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Lindsay Lohan’s lawsuit over racy GTA V photo can proceed, Court rules

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 9:14PM EST
Lindsay Lohan GTA V

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The New York Supreme Court recently ruled that it would not dismiss Lindsay Lohan’s bizarre and arguably frivolous lawsuit against Rockstar Games. As a quick refresher, Lohan sued Rockstar Games back in 2014 alleging that the company used her likeness to create the character of Lacey Jonas in GTA V. Even if you’ve never played the game, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Jonas’ photo gracing a billboard or inside of a Best Buy at some point in time.

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As someone familiar with Lohan’s antics, and as someone who played more than a little bit of GTA V, the idea that Rockstar looked to Lohan for inspiration for the Jonas character seems like a reach.

“When deciding whether or not a complaint should be dismissed,” the ruling reads in part, “the complaint must be constructed in the light most favourable to the plaintiff, and all factual allegations must be accepted as true.”

The Hollywood Reporter adds:

She’s alleging that the video game, which features a character named “Lacey Jonas” who eludes paparazzi, constitutes a violation of her rights under New York Civil Rights Law. According to the amended complaint, the game references her star turn in Mean Girls and the West Hollywood hotel where she once lived, and that the publisher in merchandise has “used a look-alike model to evoke the persona and image” of Lohan by imitating a photograph that was once taken of her in 2007.

The image in question can be seen below. And for what it’s worth, the GTA V image below is actually based on a pose from model Shelby Welinder, whom Rockstar paid.

Lohan, we should point out, seems to be no stranger to the court system. And no, we’re not talking about her arrest record. Specifically, you might recall that Lohan in 2011 sued the rapper Pitbull over his song “Give Me Everything” because it contained the following lyrics: “So, I’m tiptoein’, to keep flowin. I got it locked up, like Lindsay Lohan.”

Yoni Heisler Contributing Writer

Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large with over 15 years of experience. A life long expert Mac user and Apple expert, his writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and TUAW.

When not analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni enjoys catching Improv shows in Chicago, playing soccer, and cultivating new TV show addictions.