The lawyer for the former Miss B.C. who launched a class-action lawsuit against a top Hollywood talent agency said yesterday his client is making “a huge sacrifice” by going public.
“She’s very fragile,” Perry Wander said of Claire Robinson, who is claiming she was raped. “Claire is very brave for coming forward publicly.”
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims Robinson and others were taken to fake auditions and subjected to unwanted sexual advances.
Michelle Suess, spokeswoman for ICM, issued a statement about the claims.
“Ms. Robinson’s allegations are completely baseless. ICM denies any and all wrongdoing and will vigorously defend this action,” the statement said.
Wander said his 23-year-old, Vancouver-born client has suffered a nervous breakdown.
He said the lawsuit seeks 10 per cent of ICM’s gross annual earnings, or $10 million in punitive damages. That could triple, if Wander is successful in designating ICM under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, also known as RICO — the same act used to prosecute the mafia.
Correction – May 21, 2009, 9:34 am PST: A previous version of this story contained incorrect information. While International Creative Management (ICM) and some of its employees are named in the lawsuit launched by Claire Robinson, the talent agent accused of rape is not an employee at ICM. Metro regrets the error.
