Fullback Steakhouse Competitive Analysis

1375 Words3 Pages

BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS The Defendants, Fullback Steakhouses, Inc., and John Ritchie, CEO of Fullback Steakhouses, Inc., by and through their attorneys, Piper & Associates, submit the following Brief in Support of Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss.
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff, Suzie Starr (“Plaintiff”), brings suit against Fullback Steakhouses, Inc. (“Fullback”) and Fullback’s CEO, John Ritchie for damages arising out of a commercial run by Fullback in August of 2016. The Plaintiff is a prominent health food and lifestyle guru. Fullback Steakhouses, Inc. is a chain of sports bars located and incorporated in New York. John Ritchie serves as CEO of Fullback Steakhouses, Inc., and resides in New York. The commercial advertisement …show more content…

The commercial depicted a cartoon robot wearing a blonde wig, carrying a small dog in a pink carrier, that says “spicy” in the advertisement. In the commercial, a robot waiter dressed as a referee brings the plate of Buffalo wings to the table and warns, “Be careful, they are spicy.” One of the robot’s friends then asks, “What’s spicy?” Shortly after indulging in the entrée, the robot utters the phrase “Mmm, spicy” and winks at the camera. Although Plaintiff’s name is not included anywhere in the commercial, she argues that the blonde robot robot is intended to resemble her and imply that she endorses …show more content…

The New York privacy statute provides that “a person. . . or corporation that uses for advertising purposes, or for the purposes of trade, the name, portrait, or picture of any living person without having first obtained the written consent of such person. . . is guilty of a misdemeanor.” N.Y. Civ. Rights Law § 50 (Mckinney 2015). The statute further stipulates that the person whose name, portrait, or picture is used “may maintain an equitable action in the supreme court of this state against the person, firm or corporation so using his name, portrait, picture or voice, to prevent and restrain the use thereof; and may also sue and recover damages for any injuries sustained.” N.Y. Civ. Rights Law § 51 (McKinney 2015). The key elements of the statute are the use of a name, portrait, or picture of a living person; advertising, commercial, or trade persons; without obtaining the written consent of that person. The latter two elements are not at issue. The matter to determine is whether Fullback used Plaintiff’s portrait or picture. In order for Plaintiff to have a valid right of privacy claim, Fullback must have used Plaintiff's portrait or picture for advertising or commercial purposes without Plaintiff’s

Open Document