June 25, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Actress Melanie Specht sues Ricoh Americas Corp

Melanie Specht filed the lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, also naming photographer Alex Munoz and videographer Gabriel Mann.  Her allegations include misappropriation of likeness and fraud.(Thinkstock)
Melanie Specht filed the lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, also naming photographer Alex Munoz and videographer Gabriel Mann. Her allegations include misappropriation of likeness and fraud.(Thinkstock)

An actress named by a men’s magazine as one of the 100 most attractive women of 2014 is suing Ricoh Americas Corp. for allegedly using her image to promote one of its cameras without her permission.

Melanie Specht filed the lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, also naming photographer Alex Munoz and videographer Gabriel Mann.  Her allegations include misappropriation of likeness and fraud. She seeks unspecified damages and a declaration from the court finding that the defendants did not have permission to use Specht’s image for commercial purposes.

A Ricoh representative did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

According to the complaint, Specht took part in a series of photo shoots last year in which Munoz and members of the actress’ public relations team agreed that all images he took of her would be used to promote her image. Munoz was told he could use the photos in his personal portfolio, but that he would need a separate agreement to use them for commercial purposes.

“Ms. Specht did not sign any agreements related to the future licensing of her image for any other purposes,” the suit states.

The three photo shoots took place in May with Munoz as the photographer and Mann as the videographer, according to the lawsuit.

However, Munoz refused to provide the photos to Specht and her public relations staff and later licensed her image to Ricoh in connection with its Pentax 645z camera, the suit states. Ads for the camera containing Specht’s image began appearing online on multiple websites, including those of Munoz and Ricoh, the suit states.

Despite receiving a letter from Specht’s attorneys in November demanding that they stop using her image, Ricoh continues to use it in online ads for their camera, the suit alleges.

Men’sHealth magazine listed Specht in its list of 100 “hottest women” of 2014. Her film credits include “Transformers: Age of Extinction.”

 

Related Posts

Brentwood Home by Landry Design Group Wins Top National Architecture Award

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

Landry Design Group Wins Gold Nugget Awards for Brentwood, Crestwood Projects Landry Design Group (LDG) earned two top honors at...

(Video) WISE & Healthy Aging Helps Loved Ones Boost Their Quality of Life

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs Advance the Dignity of Life for Older Adults See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs...

Masked Federal Agents Detain Iranian Asylum Seeker and Wife in Westwood

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

31-Year-Old Woman was Hospitalized After Possible Medical Emergency On Tuesday, June 24, between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., near the...

Los Angeles Leaders Push to Ban Masks for Federal Agents Amid Immigration Raids

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Concerns Grow Over Anonymous ICE and CBP Officers in Los Angeles   A growing coalition of California lawmakers and local leaders...

(Video) Food Fight: Chefs Join Forces to Raise Money to Protect Immigrant Families in Venice

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Estrano, Little Dynamite, Sunday Gravy, Kabob Senpai Answer the Call From Turk’s Pizza Party. Dave Turkel Put This Food Resistance...

Squatter-Plagued Beverly Grove Buildings Could Be Razed After Hazard Cleanup

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Demolition of Three Abandoned Apartments May Begin in Two Weeks Three abandoned apartment buildings in Beverly Grove may soon be...

From Westwood to DTLA, Angelenos March Against Military Escalation in Iran

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Protestors Rally at the Westwood Federal Building This Weekend Following President Donald Trump’s authorization of airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear-related...

LAPD Sergeant Killed Assisting Crash Victims on 405 Freeway in Brentwood

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Tragic Early-Morning Collision Claims Two Lives, Including Veteran Sergeant Two people, including an LAPD sergeant, were killed early Monday in...

Recent Homebuyer Down Payments Slip for First Time in Nearly Two Years

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

April’s Median Down Payment Fell as Buyers Lean Toward Lower-Cost Homes The median down payment made by U.S. homebuyers dropped...

Del Rey Affordable Housing Project to Rise on Former Charter School Site

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Community Corp., Local Faith Group Team Up to Build 122 New Apartments Plans are moving forward for a new residential...

Paris Hilton Buys Mark Wahlberg’s Beverly Park Mansion for $63.1M

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

The Heiress and Media Mogul Joins a Star-Studded Neighborhood Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum have purchased a high-profile estate...

A.O.C. Brentwood to Close After 16 Years on San Vicente Boulevard

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Chef Goin and Styne Cite Unsustainably High Rent in Decision to Close  A.O.C. Brentwood, the acclaimed Westside outpost from James...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

LA City Councilwomen Yaroslavsky and Jurado Call for Legal Action Against Federal Immigration Raids

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

City Motion Targets Alleged Unconstitutional Tactics, End Qualified Immunity for Fed Officers  City Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Ysabel Jurado introduced...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...