Ji v. Bose Corp., 09-2341

Plaintiff's suit for improper use of her image to package and promote defendant's product

Ji v. Bose Corp., 09-2341, concerned a challenge to the district court's judgment, in three consolidated appeals, arising out of the improper use of a model's image to package and promote a home entertainment system.

In affirming the district court's judgment, the court held that a new trial on damages is not warranted as plaintiff has not shown that the district court's order partially granting her motion to compel constituted an abuse of discretion, nor has she shown that the district court's omission of her proposed instruction constituted plain error or that it likely altered the damages award.  The court also held that defendants have waived their claim that trial on plaintiff's right-to-publicity and privacy claims should never have taken place in the first instance.  Lastly, the court held that the district court's decision to deny defendant's request for attorneys' fees under section 1117(a), as well as defendant's request for fees under section 1927, was well within the bounds of its discretion.

Related Link:

• Read the First Circuit's Full Decision in Ji v. Bose Corp., 09-2341