Judge Orders Joe Francis to Pay Nearly $36,000 in Fees

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has ordered Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis to pay $36,000 in attorneys fees to Playboy Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole in a defamation lawsuit stemming from a fight at a West Hollywood, Calif., nightclub last year.

Francis sued Nicole for defamation for comments she made to a reporter after the incident. In February, Superior Court Judge Mark Mooney threw out Francis’ defamation claims against Nicole.

“We’re very happy,” Nicole’s attorney, Paul Clifford, of the California Anti-SLAPP Project, told XBIZ.

“One of the methods SLAPP uses is making the losing party pay attorneys fees,” he said.

“I don’t know about Francis, but this may influence others not to file baseless claims.”

Clifford added that he has good collection attorneys that are working to recover the entire amount awarded by the judge.

Though the defamation lawsuit is now over, the legal battles between Nicole and Francis are far from over. The two also have sued each other for assault and battery, claims that have not yet been decided.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

FTC Invites Public Comment on 'Click to Cancel' Rulemaking

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced this week that it is seeking public comment on whether it should amend its Negative Option Rule to better address deceptive or unfair practices.

Kansas Plaintiff Drops Chaturbate AV Suit, Revamps SuperPorn Complaint

The plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging that cam platform Chaturbate violated Kansas’ age verification law has voluntarily dismissed that action, while retooling a similar complaint against adult site SuperPorn.

AV Bulletin: Loopholes and Lawsuits

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Utah 'Porn Tax' Bill Will Head to Governor's Desk

A bill that would tax adult websites and make them liable if minors circumvent geolocation has passed the Utah state legislature and will soon head to the office of Gov. Spencer Cox for signature or veto.

Pornhub to Restrict Access in Australia as AV Rules Take Effect

Pornhub parent company Aylo will restrict access to its free video-sharing platforms in Australia in response to new age verification regulations, the company confirmed Thursday.

House Committee Approves Online Safety Bill With Federal AV Requirement

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on Thursday passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, which includes provisions to make age verification by adult websites federal law.

Federal Judge Orders Refunds for Companies That Paid Trump Tariffs

A judge for the U.S. Court of International Trade on Wednesday ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection to refund duties paid under the Trump administration’s sweeping program of tariffs.

House Committee to Weigh Online Safety Bill With Federal AV Requirement

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce will meet Thursday to consider and potentially amend the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, which includes provisions to make age verification by adult websites federal law.

Show More