Celebrity Justice
Borat Lawsuit -- High Five!!!

How's this for the beginning of a lawsuit filed today in Los Angeles County Superior Court? -- "Sacha Baron Cohen is a prankster."Click to view documents

Two anonymous plaintiffs are suing 20th Century Fox and One America Productions, claiming members of their college fraternity were interviewed to become part of the smash "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" film.

The plaintiffs -- listed as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 -- were allegedly assured the film would not be shown in the U.S. and their identities would not be revealed.

They were both selected to appear in the movie and, according to the suit, taken "to a drinking establishment 'to loosen up' and provided alcoholic beverages." They claim they signed the movie releases after "heavy drinking."

The suit claims both men were then taken to a motor home where they were filmed, all the while "encouraged to continue drinking."

The movie features a scene in a motor home where Cohen gets drunk with three frat boys who go on a racist rant about how they wished they had slaves and how minorities in the United States "have all the power."

According to the lawsuit, the frat boys only received $200 for the controversial appearance.

The plaintiffs claim they suffered "humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional and physical distress, loss of reputation, goodwill and standing in the community..." because the movie was indeed released in the U.S.

The suit asks for unspecified damages.

Calls to 20th Century Fox were not immediately returned.



Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Movies

Reader Comments

(Page 4 of 16)Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. To Jo Neumann? I cannot beleive you made such a disgusting ignorant racist comment. Sacha Baron Cohen (the guy who plays Borat) IS a Jew, yes, BUT he MAKES FUN OF JEWS ALL THRU THE MOVIE. How can you say he only makes funs of other people and not Jews. Another ignorant person who comments about a movie they havent seen! And I am not Jewish, before you open your mouth.

Posted at 1:20AM on Nov 10th 2006 by teeks

47. their rights were violated, they were lied to. even if they were dispicable, the production and sasha led them, lied to them and broke the law. they grossly violated the privacy of these guys by lying.

Posted at 1:33AM on Nov 10th 2006 by tanya

48. As an experienced (16 yr plus) Civil Litigation Paralegal (my brief on my largest civil case was published at Allen v. Allen (2002) 275 F.3rd 1160) I find these guys ("Plaintiffs"), and their lawsuit, to be "Cartoonish" at best. FIRST: The Complaint is VERY poorly written (notice the high CA Bar Numbers of the inexperienced attorneys at the top left of the Complaint). It contains very casual, almost "juvenile" language and verbage that makes me wonder where/when these "attorneys" learned to draft pleadings (I would be most ashamed to show that work product to an attorney I worked for). SECOND: They have NO claim. They are suing because the film is allegedly making money, and now they have "buyers" remorse. Drunk'n slobs--get a job, or an education, or, preferrably BOTH and do something with their own job. THIRD. This action will Summary J out for the defendants I'm sure. True Litigation is like a knife fight in a phone booth and only one of you gets to walk away--these guys forgot to bring their knives.

Posted at 2:35AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Scott (TheNightMaven)

49. the idiots!

i thought for sure that scene had to be staged because of their stupidity. but if they didn't want to expose themselves for really being the nimrods that they looked like they would have kept quiet and played it off like they were in on the joke.

Posted at 3:27AM on Nov 10th 2006 by blimey rot

50. Suing the people behind the movie will only make it more popular. I just admire Sascha Cohen's ability to "interview" people. LOL. ALI G is hilarious as well!

Posted at 5:35AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Ivy Research

51. I agree with #2 and also think they are suing because the movie is doing well and they want more $$$$$. That's how it is in America these days -- something or someone is doing well, well, hell, let's find some way to get in on the action -- oh, yes -- let's get a sleezy lawyer, that's the trick.

Posted at 6:35AM on Nov 10th 2006 by sylvia ruthven

52. Unspecified damages: They want a role in the next movie!

Posted at 6:49AM on Nov 10th 2006 by frat boy 1983

53. If they were stupid enough to have signed a movie releases without asking for a share of the profit, then they should get nothing.

Why would you sit around with other men and watch a sex tape ? Not to mention a stranger.. in a motor home.

Posted at 7:13AM on Nov 10th 2006 by sourapples

54. Considering the poor grammar and spelling, I doubt that many of the posters here ever attended college. Let alone belonged to a frat. Perhaps they should stick to comments on subjects they know. Hear say, like the movies, seldom reflects reality. Breaking a contract is serious business. The kids deserve their day in court. To those few posters; Learning a few words with more than four letters can be rewarding!

Posted at 7:46AM on Nov 10th 2006 by James Taylor

55. These guys should have thought ahead before drinking on film. The judge must resist the urge to censor Borat. Censorship is becoming America's favorite past-time. The US gov't (and their corporate friends), already detain protestors, ban books like "America Deceived" from Amazon and Wikipedia, and fire 21-year tenured, BYU physics professor Steven Jones because he proved explosives, thermite in particular, took down the WTC buildings. Don't touch Borat.

Posted at 8:00AM on Nov 10th 2006 by John Q. Public

56. I agree with #2 and #5 they are doing tha tonly because movie is doing sooo good.

Posted at 8:14AM on Nov 10th 2006 by GentleTip.com

57. TOO MANY F***ING LAWYERS IN THE FREE WORLD - HIGH FIVE!

Posted at 8:19AM on Nov 10th 2006 by JR

58. maybe this two plaintiffs were still drunk

Posted at 8:53AM on Nov 10th 2006 by car videos

59. I agree with most of the comments. This is absurd. I hope Borat/Fox gets damages out of those stupid frat boys for bringing a frivolous lawsuit. You frat boys were filmed by a obvious "commodian". You enjoyed making asses of yourselves. You signed a release. Get over it.

Posted at 9:08AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Andrew P

60. What a couple of candy-asses.

Posted at 9:08AM on Nov 10th 2006 by jeff

Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

Hot Tips