Home > News > Georgia Woman Drops Suit Against GGW, Francis on Eve of Trial • Bookmark   • Register
Search Options

NEWS STORY

Georgia Woman Drops Suit Against GGW, Francis on Eve of Trial

XBIZ POLL
Which holds the most promise for adult video?
3D technology
Interactive control
Mobile streaming
 
Tuesday, Aug 5, 2008    Text size: 
PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Brittany Pitts, a Gerogia woman who sued GGW and Francis last year for allegedly filming her topless on a Florida beach in 2002 when she was 16 years old, has dropped her suit on the eve of the trial, which was to commence yesterday.

Pitts had claimed that she had not consented to be filmed, but a GGW press release issued Friday stated that the video Pitts appears in clearly shows that she did give her consent on camera.

U.S. District Judge Richard Smoak, who last year jailed Francis for 11 months after concluding that Francis had made a phony settlement offer in a 2003 lawsuit, then reneging on the agreement, dismissed Pitts claim after assuring himself that the current settlement was in fact a done deal.

"The defendant has already signed the documents?" Smoak asked plaintiff's attorney Mark Casto. "I certainly don't want to get to a déjà vu all over again."

As part of the settlement, Francis paid no money to Pitts but agreed not to sue her if she issued a public apology. Pitt's one sentence compliance with that request is also contained in the release.

"I, Brittany Pitts have agreed to dismiss my lawsuit and acknowledge that no money has been paid to me by the defendants as damages," she wrote.

The current turnabout by a former litigant is the second major reversal that favors Francis. Former Spitzer call girl Ashley Dupre last month dropped a lawsuit she had filed against Francis that alleged he had ruined her reputation by releasing footage of her taken during spring break in Florida in 2003.

"This is yet another example of false allegations that my company and I have faced," Francis said. "I am tired of these lies being said about me in an attempt to extort money and destroy my name. I will fight back, and will defend myself against every one of these groundless accusations. I am ready to sue any individual or lawyer who brings unsubstantiated allegations against me."

Ironically, Dupre, Francis and his parent company, Mantra Films, are all being sued in federal court by a New Jersey woman, who claims that Dupre used her lost driver's license to appear in a GGW video.

Francis also recently pleaded not guilty to federal tax evasion charges in a district court in Los Angeles. Francis claims that his former accountant, Michael Barrett, is to blame for mishandled GGW tax filings. Francis has sued Barrett for fraud, claiming that the CPA neglected to alert his employer to the mistakes, and instead contacted the IRS in order to collect a reward offered by the agency in exchange for information on tax cheats.


XBIZ LA Conference
   
Follow XBIZ on Twitter
Share this article:
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MySpace del.icio.us Technorati Fark
More ways to get XBIZ News:  RSS Feeds  |  E-Newsletters  |  Desktop Widget  |  Mobile
Looking for porn star news and behind-the-scene videos? Check out XFANZ.com !

OPINIONS & VIEWS

Opportunity Lost

Complacency — that "take it easy, it's all going to be ok" attitude, which is at the heart of so much "change" in America these days, has taken another victim. On Aug. 6, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger... More »

Eric Cantor: Pro Small Business? Not.

Recently, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) claimed that President Obama's economic stimulus plan has not worked because it doesn't encourage job creation by small business. What a joke and what... More »

Dreaming in Death Valley

Death Valley always struck me as a funny name. And when one discovers that this is actually a vacation spot, this dark and foreboding name seems an even stranger choice. Death Valley isn't exactly the... More »
XBIZ NEWSLETTERS
Stay informed of the latest industry developments. Get XBIZ newsletters delivered to your inbox. Subscribe today!
Enter email address:

* To manage existing subscriptions click here.







POPULAR PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Submit your press release to
multiple news outlets with 1 click.
Subscribe to RSS news feeds or
add free content to your website.
Access XBIZ news and articles
with your mobile device.
XBIZ Premiere™, the industry's premier retail focused business journal, features in-depth and comprehensive business news and information targeted for producers of adult videos, novelty product manufacturers, and retailers - subscribe today!

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Barcelona Summit

Feb 19 - Feb 21
Barcelona, Spain

Sexpo

Mar 04 - Mar 07
Brisbane, Australia

The Phoenix Forum

Apr 08 - Apr 10
Tempe, Arizona

Adultcon

Apr 09 - Apr 11
Los Angeles, CA
Everyday thousands of business professionals browse XBIZ's industry directory for quality products and services. Not listed yet? Your company could be losing potential new business. Submit your company today!
Use XBIZ RSS feeds to stay informed of the latest industry developments or as a content syndication tool for your website!