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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Real Housewives Star Sues Swingers Club

Joanna Krupa of "Real Housewives of Miami" fame is among 20 models suing a Tampa-area swingers club for using their images without permission to promote its business.

TAMPA (CN) – Joanna Krupa of "Real Housewives of Miami" fame is among 20 models suing  a Tampa-area swingers club for using their images without permission to promote its business.

In a federal complaint filed in Tampa on March 16, the women claim defendant Eyz Wide Shut has damaged their brands with the use of their pictures on its website and Facebook page.

Also listed as plaintiffs are Playboy model Tiffany Toth and actress and former Seattle Seahawks cheerleader Amber Lancaster.

According to the 356-page complaint, the defendants’ use of the models’ images gives a “false and misleading impression” that the plaintiffs are associated with Eyz Wide Shut.

The complaint claims Eyz Wide Shut used a stolen image of Krupa to advertise numerous events, including “Wet Wednesdays Ladies Night,” “Tempt Me Thursdays” and “Fantasy Friday.”

Each image included the captions “Welcome Swingers, Exhibitionists, Voyeurs, Fetishists, and Lovers of Red Hot Sex” and “we’re halfway through the week and already getting ‘Wet tonight!”

According to the complaint, the defendants continued to use Krupa’s image for promotional purposes.

“In light of the number of uses of Krupa’s Images by Eyz Wide Shut, it is clear that Defendants’ intent was to make Krupa the brand of Eyz Wide Shut,” the complaint says.

The lawsuit alleges Eyz Wide Shut superimposed Lancaster’s image on a flier and posted it to its Facebook page to promote their “Bikers in Bikinis” event as well as an event called “Let’s Get Lucky – Let’s Get Laid.”

Toth’s image was allegedly used to promote the defendants’ “Shake Ya Tailfeather Pre-Thanksgiving Party” as well as its “Erotic Halloween Ball.”

According to the complaint, the defendants have violated the Lanham Act, which “prohibits a party in commercial advertising and promotion from ‘misrepresent[ing] the nature, characteristics, qualities or geographic origin of his or her or another person’s goods, services or commercial activities.’”

The plaintiffs are represented by Miami-based Casas Law Firm.

Representatives of Eyz Wide Shut did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.

Categories / Business, Civil Rights, Criminal, Entertainment, Personal Injury, Regional

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