TAMPA - Best Bars Inc., doing business as La Frontera Tampa, is in legal hot water after being accused of pirating the images of models for four years, according to documents filed March 16 in the Hillsborough County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit was filed by models Monica Leigh Burkhardt, Cielo Jean "CJ" Gibson, Dessie Mitcheson, Claudia Sampedro and Rosa Acosta. The plaintiffs, professional models who have appeared in publications the likes of Playboy and American Curves, say that the nightclub is "unapologetic, chronic and habitual" in its theft of their copyrighted images for use on its social media accounts.
The models were never asked to consent to their images used for the defendant's gain, nor were they offered any monetary compensation.
The nightclub is charged with unauthorized publication of image, likeness and/or identity, common law invasion of privacy and misappropriation, conversion and unjust enrichment.
The plaintiffs are represented by The Casas Law Firm PC of Miami.