Ohio- From news.cincinnati.com- A family feud involving porn publisher Larry Flynt boiled over Friday in Hamilton County when Flynt was sued by his brother, Jimmy Flynt, over a rent dispute involving the Downtown Hustler store.
Jimmy Flynt filed the Friday case, accusing brother Larry Flynt – the Hustler magazine publisher who presides over a media empire – of “sheer retaliation” by trying to evict him from the 411 Elm St. building that houses the Hustler business owned by Jimmy Flynt.
Larry Flynt is upset, the suit notes, because Jimmy Flynt’s two sons are using the Flynt name in a porn venture not affiliated with Larry Flynt — and could be seen as competition for the porn king.
Larry Flynt has filed a federal lawsuit in California against Flynt Media Corp., the business owned by Jimmy Flynt’s sons, Dustin and Jimmy Flynt II. Larry Flynt alleges trademark infringement in that case.
“Larry has stopped Jimmy’s salary through (Larry Flynt’s companies) without just cause and without explanation,” Jimmy Flynt’s suit notes.
“Larry has began (sic) to take adverse action (Jimmy Flynt). Larry has threatened to take away Jimmy’s livelihood to include all sources of income in an attempt to settle the California action ‘on his terms.’ ”
The suit accuses Larry Flynt of falsely accusing Jimmy Flynt of being late on the rent for the Cincinnati Hustler store.
Jimmy Flynt owns the store but leases the building from Larry Flynt’s companies.
Jimmy Flynt said it was a misunderstanding and when it was pointed out, he paid his brother more than $31,000 in owed rent.
Despite that, Jimmy Flynt said his brother is insisting on kicking him out of the Elm Street store, a move that would kill that business.
“Literally, (Larry Flynt) is attempting to run Jimmy Flynt out of business, thereby destroying his very livelihood that he has spent years building in partnership with Larry Flynt,” the suit notes.
It adds that the Hustler store Downtown opened in 2000 and sells magazine, clothing and other items.
The suit seeks to have a judge order Larry Flynt not to evict Jimmy Flynt from the store.
The case will be heard before Common Pleas Judge Melba Marsh at 2 p.m. Wednesday.