Casey Anthony agrees to pay $25K to bankruptcy estate to retain rights to her life story
A bankruptcy trustee won’t pursue “exclusive worldwide rights” to Casey Anthony’s story in exchange for her agreement to pay $25,000 to help pay creditors.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Rodney May of Tampa approved the settlement on Wednesday, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
The parties agreed to the $25,000 settlement after they were unable to find case law on trustee Stephen Meininger’s proposal to sell Anthony’s story rights, the story says. The settlement will avoid a legal fight over the issue, according to a joint filing in the case. Anthony was acquitted in 2011 in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.
Anthony’s lawyers had maintained her story exists only in her mind and a forced sale would invade her private thoughts and First Amendment rights.
Anthony listed nearly $800,000 in debt when she sought bankruptcy protection in January. She said in a creditors meeting that she has been out of work since the trial, and is getting financial help from her friends and lawyers.
Prior coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Trustee wants to raise money to pay Casey Anthony’s debts by selling her life story”