Just how much is the Trump name worth? The plaintiffs in a lawsuit by buyers of luxury condominiums say that condos in buildings that carry the Trump name are worth 36 percent more than units in similar building without the name. The lawsuit was brought by around 80 condo buyers who are suing the developers of the Trump Towers complex in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. for using the Trump name to attract buyers. As Law.com reveals, the suit says that Trump's name can only be used temporarily and could be changed once the buildings are completed. Based on this information and a fear that the condos will be worth less without the Trump brand, buyers are asking to cancel sales contracts worth over $100 million and to have around $20 million in deposits returned. The name Trump appeared on the promotional material but not on any of the condo documents or purchase contracts. Donald Trump, who is not named in the suit, has been quoted as saying that he was "honored" by the lawsuit doubtlessly because it backs up his own decades-long campaign to turn his last name into a valuable brand.Posts with tag lawsuit
How Much Is The Trump Name Worth?
Just how much is the Trump name worth? The plaintiffs in a lawsuit by buyers of luxury condominiums say that condos in buildings that carry the Trump name are worth 36 percent more than units in similar building without the name. The lawsuit was brought by around 80 condo buyers who are suing the developers of the Trump Towers complex in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. for using the Trump name to attract buyers. As Law.com reveals, the suit says that Trump's name can only be used temporarily and could be changed once the buildings are completed. Based on this information and a fear that the condos will be worth less without the Trump brand, buyers are asking to cancel sales contracts worth over $100 million and to have around $20 million in deposits returned. The name Trump appeared on the promotional material but not on any of the condo documents or purchase contracts. Donald Trump, who is not named in the suit, has been quoted as saying that he was "honored" by the lawsuit doubtlessly because it backs up his own decades-long campaign to turn his last name into a valuable brand.Uma Thurman Sues Lancome
It's safe to say Uma Thurman won't be wearing Lancome any time soon. The actress has filed a $15 million lawsuit against the French cosmetics company saying that they continued use her face in their ads after her contract expired. The licensing agreement to use Thurman's image ended in 2004 but the suit says that the brand has continued to use her face to sell products around the world for the past four years. Lancome has filed their own suit saying that it did not violate the contract and does not owe her money. A spokesperson for L'Oreal, the owner of Lancome, said that the use of her image after the contract expired was not deliberate or intentional.This isn't the first time we've seen celebrity endorsement gone wrong. Last year, watch company Raymond Weil sued Charlize Theron after she wore a Dior watch to an event while under an exclusive endorsement agreement with Weil.
Joe Montana Sues His Ex Over Selling His Stuff
Should you be able to sell the love letters from a famous ex? Joe Montana doesn't think so. The NFL football great has sued his ex-wife Kim Moses and Heritage Auction over the sale of love letters and other memorabilia dating back to his college days at Notre Dame. Montana says that the items which were sold at Heritage on May 3, violated his copyright and privacy rights. The items sold include the couple's marriage certificate, her bridal veil, Montana's college I.D. card and a lot of personal letters and cards full of all sorts of intimate details. Montana is seeking damages in excess of $75,000 and the lawsuit says that Moses obtained some of the items without his consent after they were divorced (the couple married in 1974 and divorced less than three years later). Whether or not it is legal remains to be seen but it does show questionable taste to auction off one's college love letters to the highest bidder.Heidi Klum Sued For Lack of Originality
Does Van Cleef and Arpels have sole rights to the quatrefoil shape? That seems to be their assertion, the esteemed jewelry company sued German supermodel Heidi Klum's company on Friday, saying that the vintage clover jewelry design she uses in her jewelry (shown in the earrings she is wearing at right) for her company and for Mouawad is copied from from Van Cleef's vintage Alhambra jewelry line. The suit, filed in Manhattan federal court, seeks a relatively modest amount, just $25,000 in damages. It is true that Klum and Van Cleef and Arpels use the same shape in their designs but it's about as original as using a an open heart in jewelry.
William Koch Alleges Another Wine Fraud
I just mentioned him yesterday and now William Koch, the deep-pocketed wine collector who made news earlier this year when he sued German collector Hardy Rodenstock over wines owned by Thomas Jefferson that proved to be counterfeit, is on the warpath again. The Wall Street Journal reports that Koch filed a lawsuit in New York City in regards to a 2005 Zachys auction where he spent $3.7 million on what he thought were rare Bordeaux wines but later turned out to be fake. He says he was led to buy the wine by the collector, Eric Greenberg, who allegedly knew that some of the bottles were fakes because he had already commissioned the head of Christie's wine department and another wine expert to check them out. The suit also says that Greenberg himself had received a settlement from the wine merchant who had sold him the wines. The lawsuit doesn't says that Zachys knew the wine was counterfeit.Decanter also reports that Eric Greenberg was the consignor behind Acker Merrall & Condit's recent "The Man With the Golden Cellar" auction which brought in $15,563,359. Greenberg's lawyer says the lawsuit charges are false and the Greenberg would never sell wine he knew to be counterfeit. Still, the buyers from that most recent auction have to be a bit unnerved.
Jackson Auction Next Month, Michael's Upset
If you're a Jackson fan then you'll be happy to know that at the end of next month there's an auction scheduled with over 1,100 Jackson family items set to go up on the block. One person who isn't so happy about it, however, is the biggest Jackson of all -- Michael himself.Items available for bidding will include everything from handwritten lyrics to the old Jackson 5 hit ABC to Michael Jackson's gold record for Thriller. Michael claims he had no idea his memorabilia was going to be included in the auction, and is considering possible legal action to stop it.
I can see how it would be sad to see somebody else selling off your old stuff for a profit, but as far as lawsuits go I can't imagine anybody would try to auction off celebrity property, especially Jackson property in such a public way, unless they had the right to do so? But you never know, people can be pretty crazy.
Google's Larry and Sergey having Plane Problems
Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have gotten in some legal hot water over the design of their 767-200 that they're trying to have outfitted. First, there was arguing between the two Google guys as to who go what room and what to put in them, as well as silly things such as hammocks in a plane and the overall party nature of the jet in general. Then, the designer was terminated from the project for not properly doing his work, and even more lawsuits fly. Either way, the 767 is gorgeous, and if you're in the San Antonio area, it may still be over by the Piedmont Hawthorne hangar at SAT, so swing by and take a look, it was there a month ago.Man Sues Wal-Mart Over Fake Handbags
The Louis Vuitton group isn't the only one filing suit against Wal-Mart Inc. for allegedly selling counterfeit handbags. A doctor in Kentucky has also filed a suit against the company for selling him fake Prada bags and representing them as real.
After purchasing three bags, he sent one to his sister, living in Italy, as a gift. When the bag started to fall apart, she took it to the Prada factory for repairs and they informed her that it was a fake. A Wal-Mart spokesperson says that the company is prepared to show that their bags are real, while Prada says that Wal-Mart is not one of their clients.
[Thanks, Jordan]
Fendi Fights Fakes at Wal-Mart
Fendi has filed suit against Wal-Mart after accusing the retailer of selling counterfeit bags while representing them as the real thing. The bags in question were sold at the warehouse Sam's Club stores, which are owned by Wal-Mart. Fendi asserts that Wal-Mart never purchased products from them, nor did they inquire as to the authenticity of the goods they were buying from their suppliers. As the stores were selling the bags for 45% below retail, it does seem quite possible that they "fell off the back of a truck" somewhere, though Wal-Mart declined to comment.
Somehow, the "don't ask, don't tell" acquisition strategy seems like it is most effective when purchasing a single bag in a back alley somewhere - though still not great from the designer's perspective - than when the world's largest retailer, already under a lot of scrutiny, starts buying them in bulk.
Melanie Griffith Sued by Designer
It looks like Jessica Simpson isn't the only one being sued over a dispute with a
designer. Melanie Griffith is being sued for breach
of contract by Niklas J. Palm, a Los Angeles-based, Emmy-winning designer, for $26,000 to pay for three gowns. The
dresses were worn by Griffith and her two daughters at the Golden Globes and provided for free in exchange for a
mention of his name on the red carpet. Not only did she did not mention that the gowns were designed by Palm when
interviewed, but Griffith claimed that she designed the gowns herself.
Trump Sues
No one can claim Trump doesn't think big, especially
when it comes to real estate and lawsuits. Not only is he working on a 45-story luxury condo high-rise in Philly,
he's decided to file a defamation lawsuit against Warner Books and author Timothy O'Brien for publishing claims
that Trump's net worth is considerably lower than he claims. Trump is seeking $2.5 billion in compensatory damages and
$2.5 billion in punitive damages. Trump said in a statement, "Rather than sitting back and letting false
statements be published without challenge, I believe it is important to expose irresponsible, malicious and false
reporting." The book claims Trump's worth "somewhere between $150 million and $250 million."
