Ray Liotta
LOS ANGELES–Actor Ray Liotta filed a lawsuit on March 5 in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Nerium International, Inc. and affiliated Nerium Partners for misappropriation and unlawful use of Liotta’s name, likeness, image, identity, and persona. Liotta is represented in the lawsuit by intellectual property attorney Gary Hecker of The Hecker Law Group based in Los Angeles.
Nerium is a self-described multilevel marketing company that sells a skin care product named “Nerium AD.” The federal complaint alleges that in October 2013, Nerium began using and distributing Liotta’s name and photographs on web sites and social media purporting to show “before and after” results of Liotta using Nerium AD. According to the complaint, however, Liotta has never used or endorsed any Nerium product, and never gave permission to Nerium to use Liotta’s name or likeness.
“When someone creates a false endorsement using Ray Liotta’s name or likeness, they can expect legal action,” said attorney Gary Hecker. The lawsuit charges legal violations of Liotta’s publicity and privacy rights under California law and false endorsement and unfair competition under federal law. “I’ve never even heard of Nerium, let alone used their products,” said Ray Liotta. “They can deal with these doctored photos in court.” Liotta is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and an injunction against Nerium.
