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When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
I'm wondering how common this type of thing is, since writers of television shows often reveal they get names and character's traits from real people in their own lives.
http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_New...9481243098467/ LOS ANGELES, May 23 (UPI) -- Two real estate agents allege in a Los Angeles County lawsuit a "CSI" producer named two morally challenged characters on the TV series after them. Real estate agents Scott and Melinda Tamkin allege in a Los Angeles County Superior Court defamation and invasion of privacy lawsuit that "CSI" producer Sarah Goldfinger created corrupt characters using their names, the Los Angeles Times said Saturday. The agents allege in the suit that Goldfinger cost them potential business and embarrassed them "by creating from whole cloth characters engaged in a reckless lifestyle of sexual bondage, pornography, drunkenness, marital discord, depression, financial straits and possibly even murder." The characters from the "CSI" episode, "Deep Fried and Minty Fresh," were named Scott and Melinda Tamkin, but were portrayed as conniving real estate agents who engaged in sadomasochism, the report said. The Reporter said the Tamkins previously dealt with Goldfinger on an unsuccessful house sale four years ago. The $6 million suit also names CBS, Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Goldman, Sachs Capital Partners as co-defendants. |
Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
The worst case scenario from this is that CBS will probably let Goldfinger go. Actually she isn't even a "official" staff member of the show and isn't under contract. She's labeled as a "Consulting Producer" which is only a part-timer who helps out with the show occasionally.
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
She was originally an executive story editor, then a supervising producer. Perhaps she limited her role on the show herself, so if she is let go it wouldn't be that big of a deal to her.
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
I didn't get upset when they named the ripped firefighter "Kevin Nelson" on Private Practice, and therefore they shouldn't be upset either!
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
I'd actually be more likely to do business with real estate people that were into kinky sex and S&M, but that's just me. ;)
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Hm. Wonder why this slipped by. Legal departments are supposed to spend all night and day researching names - for exactly this reason. And any names that pop up have to be changed, or that person has to sign a waiver. It's just part of the production process, I thought.
Second, I guess the housing business must really be in the dumps if someone has to lower themselves like that. I mean, really, I know CSI is popular for CBS. But how many people would actually ever relate the two? Those real estate agents must have some inflate egos to think anyone gives a shit about them. Our maybe it's just LA-folks douchbaggery. I hope they get nothing. |
Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Originally Posted by troystiffler
(Post 9464752)
Hm. Wonder why this slipped by. Legal departments are supposed to spend all night and day researching names - for exactly this reason. And any names that pop up have to be changed, or that person has to sign a waiver.
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
I can see basing your characters on real people, but it seems like the ultimate in laziness to not even bother to change the names.
If you just wrote some asshole characters that were like people you knew but with different names, how many people would actually try and say it was really them? :lol: |
Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Originally Posted by troystiffler
(Post 9464752)
Hm. Wonder why this slipped by. Legal departments are supposed to spend all night and day researching names - for exactly this reason. And any names that pop up have to be changed, or that person has to sign a waiver. It's just part of the production process, I thought.
Second, I guess the housing business must really be in the dumps if someone has to lower themselves like that. I mean, really, I know CSI is popular for CBS. But how many people would actually ever relate the two? Those real estate agents must have some inflate egos to think anyone gives a shit about them. Our maybe it's just LA-folks douchbaggery. I hope they get nothing. |
Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Originally Posted by Groucho
(Post 9464757)
This doesn't happen at all. Otherwise everybody on TV shows and movies would be named Fkddlfkrr Smoorkely.
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
:lol: You out-Grouchoed Groucho!
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Originally Posted by actionjackson29
(Post 9464807)
This doesn't seem like some frivolous lawsuit. Portraying someone you don't like in a bad light and being stupid enough not to at least change the names you're setting yourself up to be sued. People with a lot worse cases have gotten money out of it.
It is unlikely that they have anyone that actually told them that they were not going to hire them because of this one episode. Not to mention, the real estate market sucks right now, so any decline in business is likely due to the economy and housing market, not this single episode of a TV show. |
Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Originally Posted by sherm42
(Post 9465176)
Except that it is going to be very difficult for these plaintiffs to prove they have suffered damages. How can they prove that anyone decided not to use them as real estate agents because of one episode of CSI where their names were changed in the episode that aired?
It is unlikely that they have anyone that actually told them that they were not going to hire them because of this one episode. Not to mention, the real estate market sucks right now, so any decline in business is likely due to the economy and housing market, not this single episode of a TV show. |
Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Originally Posted by Groucho
(Post 9464757)
This doesn't happen at all. Otherwise everybody on TV shows and movies would be named Fkddlfkrr Smoorkely.
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Are you seriously suggesting that every name in every movie is 100% unique? :lol:
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Originally Posted by DJariya
(Post 9464357)
The worst case scenario from this is that CBS will probably let Goldfinger go. Actually she isn't even a "official" staff member of the show and isn't under contract. She's labeled as a "Consulting Producer" which is only a part-timer who helps out with the show occasionally.
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Over the years none of the "Morally Challenged Characters" names have stayed in my head longer than 24 hours, much less changed any business dealings of mine.
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
Originally Posted by Groucho
(Post 9465834)
Are you seriously suggesting that every name in every movie is 100% unique? :lol:
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Re: When inspiration leads to defamation: CSI writer being sued!
I'd think they'd at least screen names for married couples and similar occupations. I mean, in this case the husband and wife's names and business were the same...
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