Celebrities
Gloria Allred Sues ‘Octomom,’ Alleges Possible Child Labor Violations
Posted May 4, 2009, 04:48 pm CST
By Martha Neil
Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred has filed a petition seeking the appointment of a guardian to protect the financial interests of octuplets born to Nadya Suleman.
In addition to filing the Orange County Superior Court suit on behalf of former child actor and child labor advocate Paul Petersen, Allred has also asked the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to investigate whether the treatment of the eight babies complies with California state law concerning child performers, reports the L.A. Now blog of the Los Angeles Times.
"Rather than choosing to provide her children with a normal life, their mother, Nadya Suleman, has chosen instead to commercially exploit them,” says Allred in a written statement provided to the Times. “We believe that the babies are entitled to remuneration, since much, if not most, of the compensation appears to be for the use of their images.”
Suleman, who is known as "Octomom," reportedly has allowed the infants to be filmed by the RadarOnline.com celebrity website and is marketing still photographs of them through a professional agency.
Additional coverage:
Associated Press: "Child Advocate Wants Octuplet Guardian Appointed"
N.Y. Daily News: "Octomom Nadya Suleman sued by celeb lawyer Gloria Allred for exploiting her babies"
ABAJournal.com: "‘Octomom’ Nadya Suleman Seeks Trademark of Tabloid Moniker"
Update at 9:10 p.m. to add link to Associated Press coverage.
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