(CN) - More than a dozen models and actresses claim in court that Florida strip clubs are using their photos in advertisements without permission.
In a complaint filed in the Pinellas County Circuit Court, the plaintiffs claim Mile High Gentlemen's Club and a half dozen similar clubs in the county used photos on their Facebook pages and in advertising that suggest the woman have an affiliation with the bars that is, in reality, nonexistent.
One ad cited in the lawsuit features a sexy picture of one of the plaintiffs with the caption: "Without these suspenders my bottoms would never stay on!" Another shows a plaintiff's busty photo with the caption, "How do you think they got so big?"
Other advertisements give the impression the models work at the bar or advertise appear on theme nights.
The women say not only did the clubs not ask permission to use their likenesses, but "because of the salacious nature of the industry ... use of the images is causing and will continue to cause plaintiffs permanent damage, irreparable harm, loss of future earnings and ability to conduct business."
The plaintiffs include Tiffany Toth, who has posed for Playboy, Seventeen, Maxim and automotive-themed magazines; Carrie Minter, who has appeared in ads for Ferrari, J.C. Penny and Gillette.; Tamara Witmer, who played in a Lingerie Bowl halftime show for the 2005 Super Bowl and appeared in Kid Rock's "Rock N' Roll Jesus" music video; and
Ursula Mayes first modeled in Maxim magazine and went on to advertise with Volkswagen, Subaru and Bacardi, in addition to game shows.
The other plaintiffs include Joana Krupa, most recent scene in season nine of
"Dancing with the Stars"; Jesse Golden; Amanda Cerny, English model Emma Glover, Dominican ballet soloist Rosa Acosta, Dessie Mitcheson and German model Jordan Carver.
They seek general, special and consequential damages on claims of invasion of privacy and negligence.
The plaintiffs are represented by Ludmila Khomiak of the Casas Law Firm in Miami. She did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment.
Mile High Gentlemen's Club also did not respond to e-mail requests for comment.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
Additional Reads
-
Feds argue against giving pandemic relief money to strip clubs November 1, 2021 -
Feds Have No Duty to Subsidize Strip Clubs in a Pandemic, Judge Rules September 11, 2020