Rogue Ales Sues Over Photo of Nude Woman: Rise in Rent Looms
All lawyers are saddled with the facts of each case that comes across their desk. But how about when the facts are just strange enough to give an attorney a pretty decent case?
Take the facts behind a $51,000 photo of a naked woman and how its tied to a brewpub's rent.
A $51,000 naked photo once hung on the wall of Rogue Ales' Newport Ale House for nearly 25 years.
But now Oregon Brewing Company, parent company of Rogue Ales, is suing Frame Central for losing its racy photo. The beer brewers want it back, or its rent will go up by a lot.
Rogue Ales' Newport location belonged to one Mohave "Mo" Neimi, reports KPTV. In exchange for a generous rental rate, the company agreed to forever hang a photograph of Mo on the property.
The picture is of her naked and in a bathtub.
Even though Mo has since passed, Oregon Brewing Company continues to lease the building from her estate, subject to the same condition. As long as the photo is up, they have cheap rent.
Because Mo's photo makes such a statement, the company decided that it wanted to have the photo and frame cleaned and restored, with 10 copies made to hang in other locations, reports the station. They took the naked photo to Frame Central.
Turns out Frame Central lost Mo, and is now being sued for breach of contract, conversion and negligence, according to the complaint.
Fifty grand seems a little steep for a naked photo that hangs in a bar, but Oregon Brewing Company may have a leg to stand on.
Compensatory damages in negligence suits aim to make the plaintiff whole, as though the injury never occurred. If losing Mo is going to force the company's rent up by $51,000, then they might be entitled to such a high amount.
Related Resources:
- Missing Nude Photo Could Jack Up the Rent (Courthouse News Service)
- Conversion (FindLaw)
- What's the most common legal remedy for a breach of contract? (FindLaw)
- Naked Mailman Just Looking to Cheer Up Woman on His Route (FindLaw's Legally Weird)