The lawsuit against the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna is officially moving forward.
The actress and author was accused of violating copyright laws by posting photographs that were taken of her, by an agency that now demands $1.5 million in damages.
Lisa is the second RHOBH cast member to face a lawsuit this year. Her longtime friend Erika Jayne was tied to a number of lawsuits involving Erika’s estranged husband, Tom Girardi, who was accused of embezzling money from his former clients.
Certain court documents were acquired by Radar Online, revealing details about Lisa’s lawsuit. A judge has issued a trial date for the proceedings, which will now begin on July 12, 2022.
At that time, Lisa must go to the courthouse and (most likely) will be sworn in to testify. The trial will last two to three days.
Lisa claimed the photo agency has a history of “setting up” celebrities in order to bolster their income through the pandemic. The agency claimed Lisa devalued their images by posting them to her Instagram account, which has 2.7 million followers. The plaintiff also argued that Lisa used the images to promote her own businesses.
According to the documents, the two parties failed to reach a settlement deal. Lisa’s attorney said the plaintiff’s demands were so high that it seemed the agency had no desire to “[resolve] this matter amicably.”
This is certainly not the first time the paparazzi has engaged in a legal battle with a celebrity (after taking photographs). Some of Lisa’s fans, however, find it hard to understand why an agency is claiming that much money, when Lisa herself is the subject of the image. In many cases, stars will fight for a settlement deal, regardless of their own guilt, in order to avoid the expenses and energy of a trial.
In the last season of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, much of the conflict centered around Erika’s highly debated lawsuit. The pop singer recently said she hopes to have a lighter storyline in season 12.
Perhaps Lisa’s paparazzi dispute will be the next legal saga to leak its way into Bravo’s reel.
