Malman Law
Legal News

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Reality Stars

Reality Stars and Personal Injury Lawsuits

Papers were filed by personal injury attorneys in New York State Supreme Court earlier this week alleging that Adolfo Arreola and Jason Gomez were assaulted by cast members from Bravo’s hit show “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” in the Dominican Republic in late February.

One of the housewives, Teresa Giudice, is accused of inciting the brawl when she opened a bottle of champagne and sprayed it all over the group that was with Arreola and Gomez. According to People magazine and personal injury attorneys involved, “the lawsuit claims the champagne ’caused severe eye irritation’ for Arreola’s mother-in-law, Teresa allegedly ‘laughed at, mocked, humiliated, insulted and physically approached’ the offended party.”

The personal injury lawsuit also alleges that Giudice’s husband, Joe, along with Albert Manzo, Albie Manzo and Christopher Manzo attacked the plaintiffs without provocation. The personal injury suit names the previously referenced cast members, along with Bravo, the production company and the Hard Rock Hotel and is seeking unspecified damages.

Chicago personal injury lawyers know that this is just the latest in a long series of lawsuits to come out of reality television. Perhaps it is the notoriety of being on television, or the amount of alcohol sometimes consumed by reality show stars while filming, but it is a recipe for disaster – and personal injury lawsuits naming not only individuals but also large television and production companies like Bravo.

For example, the MTV network has come under fire for reality shows including “The Real World”,  “Teen Mom” and “Jersey Shore.” Just last summer a woman sued MTV along with Viacom and 495 Productions after she was allegedly injured following a fight with a “Jersey Shore” cast member. She went on to allege that the network and production company were involved in racketeering and “actively engaged in a criminal enterprise because it is making money off of advertising sales for a television show promoting criminal behavior,” according to the NY Daily News. The “Jersey Shore” has also come under fire in the past for having individuals sign waivers when they were “clearly intoxicated.”

Chicago personal injury lawyers advise that it is never a good idea to get intoxicated to the point where you do not understand the implications of a legal document you are signing. Additionally, becoming involved in a physical confrontation fueled by intoxication is a poor choice. If you or a family member have been injured by another person, intoxicated or otherwise, you can benefit from the advice of a Chicago personal injury lawyer.