Oprah vs. Extortion
Lawsuits probably aren’t among Oprah’s favorite things!
Keifer Bonvillian, a Louisiana man previously charged with extorting Oprah, is suing the Queen of Daytime for defamation and demanding $180 million in damages. Get this — he was charged in January 2007 with illegally recording phone conversations between him and a Harpo employee during which he allegedly demanded money in exchange for not writing a book based on the recordings.
To avoid jail time, he agreed to perform 50 hours of community service, pay $3,000 in restitution and to undergo drug testing. Nonetheless, he claims his reputation was irreparably damaged due to the accusations.
Popsquire’s perspective…
Oprah has deep pockets, but that doesn’t mean she should reach into them! While lawyers often recommend that clients settle lawsuits in order to avoid excessive litigation costs, Oprah has the resources to defend herself. She may want to do so here in order to discourage not only this plaintiff, but other potential litigants as well.
