Why Carmen Electra and other models and actresses are suing strip clubs across the country
Cameron Knight
Professional models and actresses, including Carmen Electra, Megan Daniels and Jaime Edmondson Longoria, have sued more than 50 strip clubs and adult entertainment venues in federal court in at least eight states.
The models say these clubs use their photos in advertisements and promotions without permission and without pay. Court documents state these ads also mislead consumers because these models have never appeared or worked at the clubs using their photos.
The Enquirer found active cases in Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Colorado and Ohio.
Fourteen models filed suit against a Columbus, Ohio swing club on Wednesday. This is the 13th such suit filed in Ohio this year, and some suits name multiple clubs.
The models submitted more than 100 pages of Facebook and Twitter promotions to the court advertising events like "The Little Black Dress Party," "Hot Fudge Party," "Lingerie Party" and a "Peek A Boob See Thru Party."
On its website, Club Princeton calls itself an "exclusive BYOB on-premise swing club... The club caters to its members offering a classy, liberated facility to explore your passions or watch and admire others."
Over the phone, a man at Club Princeton indicated he was unaware of the lawsuit. A lawyer named in the complaint as representing the club declined to comment.
The lawsuit states Club Princeton used and altered images of professional models to promote events at the club.
Photos of Electra, a native of Sharonville, Ohio, appeared in a promotion for $10 table dances at Tiffany's Cabaret in San Antonio, Texas, court documents state.
A photo of Longoria, wife of the San Francisco Giant’s third baseman, appeared in one promotion. Her image was used by a Warren County club to promote $10 lap dances, according to the suit.
The models said these clubs have no rights to use the image. The complaint states the models depend on their reputation and that being associated with certain brands or activities can be harmful to their careers.
The lawsuits against each club have different models as plaintiffs, but there are many models involved in multiple cases. At least 20 different models are involved in various cases.
Lawyers at the Burg Simpson law firm in Cincinnati are representing the models in Ohio. Representatives for the firm said it appears to be a widely used tactic in the adult entertainment club industry to exploit the images of professionals. They added the advertisements and promotions often appear on social media.
In Ohio, the complaints accuse the clubs of invasion of privacy, negligence, unjust enrichment and other violations of trade practices, but the exact charges in each suit vary from state to state.
The lawsuits seek to force the clubs to remove all of the images from their websites and social media platforms and ask for the court to award damages to the models.
Ohio clubs whose owners or former owners have been sued:
- Evolution Gentlemen's Club, Akron
- Mars Men's Club, Akron
- Crazy Horse Mens Club, Bedford
- Crazy Horse Cabaret, Brook Park
- Diamond Royale, Canton
- Crazy Horse Cleveland, Cleveland
- Diamond Club, Cleveland
- Club Princeton, Columbus
- Private Dancer Club, Columbus
- Sinbad's, Columbus
- Daly's Limited, Columbus
- Centerfold Club, Columbus
- New York New York, Franklin
- The Top Hat Gentlemen’s Club, Manfield
- Diamond Lodge, Rootstown
- Lust Gentlemen's Club, Toledo
- Platinum Showgirls, Toledo