Woman Sues Over 'Girls Gone Wild'

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

[68skylark]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A woman who bared her breasts at Mardi Gras and got worldwide exposure has sued the producers of the ``Girls Gone Wild'' videos, claiming they invaded her privacy and used her image without permission.

Becky Lynn Gritzke, a Florida State University business major, admits in her lawsuit that she was among the women who removed their tops at Mardi Gras last year in exchange for beads and trinkets.

A month later, Gritzke said, she was surprised to find out that she not only appeared in the video series featuring women baring their bodies, but was also seen in the TV ad and Web site.

Gritzke is seeking unspecified damages.

Ronald E. Guttman, an attorney for MRA Holdings LLC, the video's producers, said there is no privacy protection for people who take their clothes off in public, especially at a big public event where many people have cameras.

Guttman has asked a Florida court to dismiss the lawsuit, which was filed in September.

[68skylark]

I'm as sorry as anyone that no photos accompanied this article.

[Poohbah]

Ronald E. Guttman, an attorney for MRA Holdings LLC, the video's producers, said there is no privacy protection for people who take their clothes off in public, especially at a big public event where many people have cameras.

This makes entirely too much sense...

[Maceman]

I'm guessing that this lawsuit disappears faster than a Clinton promise. She has no case at all.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Worldwide exposure, eh?

[Ward Smythe]

claiming they invaded her privacy and used her image without permission.

She's only p'od 'cause they're making money from it and she's not.

[Exeter]

Yeh, but I bet it'll increase sales of these tapes...

[Wm Bach]

a Florida State University business major

We used to make fun of the female business majors at FSU. They used to not show us their breasts.

[blam]

"there is no privacy protection for people who take their clothes off in public, especially at a big public event where many people have cameras."

I agree. They do the same thing here in Mobile every year during Mardi Gras. Many people will not take their kids to Mardi Gras anymore because of the 'roudiness.'

[arkfreepdom]

Do the crime....do the time.

"Mommy, have you ever been in the movies?"

[ZOOKER]

I say they take it to Judge Judy or the people's court. No coverups!

[11th Earl of Mar]

Becky Lynn Gritzke, a Florida State University business major, admits in her lawsuit that she was among the women who removed their tops at Mardi Gras last year in exchange for beads and trinkets.

She is a business major and made a trade like that? Did she learn nothing in the history lessons where the Indians traded Long Island for beads and trinkets?

[ElConservadorLoco]

A woman who bared her breasts at Mardi Gras and got worldwide exposure has sued the producers of the ``Girls Gone Wild'' videos, claiming they invaded her privacy and used her image without permission.

LMAO only in America. She's probably a retrovirgin too.

[ColdSteelTalon]

This makes as much sense as a stripper complaining that she gets her butt pinched occasionally...

[TADSLOS]

Anyone remember the SNL skit on this from last year? It's priceless.

[oust the louse]

This will get major media attention,followed by a spread in playboy very soon.If she can't re-coup in the court she might as well sell her image to playboy.She'll be worth millions in a few years.

[freedomlover]

I'm as sorry as anyone that no photos accompanied this article.

Actually it almost rises to the level of "abuse". ;)

[Rightwing Canuck]

As an aside, apparently here in Quebec we have a law that states that you can't use someone's image/likeness without their express permission, save for use in a news broadcast. I believe it's the only law in North America with such a law. FYI

[js1138]

Or is that Jugs Judy?

[modern_orthodox]

I bet they put her up to the lawsuit to drum up publicity. After sales go through the roof, she gets a cut.

[FreeTally]

I'm guessing that this lawsuit disappears faster than a Clinton promise. She has no case at all.

Actually, this story has been posted here many months ago when it first came up(unless there are two women here in Tallahassee who are suing these guys). What she is stating(and what was discussed before) is that, although she voluntarily exposed herself, they have been using her pictures to profit(I heard there was a foreign billborad with her picture on it). She actually has a pretty good case. 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.

[Rightwing Canuck]

Oops...that should read:
I believe it's the only place in North America with such a law

[modern_orthodox]

Or is that Jugs Judy?

God no

[Voltage]

One would think photos of someone appearing in public would be public domain, but the heirs of MLK are trying to change for the use of the same. Doesn't make any sense to me.

[Drew68]

She's only p'od 'cause they're making money from it and she's not.

It sounds more like she was good-looking enough that the company decided to single her photo out to advertise their product and she's getting a little more exposure than she bargained for when she bared herself in public.

Still, she shoulda kept her shirt on. Now she's facing the embarrasing consequences of her actions --something people aren't accustomed to doing these days.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

invaded her privacy

She wasn't in private. It is a public event. She asked for it, she got it. She's embarassed. A woman scorned...

[TC Rider]

This makes as much sense as a stripper complaining that she gets her butt pinched occasionally...

An acquaintance took his girlfriend to Mardi Gras last year. He encouraged her to 'show off' and then learned that a lot of guys take her 'showing off' as license to cop a feel. I had a hard time not laughing at him as he told his story.

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

check her out here...

http://www.campuscalendars.com/fsu/september.htm

[E. Pluribus Unum]

http://www.girlsgonewild.com

[Pete]

Text accompanying the photo

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.

[NeoCaveman]

Ummm comments... hehehe

[FreeTally]

This has been discussed before. The issue is that they are profiting from her likeness(her pictures actually) without permission/compensation. Most FR legal experts agreed she has a pretty good case on these grounds. She is an idiot, but she has a legal case. They owe her compensation.

[Brett66]

This will get major media attention,followed by a spread in playboy very soon.If she can't re-coup in the court she might as well sell her image to playboy.She'll be worth millions in a few years.

Yep; She just wants to shake the money tree.

[Romulus]

Actually, it was Manhattan. And the Indians got the better end of the deal, when you recall that the original $24 invested at 6% would be worth $62 Billion today. And that the Dutch lost the colony to the English, while the Indians got to keep their trade goods.

[Azzurri]

Daddy's little girl.

[freedomination]

All she needs to do is copyright her breasts and then hire the MLK attorneys, she will hands down , so to speak..

[Illbay]

Too bad. When I lived in Mobile, over ten years ago, one of the attractions of Mardi Gras in the Azalea City was that it was still family fare, unlike what had taken over New Orleans.

[GeronL]

She was out in public, in a public space, at a public event and she is upset that the public can see her??

[FreeTally]

I hope the remainder of the body is better than the face.

FSU is home to some of THE FINEST WOMEN in the country. Im not sure how it could get any better anywhere else.

[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