Lathrop & Gage attorney Lincoln Bandlow (Business Litigation - Los Angeles) delivered oral arguments last week on behalf of firm client Hallmark, in response to Paris Hilton's lawsuit over the use of her image on a greeting card. Mr. Bandlow has served as lead attorney for the defense in Paris Hilton v. Hallmark Cards since it was filed in 2007.

Ms. Hilton sued Hallmark for $500,000 in actual damages, requesting a permanent injunction in 2007. At issue was a Hallmark greeting card that showed Ms. Hilton's face attached to a cartoon body serving up a plate of food to a customer with the exchange, "Don't touch that, it's hot." "What's hot?" "That's hot." Mr. Bandlow argued last week on behalf of Hallmark that the card was protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution and that Hilton's right of publicity claim was subject to California's anti-SLAPP statute.

Mr. Bandlow practices sophisticated business litigation and specializes in litigating media, First Amendment, intellectual property and other entertainment-related matters. He has represented clients in the motion picture, television, publishing, broadcasting and advertising fields, and has represented several of the principal underwriters for the entertainment industry. Mr. Bandlow’s prior experience also includes working in the Legal Affairs Department for The Carsey-Werner Company, a television production company.

Mr. Bandlow has litigated and tried cases in both state and federal court in matters involving claims for copyright infringement, defamation, right of publicity, right of privacy, trademark infringement and related claims. In addition to practicing law, he has been a visiting professor at the Annenberg School of Journalism at the University of Southern California since the Spring of 1995, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in Media and Entertainment Law. To hear an audio recording of the proceeding, please click here.

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