Celebrity Justice
Sacha's Alleged Victim -- Injuries 'Life-Altering'

The attorney for the woman who claims Sacha Baron Cohen assaulted her during the filming of "Bruno" says Cohen has radically changed her life -- for the worse.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Kyle Madison of the Madison Law Group calls the injuries Richelle Olson suffered "life-altering." Olson says in her lawsuit Cohen showed up at her charity bingo match for the elderly back in 2007 in his Bruno character, and began calling numbers in a vulgar, offensive way. The suit claims ... when Olson tried grabbing the mic away ... Cohen physically assaulted her. Olson says she suffered brain bleeds and sometimes requires assistance walking.

Madison tells TMZ, "The actions of Mr. Cohen and those acting in concert with him have resulted in life-altering injuries to my client. My focus is her well-being and to secure a fair, just and equitable remedy for her claims."

Madison says Olson's suit is different from the people who sued Cohen over the "Borat" movie. Those people suffered humiliation -- Olson's injuries are physical and severe. "This claim is distinguishable from Mr. Cohen's previous lawsuits as a defendant," Madison says.

To read Madison's full statement to TMZ, click here.



Tags: bruno, lawsuit, Richelle Olson, RichelleOlson, sacha baron cohen, SachaBaronCohen

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(Page 2 of 3) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. we heard you the first time.

Posted at 7:18AM on Jun 5th 2009 by The world is going to hell.

17. >>>>>>14. Chronic pain and other nervous system-related syndromes can develop from seemingly trivial causes. That being said, that may or may not be the case here - but it IS possible,

Posted at 8:24AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Hmph

18. This is a crying Shame, the Lady invites this person (slime ball) into her Bingo, in good faith! and he went into a whole different direction,then when she seen it was a rouse, and she and her bingo players were being taken for a perverted and sick ride she attempts to stop it and is badly injured ,, she should not only sue his ass ,,but all of them responsible for this no tallent (slime ball) and those that are his $$$ backers maby then they will get sick of going to court for putting his (ass) sry emmn.. in the public view. Cohen should be prosecuted to the fullist extent of the law. There is a thing called personal accountabilty and this would be the perfect time for him to learn such a lesson! P.S. Haters... and you know who you are... "Get A Life" if it were you or your mother, hurt ,or taken advantage of you would go after there ass too..(sry emmn)

Posted at 8:39AM on Jun 5th 2009 by youallgetalife

19. SBC is brilliant. But he does pick on the most vunerable people which just makes him seem mean. Really, how hard is it to find comedy in the deep south at an evangelical rally, or at a rodeo? In his new movie (Bruno) he picks on old ladies at a Bingo hall? C'mon Sasha, that's just lazy---like shooting fish in a barrel. What's next--------making fun of patients in a mental hospial? I'd like to see him prove his mettle in a more challenging venue---------maybe on Wall Street. Better yet, how 'bout in Hollywood chasing the paps around? Now THAT would be funny.

Posted at 8:42AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Hmph

20. Actually, in this case the woman seems to be claiming she suffered a subdural or epidural hematoma as a result of whatever altercation went on. Except in the quite elderly, it's not reasonably within the realm to suffer this kind of injury without a pretty severe blow to the head.
And comparing Cohen's stuff to, say, 'bumfights' and entertainment of that ilk is totally disingenuous. Whereas Cohen uses a simple and ridiculous character to encourage people to demonstrate what assholes they are (at least that's what it was in Borat), shows like that represent assholes and idiots taking out their frustrations by inflicting harm on anyone whom they can make the butt of their bullying.

Posted at 8:54AM on Jun 5th 2009 by El Harlo

21. I wish he would take a one-way trip to Iran and try out his "humor" on them.
I can't stand that fool...

Posted at 8:59AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Lyn

22. Self-serving narcissists are not pretty. Nor are they particularly amusing.
I think in Cohen's last stunt, he was subconsciously channeling Icarus; he knows the gig is up.
Cohen may indeed be too close to the sun..

Posted at 9:01AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Winsome Davis III

23. Five ex`s cocain booze NONE of that killed BILL.BILL was alone wack N off like most guys Do when they are away from the wife.He was 72 years old and needed his fix of orgasmic to stay in the moment and to go to sleep so he could be on top of his game in the AM.He played his little old man sex slave locked up act on himself HE was a actor after all and lived in a dream world.He had his orgasmic and a heart attack all those years of cigs coke and booze and his age lead to his death.The ropes only held the little old man sex slave in place waiting for his wife or someone to find him but he was all alone on the road again and dead.NO crime here no demeaning just a old man without his wife on the raod in his room wacking off like any joe american does.Five wifes and 72 years old maybe he did`nt want the ruin this marrage so he stayed in his room and didn`t go after the pusspuss like he had screwed up many marrages before.If the wife had been there she would have called in a 911 but he was gone anyway as a old man working still on the road in the moment.

Posted at 9:03AM on Jun 5th 2009 by WHO KILLED BILL?

24. RE: Who Killed Bill

I think you've prepared yourself for the Dr. Phil show but you've actually shown up on the Weather Network.

Posted at 9:09AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Winsome Davis III

25. This is all publicity for his upcoming movie. I am good friends with Richelle and this whole thing was dreamed up years ago.

Posted at 9:20AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Bubbl0

26. boycott this stupid movie for real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 10:12AM on Jun 5th 2009 by juan locdog

27. She was my teacher in 3rd grade and this is all a huge scam. Her and Sacha are actually good friends. All this mess will be sorted out once the movie comes out.

Posted at 9:31AM on Jun 5th 2009 by Bubbl0

28. it reminds me of Jerry Springer, except he goes to the situation and parodies the people : it is very condescending in a way....... but really creates an interesting discourse and forces people to examine their assumed behavior patterns

Posted at 9:39AM on Jun 5th 2009 by akpakpx

29. she looks like a cross between that wanna be 40's stripper that MM was married to and the willis kid with the huge chin. ugly as sin!

Posted at 10:16AM on Jun 5th 2009 by curious

30. To Ohio reader--Calling the police is good advice to consider before getting physical with any stranger. Had she not initiated physical contact with Sacha, she would not have gotten hurt. It was stupid of her to grab the mic from an unknown man behaving in a peculiar fashion. I'd be surprised if her injuries were intentional on his part; he won't strike her with the cameras rolling. More likely she set an accident into motion by physical confronting a stranger.

To Dr. Trish--On the contrary, when 'normies" sign the waiver he gives them, they do sign up. Perhaps not to be made fools of, but to allow themselves to be filmed. They are excited to put on camera. Their narcissism overcomes their common sense; otherwise they'd say "No, thank you." Additionally, Cohen has to film hundreds of hours of stuff to get 90 minutes of usable footage. That means that most people are well behaved in reacting to his characters. You have to make an ass of yourself to get into his movies. And reacting like a jerk is strictly voluntary.

To Tricia--He graduated from Cambridge with honors while being heavily involved in extra-curriculars. As a teacher, I'm impressed.

Posted at 3:47PM on Jun 26th 2009 by anon

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