DETROIT (Legal Newsline) – Twenty-seven professional models and actresses allege two corporations in Michigan misappropriated their images and likeness to promote a strip club.
Imogen Thomas, Jennifer Walcott Archuleta, Brooke Marrin, Jessica Burciaga, et al. filed a complaint on March 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against M & M Zin Enterprises Inc., doing business as The Coliseum, and Motor City Showgirls Inc. alleging misappropriation of likeness, false endorsement and violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege their professional images were used on social media accounts of the defendants for use in their advertising materials to market and promote The Coliseum strip club in Detroit. They allege they have never been employed by or affiliated themselves in any way with The Coliseum.
The plaintiffs claim defendants used the images to drive traffic to The Coliseum and increase revenue but allegedly never sought nor obtained permission to use any of their images and likenesses.
The plaintiffs allege defendants "brazenly and repeatedly," without consent, misappropriated their images and likenesses for use in their advertising materials.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek actual, consequential, and incidental damages; prejudgment interest; disgorgement; costs of lawsuit; and for such other and further relief as the court seem just, proper and equitable.
They are represented by Roland Tellis and Jonas P. Mann of Baron & Budd PC in Encino, California and Edmund S. Aronowitz of Aronowitz Law Firm PLLC in Troy, Michigan.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan case number 2:18-cv-10908-SFC-DRG