Seriously? Tit shot? $1.1m? GTFWY.The owners of New York's Empire State Building have sued a photographer who shot images of a topless woman on the skyscraper's observation deck.
They say Allen Henson's actions in August were "inappropriate" at a family tourist attraction and that he lacked permission to hold a photo shoot there.
The owners seek $1.1m (£668,455) in damages.
Henson says the photos were taken of a friend on his personal cell phone and have "zero commercial value".
The New York-based photographer and Iraq war veteran told the BBC he first learned of the lawsuit through the news media on Monday and had not yet retained a lawyer.
Allen Henson, a former Iraq war veteran, says tourists were taking photos without permission, too
"It wasn't a photo shoot," he said, adding the images were taken of a good friend, Texas-based model Shelby Carter, on the 86th storey observation deck.
"We thought it would just be wonderful, a great view… no harm no foul," he added. "Nobody was injured, no children were around."
In a lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court, the companies that own the building and operate the observation deck argue the incident threatened their ability to ensure a "safe, secure and appropriate place for families and tourists".
ESRT Observatory and ESRT Empire State Building also claim Henson lacked the required permission to use the trademarked image of the popular tourist spot, which attracts four million visitors annually.
The photographer told the BBC the photos were not intended for commercial distribution and he had not made any money from them since they were taken.
He also added that many of the tourists around him on 9 August were also taking photos and video on their personal mobile phones without prior permission.
"It's not logical," he said of the lawsuit. "They've made a mistake here."
Empire State Tits
Empire State Tits
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
-
oldr_n_wsr
- Posts: 10838
- Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:59 am
Re: Empire State Tits
Mostly likely takin photos of the half naked lady too.tourists around him on 9 August were also taking photos and video on their personal mobile phones
Re: Empire State Tits
Literary malformation of the day.Gob wrote:."...
Allen Henson, a former Iraq war veteran, ... "
yrs,
rubato
-
MajGenl.Meade
- Posts: 21516
- Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:51 am
- Location: Groot Brakrivier
- Contact:
Re: Empire State Tits
Yes, it's sad. He was an Iraq war veteran but now he is no longer one. Must be something to do with those police/firemen in New York who were traumatised but no longer are
Topless at the top? Nice idea
Topless at the top? Nice idea
For Christianity, by identifying truth with faith, must teach-and, properly understood, does teach-that any interference with the truth is immoral. A Christian with faith has nothing to fear from the facts
Re: Empire State Tits
I'd be interested to see exactly what they sued him for and how the damages were calculated. I imagine he may have been breaking some rules but not getting a permit from the building owners for the shoot (which he maintains was not a shoot, but the naked woman probably enhanced, not deterred visitors that day. and how you can capture the revered and trademarked image of the Empire State Building when you are on its observation deck is beyond me. I just don't see it.
Re: Empire State Tits
Sue U wrote:??????Gob wrote:GTFWY.
It's a Welsh legal word, used when a plaintiff asks for stupid sums of money for stupid reasons....
Or it may just stand for; "Get To Fuck With You."
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”