HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Verne Troyer is proving size doesn't matter.
The 39-year-old actor, who starred as "Mini-Me" in the two "Austin Powers" films, has filed a lawsuit against celebrity gossip site TMZ.com and Kevin Blatt, the man who distributed the "One Night in Paris" sex tape of socialite Paris Hilton.
Troyer alleges the parties leaked a sex tape that the star made with his girlfriend.
According to court papers, he claims TMZ is guilty of violation of privacy, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, violation of right to publicity and misappropriation of name and likeness.
Troyer filed the suit Thursday at the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. He is seeking more than $20 million in damages, plus attorneys fees and an injunction to stop the defendants from displaying the video.
The sex tape, which was made within the past year, shows Troyer and his girlfriend in a series of sex acts, according to court papers.
According to the suit, Troyer sent "cease and desist" letters to TMZ, but they were ignored. He discovered on Wednesday that portions of the tape were shown on TMZ's Web site and syndicated television show.
Troyer says the tape was stolen and ended up in Blatt's possession.
SugarDVD, an adult video distributor, is also named in Troyer's lawsuit. According to the suit, Blatt is reportedly entertaining a $100,000 offer from SugarDVD for distributions rights to the video.
- Comment
