Legal News

Woman Sues Chipotle for $2 Billion
Download PDF
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

ht_chipotle_vegan_sofritas_burrito_ll_130729_16x9_992

Summary: A woman is suing Chipotle for allegedly using her photograph without her permission.

Some people don’t want attention, but one woman believes her privacy is worth over $2 billion. 

  
What
Where


Leah Caldwell said that she was eating at a Chipotle restaurant in 2006 when she noticed photographer Steve Adams taking shots of the interior. Adams captured her in at least one picture, and Caldwell claimed that he asked her to sign a release, which she declined.

Eight years later, Caldwell’s image appeared in Chipotle wall decorations. She said that she noticed her image in a Orlando, Florida store; and in her lawsuit, she said her likeness was also featured in two Sacramento restaurants in 2015. Caldwell said that she not only did not authorize Chipotle to use her picture in their marketing and decor, but that they also edited the photograph to make it appear she had an alcoholic beverage.

According to Eater, Caldwell filed a lawsuit against the famous burrito chain, and she is seeking $2,237,633,000. She calculated that number based on Chipotle profits from 2006 to 2015. She is representing herself.

Get JD Journal in Your Mail

Subscribe to our FREE daily news alerts and get the latest updates on the most happening events in the legal, business, and celebrity world. You also get your daily dose of humor and entertainment!!




While Caldwell may have a case because the photographer did not obtain a release, there is also a chance she may lose because citizens’ privacy is not protected when they are in public. That means that anyone can snap someone’s photograph wherever there is not a reasonable expectation of privacy, i.e. the street or a store; and the rights to that photograph belong to the artist, not the model.

Chipotle has not released a comment on the pending litigation. In addition to this case, Chipotle is facing a class action based on the false advertising of the calories in their chorizo burrito; and they settled an E.Coli case in 2016 out of court.



Source: Eater

Photo courtesy of ABC News

Do you think Caldwell has a case? Let us know in the comments below. 



 

RELEVANT JOBS

Associate Attorney

USA-PA-Exton

ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY McKenna Snyder LLC, a law firm in Exton, PA has an immediate opening for an ex...

Apply now

Attorney

USA-MI-Sturgis

Qualifications: HaasCaywood is seeking associate attorneys for our Coldwater and Sturgis, Michiga...

Apply now

Attorney

USA-MI-Coldwater

Qualifications: HaasCaywood is seeking associate attorneys for our Coldwater and Sturgis, Michiga...

Apply now

Deputy General Counsel / Senior Deputy General Counsel

USA-CA-Sacramento

Cal Cities Culture and Mission Cal Cities is dedicated to creating a collaborative and inclusive ...

Apply now

BCG FEATURED JOB

Locations:

Keyword:



Search Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with ...

Apply Now

Education Law Attorney

USA-CA-Carlsbad

Carlsbad office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law attorney with 4-...

Apply Now

Education Law and Public Entity Attorney

USA-CA-El Segundo

El Segundo office of a BCG Attorney Search Top Ranked Law Firm seeks an education law and public ent...

Apply Now

Most Popular

SEARCH IN ARCHIVE

To Top