This morning, TLC slapped a lawsuit on Jon Gosselin, the media-circuit-frequenting and production-halting patriarch of Jon & Kate Plus 8, claiming he breached his contract multiple times in the past months. The lawsuit was filed two weeks after TLC announced that it would phase out Jon and retitle the series Kate Plus Eight. Curiously, hours after the network dumped Jon publicly, the Ed Hardy poster boy claimed that the network was exploiting his children and forced TLC to stop production. Executives at The Learning Channel, who have been documenting the Gosselin family over the past two years, remember events differently...(cue milky dissolve)
The lawsuit, filed by Williams & Connolly (a DC firm famous for its scorched earth policy), zeroes in on an agreement the Gosselins signed in April 2008 to allow Discovery Talent Services to manage the "publicity, marketing and distribution of the program." In return, Jon agreed to allow filming and "conduct himself in an appropriate manner." If either stipulation was broken, DTS was allowed to terminate the contract entirely. Unfortunately for Jon, the inappropriate conduct originally outlined (or foreshadowed) was "dishonesty, public intoxication or other conduct that offended social conventions or public morals or decency or that brought the family or TLC into public disrepute, contempt, scandals or ridicule."
Check, check and check. So just which of Jon's indiscretions did the lawsuit cite while claiming economic damages in excess of $30,0000?
1. Still Married Jon Spotted Drunk With Women That Were Not His Wife
"In the spring of 2009, photographs of and stories about Defendant Gosselin at bars and nightclubs, apparently intoxicated and in the company of women other than his wife, began appearing regularly in various national and local media outlets and across the interview." (Kate did not file for divorce until June 22, 2009)
2. Jon Whores Himself Out To Tabloid News Programs In Spite Of His Exclusivity Contract With TLC
"Defendant Gosselin set about to capitalize on his rising notoriety by selling his services to other media, in violation of his contractual exclusivity obligation to Plaintiff. On information and belief, he entered a lucrative arrangement to appear regularly on Entertainment Tonight and its companion show, The Insider to discuss his family and the problems he was having with Mrs. Gosselin."
3. Jon Whored Out Pictures Of His Family
"Defendant Gosselin routinely sold photographic rights to various media outlets."
4. Jon Hosted Vegas Parties For Cash
"Defendant Gosselin accepted payments to endorse products and services, including, for example, a paid August 29 appearance as "host" of a pool party at Wet Republic at the MGM Grand Hotel."
5. Jon Issued Public Statements Without TLC's Approval
"Defendent Gosselin routinely disregarded his contractual promise not to issue any press releases nor make any other statements about the program without Plaintiff's written consent."
6. Jon No-Showed TLC
"On September 18, 2009, TLC requested that Defendant Gosselin appear for filming on September 24th and asked that by 5 pm, on September 22nd, he or his representative confirm his intention to appear. That deadline passed without a response from Defendant Gosselin or his representatives."
7. Jon Threatens TLC That If They Won't Release Him From Exclusivity Contract, He Will Halt Production, Claiming That Network Is Exploiting His Kids
"After taking his erratic public behavior, fessional conduct and serial disregard for his contractional obligations, among other things, TLC announced that it would re-launch in November 2009 as Kate + Eight. Even though Gosselin would continue to appear on the program, continue to receive compensation and would remain under contract, Jon's attorney contacted the Plaintiff that same day demanding that Gosselin be released from his exclusivity provisions of the Agreement, so that Gosselin could collect compensation from Plaintiff while also earning substantial sums from his appearances elsewhere. Jon's lawyer stated that if this release was not forthcoming within one hour's time, Defendant Gosselin would reverse his often repeated public comments to the contrary and publicly object to further filming of the program on the grounds that it is purportedly detrimental to his children."
8. Jon Is Still Disclosing Confidential Information and Lying to the Press
"Defendant Gosselin has continued to breach the Agreement by making unauthorized public and press statements about the program and the parties, including disclosing confidential information and making false and disparaging statements about TLC and Mrs. Gosselin."
9. Jon Continues to Endorse Products and Services In Spite of TLC Contract
"Plaintiff has continued to make unauthorized public appearances to endorse or sponsor products or services unconnected to the program."
ยท TLC to Jon -- Pants on Fire! [TMZ]