January 8, 2008
Seinfelds Face Lawsuit Over Defamation, Plagiarism
Missy Chase Lapine, the children’s cookbook author who claims Jessica Seinfeld – the comedian’s wife (pictured) – “brazenly plagiarized” her work is now taking it up a notch by slapping both Jessica and Jerry with lawsuits. She’s accusing Jerry of defamation because when the scandal made headlines back in October, Jerry went on TV and talked some trash that was as arrogant as it was stupid.
On Letterman, the funny boy characterized Lapine as a “wacko” stalker and tried to bond with his good-time buddy Dave, saying, “I have wackos, you have wackos. And, you know, if you read history, many of the three-name people do become assassins. Mark David Chapman. And you know, James Earl Ray. So that's my concern.” On E! he dismissed Lapine as a "nut job like the guy I went to college with who claimed I stole the whole TV series from him."
Stop helping, Jerry. The main thrust of the suit accuses Jessica of trademark infringement for “writing” a how-to guide for sneaking pureed vegetables into things like chocolate chip cookies. Her book, titled Deceptively Delicious, was published by HarperCollins and sold millions of copies after she plugged it on Oprah. Lapine’s book, The Sneaky Chef, was twice rejected by HarperCollins – the second time just two weeks before they met with Seinfeld. And besides the identical concepts, many of Seinfeld’s recipes are suspiciously similar to the ones in Lapine’s book.
Jessica might want to stop addressing the scandal in public, too. In defending herself in a blog post titled “The Deception Debate”, she calls the accusation “silly” because it’s about “who made up pureed vegetables.” (We thought it was about copyright infringement.) To prove how unoriginal her book is, she lists a few other books published before hers that are based on tricking kids to eat healthy, books like Lapine’s The Sneaky Chef.
Quick survey: How long before this is settled out of court for an undisclosed sum?
|
if plagerism can even be proved, lapine will be lucky to get legal fee's.
No true. It'll probably be a 60/40 split between her and her lawyers. Most attorneys take like 35 percent.
Also, I really hope they prove it for the simple fact that Seinfeld is an unfunny self-absorbed douchemallet.
Sales of Lapine's book almost certainly have gotten a boost from the controversy. Even if there were outright plagiarism, she benefitted from it.
Jessica looks a bit like a Hebrew school teacher.
jerry no likee when it comes to bad mouthing his wifee. then he becomes a big baby.
Isn't the first rule of Lawsuits that you don't talk about Lawsuits, especially in public--like on TV? It might make you feel better personally, but it's only gas on the fire and potentially damaging. If you absolutely have to get something off your chest, tell it to your shrink or your dog.
Although the plagiarism claim is shaky, Jerry's big mouth certainly makes a strong case for slander. If they are smart,this will settle promptly. Also, am I the only one who thinks that Jessica looks like a poodle in that photo?
the form does fit the content however, as one lady sneakily purees the contents of another lady's book and deceptively serves it up fricasseed in a new cover.
More importantly though, Jessica needs to hire a smile coach - she has "I hate you" smile.
boo Jerry. He's the 800lb gorilla beating up an unknown food author. Not sure if there's any plagarism, since I haven't seen either book.
But they could have taken the high road and just not talked about it. Insinuating that shes a crazy is just stupid.
What's he care anyway- it can be written off as a biz expense probably worth a couple of million for all the free press that shitty B movie got during this.
Jerry's wife looks like him!
Fugly!
thenamesdave: more like a robot Hebrew school teacher.
If only she invented a coffee table book that is not only about coffee tables it turns into a coffee table if you don't have your own coffee table!
Yeah, their downfall may have been calling the author names on TV. That's questionable, even if he didn't name her outright.
I think lots of recipes and techniques are derivative - it's just odd timing all around and possibly more than coincidence somewhere along the line at the publishing house.
The real crime here that the rich and/or famous can use their connection to get a book deal that others can't.
Sponsored ad for this post: "Get Tickets to See Jerry Seinfeld!"
Lapine's book sales go up, Seinfeld gets new material, and Mrs. S. realizes that she needs some botox.
Everybody goes home in a limousine.
Jerry should have stayed with that fine young shoshana chick! wow, at least she didnt try to mooch off his fame with some ridiculous idea which only came to fruition because she is married to jerry sienfeld!
she went into business with something she liked and was well respected for, lingerie! which is prob how she got her hands on jerry's juice maker.
anyway, its like sung-yi or whatever her name is trying to become a movie director! get it?!?!?
Oh, mega-rich, entitled, asshole Seinfelds. I hope he has to sell off a car or three to pay Lapine.
The Seinfelds are the worst addition to the West Village yet. I saw her at 7 in the morning in front of her garishly decorated home. I would have never noticed her except for the celeb signifying baseball cap and sunglasses. Does she actually think the paparazzi care about her? Especially at 7 in the morning? This is delusional behavior... Pleeze!