Bingo Melee Shot for New Movie Sparks New Litigation for 'Borat' Actor & Studio
A new reality-based movie in which observers react to the outlandish antics of Borat actor Sacha Baron Cohen is creating work for defense lawyers even before its scheduled July 10 release date.
Claiming that she was disabled during a struggle for a microphone at a California bingo tournament after Baron Cohen began using vulgar language while calling a game amidst the primarily elderly players, Richelle Olson has sued the actor and NBC Universal in state court there. It isn’t clear whether the microphone battle will be included in Baron Cohen’s new movie, Bruno, in which he plays the title role of “a flamboyantly gay Austrian fashionista,” the Associated Press reports.
Olson says she has had to use a wheelchair and a cane since hitting her head in a fall immediately after the incident two years ago. She is seeking unspecified damages in excess of $25,000, the news agency writes.
The suit asserts claims of assault, battery and fraudulent misrepresentation, among other allegations, reports the BBC.
The AP says its phone messages to the actor and the movie studio weren’t immediately returned.
Litigation also was pursued by multiple plaintiffs against Baron Cohen’s 2006 movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. The surprise hit reportedly earned $125 million in the United States.
Additional and related coverage:
TMZ: “Sacha Baron Cohen Sued Over Bingo Melee”
TMZ: “Meet the Woman Who’s Suing Bruno”
ABAJournal.com (2008): “Judge Dismisses ‘Borat’ Suit, Says Movie Is Vulgar But of Social Value”
ABAJournal.com (2008): “‘Borat’ Filmmakers Win Legal Battle”
