Columbus, georgia — A Georgia woman has sued the creators of the “Girls Gone Wild” video series in Florida, alleging they used her image as a 16-year-old to promote and sell their sexually charged products.
Brittany Pitts of Columbus filed the suit July 12 in U.S. District Court in Panama City, Fla. According to the suit, Pitts was in Panama City during spring break 2002 when she was approached on the beach by Joe Francis and coerced into exposing herself while being filmed.
Pitts thought the video was for the personal use of two “Girls Gone Wild” agents, said Columbus attorney Mark Casto, who represents her.
She reportedly didn’t learn about the tape and her prominent role on its cover until a friend of her ex-fiance told him about it in December.
“She’s very concerned that her son may find out someday.” Casto said. “It’s pretty dramatic to learn something you did as a 16-year-old for five seconds can come back to haunt you.”
Pitts, now 21, wants punitive and compensatory damages for the use of her image, which the suit states has been used to profit “Girls Gone Wild.”
Casto said he’d also like a federal order requiring Francis, MRA Holding and Mantra Films to pull copies of “Girls Gone Wild: Best of Ultimate Spring Break Volume 2” from shelves everywhere.
“They put her on the cover and they used her to promote and advertise their product,” Casto said. “They’ve used her on the Internet. We have reason to believe they’ve used her on billboards. We know she’s been on TV, on the late-night infomercials.”
Casto said Pitts never signed a waiver about the use of her image and that “Girls Gone Wild” never verified her age. At 16, Casto said, Pitts couldn’t have legally entered an agreement giving Francis’ group the right to use her partially nude image.
Pitts declined to comment on the suit. Michael Burke, an attorney for Mantra Films, couldn’t be reached. Francis is currently held in a Nevada jail under federal tax evasion charges. His attorney in that case, David Houston, couldn’t be reached for comment.
The defendants in Pitts’ suit face at least three other federal civil suits with similar allegations.