown to plaintiff, who therefore
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suessaid defendantsby suchfictitious names. Plaintiff is informedand believesand based
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thereonallegesthat eachof the defendantsdesignatedhereinas fictitiously nameddefendantsis,
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in somemanner,responsiblefor the occurrencesallegedherein,and that plaintiff s damagesas
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alleged were proximately causedby their conduct. When plaintiff ascertainsthe true names and
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capacitiesof DOES 1 through 50, shewill amendher complaintaccordingly.
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(e) Vibe, Cityvibe, Askari and DOES I through 10,inclusive, will sometimesbe
referredto herein collectively as "Vibe Media Defendants."
4. Plaintiff is informed and believes,and basedthereonalleges,that all of the defendants,
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both actually and fictitiously named,are and were in somemannerlegally liable for the conduct
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at issuein this action. Plaintiffs are further informed andbelieve,and basedthereonallege,that
BUC H A L T E RN E ME R
A ProF ars roN^ r CorPo r^ tt oN
LOS ANGEL !5
r903407_2.DOC
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND INJUNCTIVERELIEF
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eachdefendant,both actuallyand fictitiously named,was the principal,agent,employee,partner,
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memberand/oralter ego of the other and,with respectto the circumstancesat issuein this action,
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was at all times acting within the scopeof one or more of suchrelationshipsand with the implied
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and./orexpressdirection,approvaland ratificationof eachof the other defendants.
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GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
5. BrendaSongis an actressand singer,and is one of the starsof the well-known Disney
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Channeltelevision series,The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Ms. Song has appearedin many Disney
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Channeloriginal seriesand movies.Shehasmadeguestappearances
in other televisionseries,
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and she won a Young Artist Award for her work in The Ultimate ChristmasPresent.She was
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voted one of Teen People's25 most popularstarsunder25 yearsof age.
6. On or aboutApril4, 2008,the Vibe Media Defendantscausedto be publishedin the
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weekly newspaper,LA \Ueekly,a three-pagecommercial advertisementfor an adult escort service
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(the "Tortious CommercialAdvertisement")which includedin it a photographof Ms. Song. On
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informationand belief, LA Weeklyis a free weekly tabloid-sizednewspaper(a so-called
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"alternativeweekly") distributedthroughoutthe greaterLos Angelesarea. The newspaper
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advertisesitself as being the largesturbannewsweeklyin the westernUnited States,having an
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auditedcirculationof 215,000copies.
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7. The Tortious CommercialAdvertisement,a copy of which is attachedheretoas
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Exhibit "A," featuresthreepagesof provocativephotographsof young women, eachphotograph
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havingimposedon it a femalefirst name,a local telephonenumberand a titillating, salacious
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phrase. One of the photographscontainedin the Tortious Commercial Advertisement is a
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"headshot"of BrendaSong,with the name"Layla" imposedon Ms. Song'sphotograph. Also
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printedon the photo is a local telephonenumberin the (310) areacode,and the phrase,
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"Hawaiin [sic] beauty. Come get lei'd."
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8. On April 23, 2008,plaintiff s attomeytelephonedthe numberprinted with Ms. Song's
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photograph,and a female voice answeredthe telephone. When asked,the woman statedthat her
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nameis "Layla" and that the photographprinted in the newspaperis her genuinephotograph. The
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BUC H A L T E R N EME R
A P rof raror^ r
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LoS ANCELAS
COMPLAINT FORDAMAGES AND INJUNCTIVERELIEF
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woman then askedif plaintiff's attorneywantedto seeher "tonight," at which point plaintiff s
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attomeyterminatedthe telephonecall.
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9. The Tortious CommercialAdvertisementwas printed in the issueof LA Weektydated
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April 4, 2008,was re-printedin the issueof LA WeeklydatedApril 11, 2008, and was possibly
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also run on other datesand/orin otherpublications.When notified that it was running an
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advertisementcontainingan unauthorizedpicture of Ms. Song,an attorneyfor I-A Weekly
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respondedthat "it appearsfalserepresentations
were madeto LA Weeklyby its advertiser,"and
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statedthat "the photographwill not appearin future issues."
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10. Publicationof the TortiousCommercialAdvertisementhasquickly attractedpublic
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attention. The advertisementwas re-publishedon www.tmz.com.a popularcelebritygossipand
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news website,and was featuredon the April 21, 2008broadcastof the televisionshow
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TMZ on ?'7, a syndicatedtelevisionshowbroadcastthroughoutthe United Statesand
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internationally.Pressinquireshavebeenreceivedfrom other news outlets,tabloidsand radio
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shows,and additionalpresscoverageis likely.
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11. Notwithstandingthe useof the false name"Layla," the imageusedin the Tortious
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CommercialAdvertisementis easilyrecognizedas being a photographof Ms. Song. The
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languagecontainedin the advertisement,
along with the contextof the surroundingprovocative
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photosof women and the adjacentuseof the words "escortpages"could causea reasonable
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readerto believethat Ms. Songwas sellingherselffor "escort" servicesand that the services
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includedintimate (and illegal) conduct. This implication is false.
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12. The Tortious CommercialAdvertisementwas created,publishedand re-published
without Ms. Song's consent,authorizationor knowledge.
13. When plaintiff discoveredthe existenceof the Tortious CommercialAdvertisement,
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sheimmediatelysent a "ceaseand desist"letter to the Vibe Media DefendantsandLA Weekly,a
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true and correct copy of which is attachedhereto as Exhibit "8." LA Weeklyhas agreedto cease
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but the Vibe Media Defendantshavenot responded.
publicationof the commercialadvertisement,
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BUC H A L T E R N EME R
LOS ANGEL ES
19034 07 _2 .DOC
COMPLAINT FORDAMAGES AND INJIINCTIVE RELIEF
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FIRSTCAUSEOF ACTION
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(Libel Per Se)
14' Plaintiff reallegesand incorporateshereinby
this referencethe allegationscontained
in paragraphsI through 13,above,as thoughset forth in
full.
l5' The TortiousCommercialAdvertisementis libelous
on its face (or libelousper se) in
that it: implies that plaintiff is committing the crime of prostitution;
is injuriousto plaintiff in her
occupationas an actresson a televisionshow and on a television
network that marketsitself to
young and teenagechildren;it chargesplaintiff with
improperand immoral conduct;it charges
plaintiff with dishonesty;
it subjectsplaintiff ro contemptandridicule;and it imputes
a lack of
chastity ro plainriff.
l6' As a resultof the false and unauthorizedpublication
of the Tortiouscommercial
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Advertisement,Ms' Song'sreputationas a family-oriented
actresshasbeen seriouslydamaged
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and thus endangersher careerand employment prospects.
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17' As a direct and proximateresult of defendants'conduct,
plaintiff hasbeendamagedin
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an amount to be provenat the time of trial, which amountplaintiff
believesis in excessof
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$100,000.
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l8' In performingthe above-described
conduct,defendantsactedwith oppression,fraud,
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malice and a consciousdisregardof plaintiff s rights. Accordingly, in
additionto actualdamages,
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plaintiff is entitled to punitive and exemplary damagesin an amount to be
fixed by the trier of
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fact sufficient to punish saiddefendantsand deter othersfrom similar conductin the
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SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
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(lntentionallnfl iction of Emotional Distress)
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future.
19. Plaintiff reallegesand incorporatesherein by this referencethe allegationscontained
in paragraphsI through 18,above,as though set forth in full.
20' Defendants'conductof causingpublication of the false Tortious Commercial
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Advertisement,which suchadvertisementstrongly implies that plaintiff is sellingher "escort"
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services,is extremeand outrageousconduct. This is especiallytrue given that the image used in
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the advertisementis a photographtakenof Ms. Song when shewas a 16-year-oldminor.
BUC H AL T ERN E M E R
A P r orarsroN^ r Coiro i^ iro r
LO s ANGEL ES
r903107_2.DOC
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
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21. Defendantsactedwith a recklessdisregardof the probability that plaintiff would
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suffer emotionaldistressbecausethey knew that the implicationof the Tortious Commercial
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Advertisementwas false,and causedthe photographto be publishedwithout plaintiff s consentor
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knowledge.
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22. Plaintrff hassuffered,and continuesto suffer,public humiliation, anxiety and severe
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emotionaldistressbecauseof the publicationand re-publicationof the Tortious Commercial
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Advertisement.
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23. As a direct andproximateresultof defendants'conduct,plaintiff hasbeendamagedin
an amountto be provenat the time of trial, which amountplaintiff believesis in excessof
$100,000.
24. In performing the above-describedconduct,defendantsactedwith oppression,fraud,
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malice and a consciousdisregardof plaintiff s rights. Accordingly, in addition to actualdamages,
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plaintiff is entitled to punitive and exemplary damagesin an amount to be fixed by the trier of
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fact sufficientto punishsaiddefendantsand deterothersfrom similar conduct in the future.
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THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
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(Commercial Misappropriation Of PhotographAnd Likeness)
25. Plaintiff reallegesand incoqporatesherein by this referencethe allegationscontained
in paragraphsI through 24, above, as though set forth in full.
26. Defendantsknowingly usedplaintiff's photographand likenessfor the commercial
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purposeof soliciting the purchaseof serviceswithout plaintiff s consentor knowledge,in
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violation of plaintiff s comrnonlaw rights of publicity and her statutoryrights under Section3344
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of the California Civil Code.
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27. As a direct and proximate result of defendants'conduct, plaintiff has been damagedin
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an amount to be proven at the time of trial, which amountplaintiff believes is in excessof
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$100,000.
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28. Pursuantto Section33M of the California Civil Code,defendantsare liable to
plaintiff in an amountequal to the greaterof sevenhundredfifty dollars ($750) or the actual
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BUC H A L T E RN E ME R
a ProrEsroN^LCortor^rtoN
LOSArc€!6
r903{07_2.DOC
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND INJTINCTIVERELIEF
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use,andarealsoliableto herfor any
damages
sufferedby herasa resultof theunauthorized
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profitsfrom theunauthorized
usethat areattributableto theuse.
areliablefor the
of theCaliforniaCivil Code,defendants
29. Pursuant
to Section3344
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with thisaction.
feesandcostsincurredby plaintiffin connection
attorney's
fraud,
actedwith oppression,
conduct,defendants
30. In performingthe above-described
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disregard
of plaintifflsrights. Accordingly,in additionto actualdamages,
maliceanda conscious
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in anamountto befixedby thetrier of
damages
plaintiffis entitledto punitiveandexemplary
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anddeterothersfrom similar conductin thefuture.
fact sufficientto punishsaiddefendants
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BUC H AL T E R N E ME R
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cotFr.Tlor
LOS ANCEL6
r 903407-2.DOC
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
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PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE,plaintiff BRENDA SONG praysfor judgment againstdefendantsas
follows:
1. For an awardof compensatorydamagesin an amountto be provenat the time of trial,
which amountplaintiff believesis in excessof $100,000;
2. For an award of punitive and exemplarydamagesin an amount to be fixed by the trier
of fact sufficient to punish saiddefendantsand deterothersfrom similar conductin the future;
3. For preliminaryand permanentinjunctive relief, enjoining,preventingand prohibiting
defendantsfrom making any unauthorizeduseof defendant'snarne,likenessor photographin
connectionwith any advertisingor for any other purposeor use;
4. On the Third Causeof Action, for damagesin an amountequalto the greaterof seven
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hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) or the actual damagessuffered by plaintiff as a result of the
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unauthorizeduse of plaintiffls photographand likeness, and any profits from the unauthorizeduse
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attributableto the usethat arenot takeninto accountin computingactualdamages;
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5. On the Third Causeof Action, for an awardof attorney'sfeesand costs;and
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6. For suchother and further relief as this Court may deemjust, equitableand proper.
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DATED: April25,2008
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Respectfullysubmitted,
BUCHALTERNEMER
A Professional
Corporation
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BUC H A L T E RN E ME R
A Protsssror^r
Cortor^rror
Lo s ANGEL 6
1903407_2.DOC
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF