Post by Lane Kent on Dec 5, 2007 19:18:46 GMT
www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=126b73de-c45f-435a-84fa-3a3365d1da23&entry=index
Hydroderm wants Teri Hatcher to put her money where her mouth is.
The skin-care company, which boasts that its products are "better than Botox," filed a $2 million breach-of-contract lawsuit Tuesday against the Desperate Housewives star, claiming she wrongfully promoted another firm's product.
According to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Hatcher's ISBE Productions inked a deal with Hydroderm in November 2005 to have her tout the benefits of the company's line of aging antidotes. Then, despite their contract's no-competition clause, Hatcher got on board with City Cosmetics as well.
The former Bond girl was photographed in association with the competitor's products and agreed to be interviewed about using City Cosmetics' wares, including its CityLips lip plumper, which directly competes with Hydroderm's lip enhancer, Volumizing Lip Serum, the suit states.
Hatcher was quoted as saying City Cosmetics helped her "appear beautiful at an awards event" and she gave out product gift bags at her birthday party.
Apparently, Hatcher had signed with City Cosmetics beforehand, and Hydroderm wouldn't have entertained her as a celebrity sponsor if it had known about the deal, the company claims.
"Hatcher's name, image and likeness have been linked to so many competitors' products (at least 17!) that it is anyone's guess as to what product keeps her skin and lips youthful," the suit states.
While no one's arguing Hatcher has no trouble putting on the perfect pout or puckering up for her Desperate duties, her attorney said Tuesday that Hydroderm's lawsuit is "a transparent and pathetic effort to distract from its own failure to live up to its end of the agreement" and that it's his client who has had to put up with the company's interoffice woes.
"Despite having to deal with a frustrating series of changes in the ownership and management of Hydroderm over the last several years, Teri Hatcher has more than fully complied with all of her contractual obligations over the course of the relationship," Alan Wertheimer said in a statement to E! News.
Hatcher's rep also said they are going after the remaining cash she is owed under contract, as well as compensatory and punitive damages to make up for Hydroderm's "outrageous accusations."
And though the suit says that Hatcher has identified herself as a City Cosmetics fan, the firm's Website doesn't include her on its extensive list of celebrities, including Nicollette Sheridan, Penélope Cruz and Tyra Banks, who have purportedly given the thumbs-up to CityLips.
Meanwhile, Hatcher, who turns 43 on Saturday, is the face of couture fashion house Badgley Mischka's fall ad campaign and has starred in spreads for Repeat Cashmere. She's currently on vacation from the Desperate Housewives set, which has been shut down in light of the ongoing writers' strike. The last episode featuring a script completed before WGA members walked out aired on Sunday.
The skin-care company, which boasts that its products are "better than Botox," filed a $2 million breach-of-contract lawsuit Tuesday against the Desperate Housewives star, claiming she wrongfully promoted another firm's product.
According to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Hatcher's ISBE Productions inked a deal with Hydroderm in November 2005 to have her tout the benefits of the company's line of aging antidotes. Then, despite their contract's no-competition clause, Hatcher got on board with City Cosmetics as well.
The former Bond girl was photographed in association with the competitor's products and agreed to be interviewed about using City Cosmetics' wares, including its CityLips lip plumper, which directly competes with Hydroderm's lip enhancer, Volumizing Lip Serum, the suit states.
Hatcher was quoted as saying City Cosmetics helped her "appear beautiful at an awards event" and she gave out product gift bags at her birthday party.
Apparently, Hatcher had signed with City Cosmetics beforehand, and Hydroderm wouldn't have entertained her as a celebrity sponsor if it had known about the deal, the company claims.
"Hatcher's name, image and likeness have been linked to so many competitors' products (at least 17!) that it is anyone's guess as to what product keeps her skin and lips youthful," the suit states.
While no one's arguing Hatcher has no trouble putting on the perfect pout or puckering up for her Desperate duties, her attorney said Tuesday that Hydroderm's lawsuit is "a transparent and pathetic effort to distract from its own failure to live up to its end of the agreement" and that it's his client who has had to put up with the company's interoffice woes.
"Despite having to deal with a frustrating series of changes in the ownership and management of Hydroderm over the last several years, Teri Hatcher has more than fully complied with all of her contractual obligations over the course of the relationship," Alan Wertheimer said in a statement to E! News.
Hatcher's rep also said they are going after the remaining cash she is owed under contract, as well as compensatory and punitive damages to make up for Hydroderm's "outrageous accusations."
And though the suit says that Hatcher has identified herself as a City Cosmetics fan, the firm's Website doesn't include her on its extensive list of celebrities, including Nicollette Sheridan, Penélope Cruz and Tyra Banks, who have purportedly given the thumbs-up to CityLips.
Meanwhile, Hatcher, who turns 43 on Saturday, is the face of couture fashion house Badgley Mischka's fall ad campaign and has starred in spreads for Repeat Cashmere. She's currently on vacation from the Desperate Housewives set, which has been shut down in light of the ongoing writers' strike. The last episode featuring a script completed before WGA members walked out aired on Sunday.