 Heath Ledger: Lawsuit filed against paparazzi
A new turn has come in the drama centering on the mysterious death of Heath Ledger. On Friday a lawsuit was filed against a photo agency of Hollywood. The accusation was that two paparazzi had supplied cocaine to Heath Ledger with the ulterior motive of secretly recording this act of snorting the drug in a video tape. Such act was conducted so that Heath Ledger, known to be involved into drug abuse, could be caught red handed. It was done on January 29, 2006 inside a Chateau Marmont hotel on Hollywood's Sunset Strip. At that time Ledger was present to attend an "after-party" for celebrating his winning of the Screen Actors Guild Award for the film titled "Brokeback Mountain."
More details are being put forth in the lawsuit. According to it, few days after the sad demise of Heath Ledger, a portion of this footage also has been broadcasted on two of U.S. television shows. This has initiated much hullabaloo in Hollywood. News is that record was sold to media outlets around the world including Britain and Australia.
It has also been claimed that Heath Ledger’s video generated revenues of over $1 million in revenues. However as the demand of the suit, this lump sum amount has to be surrendered as a penalty under a California state law that states that a paparazzi needs to chuck off any gains that has been obtained through illegal means.
The grainy video also surfaced on a multiple web sites. However Heath Ledger was not seen using drugs. He only could be heard admitting to the fact that he smoked marijuana in the past.
The woman behind the suit, the plaintiff, has been reported to be an ex-freelancer for a popular magazine. However since last year she has not been associated with the magazine any more. As per the suit, almost being unaware of the motive she accompanied the two paparazzi, one of whom she was going around at the time of the Heath Ledger’s mishap.
However Sandi Shurgin Werfel, spokesperson of the magazine commented "We heard about an alleged encounter with Ledger, but there were too many questions surrounding the circumstances for us to write about it."
"This is bad stuff. You don't give drug addicts drugs so you can then tape them," affirmed Douglas Johnson, an attorney of the plaintiff. More comments are incorporated.
Referring his client as a “kind of whistle-blower" in the case, he has brought about accusation against those involved in such heinous act like picture service and its employees. He has added "She does not seek publicity by the filing of this lawsuit ... but she does want to expose the bad actions".
Claiming the alleged scheme "damages her reputation by the inference that she somehow participated with paparazzi in the drugging and hidden taping of Mr. Ledger," the suit seeks damages for fraud and intrusion of one’s private life.
Not only that, the reaction of the plaintiff also has been gathered. In fact she is reported to have narrated briefly about what exactly happened on that day. She clarified that after meeting and befriending Heath Ledger in the hotel lounge, her date and his colleague invited the actor back to her hotel room, where they supplied package of cocaine. After all three men began puffing the drug. It is also said that Heath Ledger also had brought some cocaine of his own.
Later, one of the two photographers left the room and went to the balcony. From there they began to shoot Heath Ledger, who was quite oblivion of this secret act of the photographers. When Heath realized about the secret shooting he got infuriated. However he was being given the assurance that the video would be destroyed. In addition Heath Ledger was supplied with more cocaine and also was being persuaded to remain several hours more. These points are mentioned in the suit.
However Heath Ledger’ publicist refused to put forward any comment about the litigation.  |