PANAMA CITY — "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis was perturbed Thursday by media characterizations of a resolution of a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday.
"They dropped it," Francis said. "It wasn't a settlement. It was a victory. It was absolute, total vindication."
Brittany Pitts of Georgia sued Francis and his company Mantra Films Inc. last year. She claimed she was 16 when a "Girls Gone Wild" cameraman filmed her flashing her breasts in March 2002 on Panama City Beach. The image made it onto the cover of a video that sold 9,610 copies and brought $82,453 to the company, according to court records.
The case was scheduled for trial beginning Monday, and U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak had scheduled a pretrial conference for Wednesday to address last-minute issues. But Francis' local attorney, Jean Marie Downing, announced the sides had reached a settlement, nullifying the hearing.
Francis called The News Herald on Thursday to complain about the use of the word "settlement."
"They received no money whatsoever," he said. "It was another false claim levied against me."
He also said Pitts' claim that she was 16 at the time of the filming was false. He insists she was 18.
Mantra's corporate attorney, Michael Burke of California, said Wednesday that Pitts received no money, but Francis agreed not to sue her for abusing the legal process and malicious prosecution.
