Cameron Diaz wins damages over topless photos

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – “Something About Mary” star Cameron
Diaz has won damages from a Los Angeles photographer who was
convicted of using a forged release to sell topless pictures of
the actress, a spokesman for the actress said on Wednesday.

Spokesman Brad Cafarelli declined to say how much Diaz won
in damages but said she also was seeking an order from the
court requiring photographer John Rutter to pay her attorney
fees.

Rutter was sentenced to nearly four years in prison last
September over what prosecutors called a scheme to blackmail
Diaz with steamy, bondage-themed photos taken when she was 19
and looking to break into Hollywood.

Diaz, 33, and Rutter sued each other in civil court over
the dispute, which the photographer called a misunderstanding.

Cafarelli said a judge had found in favor of the “Charlie’s
Angels” star.

“Ms. Diaz obtained a summary judgment against Mr. Rutter
for unauthorized commercial use of her name and likeness as
well as statutory damages and there is now a permanent
injunction in place prohibiting the sale, license or other use
of the materials including both the photographs and the
videotape in question,” Cafarelli said.

During the criminal trial, prosecutors accused Rutter of
forging Diaz’s signature on a 1992 release form and telling the
actress that he would publish the topless photos unless she
paid him $3 million.

Diaz acknowledged posing for the pictures when she was an
unknown 19-year-old model but said she never signed the release
and felt betrayed when Rutter approached her with them in 2003.

Rutter testified that he believed the signature was genuine
and that he was giving Diaz the chance to keep potentially
embarrassing photos out of circulation.