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Dr. Phil Sues Gawker for Posting Manti Te'o Video on Deadspin.com

By Adam Ramirez | Last updated on

Dr. Phil’s production company has filed suit against Gawker Media for posting footage of the TV therapist’s interview with Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the man behind the Manti Te’o girlfriend hoax, on Deadspin.com.

The suit was filed Monday in a Texas federal court by Peteski Productions, one of the producers of the Dr. Phil show.

The complaint alleges the sports gossip website posted the juiciest parts of the interview online before it had aired in the majority of Dr. Phil markets.

In its copyright infringement lawsuit, Dr. Phil’s producers also include an artful “suckerfish” reference:

“A remora is a fish, sometimes called a suckerfish, which attaches itself to other fish like sharks,” the complaint states. “The host fish gains nothing from the relationship but the remora is enriched by obtaining benefits (usually food and transportation) from the host… Gawker received substantial benefits from its infringement but Pateski received nothing…”

Dr Phil Sues Gawker For Manti Teo Video

For more coverage of sports and law, check out our Tarnished Twenty blog.

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