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Illinois- from www.naperville.patch.com – The owner of theaters in Naperville and Woodridge, through his attorney, demanded $50,000 from adult film star Jenna Jameson to avoid a lawsuit over canceled appearances, court records show.
Naperville-based attorney Paul Nordini recently filed paperwork seeking to have lawyers from Bryan Cave LLP — which is representing Hollywood Blvd and Hollywood Palms owner Ted Bulthaup — disqualified from the case because of their actions prior to the lawsuit being filed in May.
Specifically, Nordini cites an April 25 email from a Bulthaup attorney that “constitutes blackmail and [sic] or extortion attempt” in its demand for a lump sum $50,000 payment from Jameson instead of rescheduling two heavily promoted meet-and-greets with fans and special screenings of her 2008 movie Zombie Strippers!
Hollywood sued Jameson after she backed out of those March appearances on claims she was too ill to travel or work. Hollywood alleges she opted to skip the appearances to attend a birthday party thrown by celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, a contention supported by online photos of the event, according to the lawsuit.
A medical excuse for cancellation was allowed for in the appearance agreement, records show, as was the option to reschedule the event within six months.
Jameson’s attorney countered that video exists showing Jameson, on the night of Hilton’s party, “ill, unwilling to speak, accompanied by a nurse and having assistance to walk and stand,” the motion states.
Nordini further states that Hollywood didn’t care about the rescheduling option and instead chose an “attempt to extort and blackmail” Jameson, records show.
Attorneys for Hollywood could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.
It’s unclear who received the April 25 email — the recipient’s name and address are redacted — but Hollywood’s attorney makes clear the uneasiness felt about the potential risk Jameson would back out of a rescheduled appearance.
Jameson’s conduct made Hollywood unwilling to “risk” another failed event. The cancellations cost the theaters “total damages … well into the six figures,” the email states.
In an effort to recoup some of those losses, the email requests a lump sum $50,000 payment by May 4, for which Hollywood would release any future legal claims, according to the email. The lawsuit was filed May 17.
An default judgment against Jameson and a Thursday hearing on damages were vacated by the judge after Nordini entered the case. Jameson has yet to file a formal response to the lawsuit, although the disqualification motion offers some view of her possible defense.
The case returns to court Aug. 15.