Colombian model Lina Posada, left, and model/actress Nikki Leigh. Photos by Charly W. Karl/Flickr4 Models Sue Connecticut Night Clubs for Allegedly Using Their Images in Misleading Advertising
Nikki Leigh, Rachel Koren, Brenda Lynn Geiger and Lina Posada filed two lawsuits against Evolution Sports Bar and Lounge in Bridgeport and New Haven-based Club Vandome.
July 01, 2019 at 12:18 PM
3 minute read
Four models filed two federal lawsuits alleging Connecticut night clubs were using their names to promote businesses without the women's approval or consent.
The lawsuits were e-filed Saturday in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. One lawsuit was filed on behalf of Nikki Leigh and Rachel Koren against Bridgeport-based Evolution Sports Bar and Lounge. The other suit, filed by Brenda Lynn Geiger and Lina Posada, named New Haven-based Club Vandome as a defendant.
The same attorneys filed both lawsuits, which were similar in their allegations: The clubs allegedly took the photos off the models' websites and used them in advertising. The lawsuits allege the clubs have misled their patrons into believing the models support the establishments or have danced there.
Both lawsuits state that “in certain cases defendants misappropriated plaintiffs' advertising ideas because the images they misappropriated came from plaintiffs' own social media pages, which each plaintiff used to market herself to potential clients, grow her fan base, and build and maintain her brand.”
The alleged photo thefts, the lawsuits claim, “have caused each plaintiff to suffer substantial damages.”
The lawsuits seek unspecified monetary and punitive damages and orders permanently enjoining the defendants from using the women's images to promote the clubs.
Representing the women are New Haven-based solo practitioner John Radshaw III and John Golaszewski of The Casas Law Firm's New York City offices. Radshaw did not respond to a request for comment Monday and Golaszewski declined to comment.
Diomedes Feliz and Guido Feliz own Evolution Sports Bar and Lounge. The establishment is closed on Mondays, and both men have unlisted telephone numbers. Club Vandome is also closed on Mondays. Its owner William Santiaga could not be reached by press time.
The women's attorneys filed a similar lawsuit June 5 on behalf of six other models against Waterbury strip club Mr. Happy's Cafe. The lawsuits follow similar litigation in Texas, Florida and Illinois that have included high-profile plaintiffs such as Joanna Krupa, who appeared on “Real Housewives of Miami” and “Dancing with the Stars.”
The four plaintiffs in Saturday's lawsuit have careers across multiple industries. Geiger is a model and actress who appeared with eight-time Grammy nominee rapper Lil Wayne in singer Keri Hilton's music video “Ms. Officer.” Geiger also has been featured in Glamour magazine as well as such men's magazines as Show, Maxim and Raw.
Posada is a California-based fashion model and designer. She is best known for her appearances in the Besame and Espiral lingerie collection photo shoots. She has more than 500,000 YouTube views and nearly 100,000 Instagram followers.
Leigh will soon be cast in two feature films, according to information in the lawsuit. Her most recent film, “Silencer,” is on Amazon, iTunes and Netflix, among others. Leigh's other credits include CBS's “Two And A Half Men,” “NCIS” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
Koren is an international model. Her acting credits include an episode of “The Closer” and the movie “Date Night.”
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