Real estate agents sue CSI
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Home, Real Estate
Imagine you're relaxing at home watching a CSI episode about an S&M-loving pair of married real estate agents involved in fraud and possibly murder.Then you realize that the CSI real estate agents have the same name as you -- Scott and Melinda Tamkin. Then you're watching the credits and realize that the co-writer of the show happens to be the same person who looked at houses with you a few years ago, but didn't end up buying because a deal collapsed while it was in escrow.
I smell a lawsuit and so did the real Scott and Melinda Tamkin, who are suing the writer for harming their business "by creating from whole cloth characters engaged in a reckless lifestyle of sexual bondage, pornography, drunkenness, marital discord, depression, financial straits and possibly even murder," according to a Los Angeles Times story.
With so much of real estate online these days, having prospective clients Google you to find a CSI episode like that doesn't help. Mr. and Mrs. Tamkin are seeking $6 million in damages for defamation and invasion of privacy, and rightfully so. Co-defendants include CBS, production company Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Goldman Sachs Capital, which was a partner in the production.
It'll be hard for the defendants to argue that the Tamkin's weren't harmed by this episode, even if $6 million seems like a lot in damages. I'd expect a relatively quick settlement.




Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
5-26-2009 @ 2:37PM
JOHN said...
JUST MORE PEOPLE OUT TO MAKE A QUICK LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY. THIS SUING SHIT HAS TO STOP.
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5-26-2009 @ 3:40PM
stargzr1959 said...
Are you out if your mind? can't see the problem here? they are not sueing just because they want to, they have a ligimiate beef, but it's people like yourself who assume they are sueing just for the money. Well their business is in Real Estate, you can't do any business if your name has been associated with the show in an unfriendly manner (ie Murder). But it must be your mentalty that doesn't let you see beyond the tip of your nose. Get a life, bash the woman who recieved 3 million from Mcds because she didn't think about how hot a cup of coffee might be at a take out window.
5-26-2009 @ 10:28PM
jdj said...
What if the people depicted in the show were using YOUR name, and it was putting YOU in a bad light???
5-27-2009 @ 1:41AM
Lawyers and Writers suck said...
Though I agree that it might not harm their business to any degree that a $6 million suit would be justified and I HATE frivilous lawsuits and LAWYERS that are more crooks then those they defend or prosecute, I also HATE writers and actors and everyone else in the MEDIA and Entertainment field that abuse their PULPIT(their ability to slander people in the media for personal and political and even religious agendas and bigotry). In this case the Writer needs to be sent a lesson that YOU have to pay for your crimes IF only the media and stars could be sued by everday people they slander and stereotype constantly we wouldn't have such a One sided biased MEDIA in this country if they had to play by the same rules as everyone else. Shoot I wish we coud sue LAwyers and Politicians that use race and bigotry to get ahead by always accusing others of hatred when in fact it is them pushing a hateful agenda for personal and political gain. WOW imagine( "Labeing others" and pushing them down to get ahead) nah that would never happen Causing even more hatred and division by doing just that. Oh those guys hate you so it's OK to hate them first oops I mean HATE THEM TOO and I am Special and Historic so everything i say so is Okay =) Praise ME!!!!
5-26-2009 @ 9:05PM
Nico said...
Just another waste of taxpayers money in a waste of time lawsuit. I understand they are upset about their name in the show, but for goodness sake, make it a positive thing...can you say any press is good press???
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5-26-2009 @ 3:00PM
johnboy1140 said...
CONSIDERING THIS IS THE WORST C S I SHOW OF THEM ALL IT MIGHT BE TIME TO SHUT THIS ONE DOWN ANYWAY! THEY THINK BY FILMING IN THE DARK AND IN SHADOWS THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL BUT ALL IT DOES IS MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. I QUIT WATCHING IT LONG AGO AND GOOD RIDDANCE.
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5-27-2009 @ 3:32AM
Shannon said...
You do realise that without this version of CSI there would be no others right?
5-26-2009 @ 3:07PM
Anthony said...
Doesn't the end credits contain the disclaimer "Any resemblence to persons, living or dead, is coincidence." or something like that? If so, these people have no leg to stand on.
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5-26-2009 @ 5:46PM
flashygrrl21 said...
Um...that's in no way a real legal statement, it's just a weak attempt at covering their asses which won't work this time. It could even make things worse for the company, IMO.
5-26-2009 @ 7:08PM
Jana said...
Yes, that's true. Except for the fact that somebody associated with the show had been involved with this couple in the not too distant past and that's were the characters names came from. Maybe he honestly forgot that he had met them, but he used their names in the story and they were harmed by it. I say to the couple, GOOD LUCK!!
5-26-2009 @ 7:23PM
Joel Lafargue said...
Perhaps you are confusing "CSI" with Law & Order"?
5-26-2009 @ 7:25PM
Joel Lafargue said...
Anthony:
Perhaps you are confusing "CSI" with "Law & Order"?
5-26-2009 @ 3:11PM
LisaJustLisa said...
I think they should sue the writer not the show. How is the show to know that the writer had business with people named that? The show can't google each name they think about using in a TV show or they'd never have names to use. It's the writer's fault not the show. They should hold him and not the show accountable. Sounds like he needs a spanking. ;)
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5-27-2009 @ 7:10AM
Anna said...
It is called deep pockets, you sue them all and the ones with the most money end up losing it. The writer probably doesn't have a pot to piss in but the Producers, Directors and the Studio are financially set.
5-26-2009 @ 3:27PM
Kat said...
NOT the smartest thing a writer's ever done *shakes head* That's up there with bitching about your job on Facebook, naming names, and not remembering to use a pseudonym to cya...
Completely fubar.
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5-26-2009 @ 3:33PM
gary said...
Hey, it's Miami! Anything goes just as lost vegas. These people are real winners of the most worthless lawsuit award. I hope that they do not get a single cent of what they think they are entitled to. But, as with most wealthy people you cannot have enough money I guess. No matter where you get it from. So I guess I get a letter from there attourny when they try to sue me too...
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5-26-2009 @ 7:35PM
Joel Lafargue said...
Gary:
Where in the article does it say this couple is wealthy? They are struggling in a business that has suffered badly in today's economy. Don't make statements that you can't back up with facts.
5-26-2009 @ 3:32PM
gary said...
I have an unusual last name too. I guess I should sue MGM for using my last name in one of there movies protraying a happless polish guy. I want to be rich too.
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5-26-2009 @ 4:41PM
Marsha said...
This was not a coincidence, that writer used their full names and professions, and he had professional contact w/them. And it's not even true information, he just probably had some grudge against them. This is pretty much the kind of case that libel laws were written for. Companies cover lawsuits caused by employees on company time. The couple could lose their livelihood from people finding this information on google
5-26-2009 @ 3:44PM
cozzette said...
The couple should relax. Instead, they could say that it's just a coincidence. Too many people are sue happy these days.
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