Trademark Holders File Lawsuit Over ABC's "Ruffian" Movie

ABC/ESPN Facing Lawsuit Over Ruffian Movie

Trainer Frank Whiteley, jockey Jacinto Vasquez and Thoroughbred Legends have filed a lawsuit against Disney, ESPN, ABC and Orly Adelson Productions over their plan to “portray inaccurately the events of Ruffian’s life” in an ABC movie set to air on Saturday after coverage of the Belmont Stakes, according to Matt Hegarty of the DAILY RACING FORM. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Northern Georgia, seeks monetary damages of $10M and an injunction against airing the movie. The plaintiffs claim Thoroughbred Legends owns the trademark to the name “Ruffian,” and that Whiteley and Vasquez “both are part-owners of the ‘Ruffian’ mark.” It also claims the movie’s producers “did not obtain the rights to use Ruffian’s name” (DRF.com, 6/5). Whiteley and Vasquez said that they “rejected offers to sell their life stories to ESPN and Orly Adelson Productions for $5,000 each and an additional $100,000 be split among the pair and [assistant trainer Mike] Bell if a film was made” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 6/7). In a statement, ESPN said, “The claims of the lawsuit are without merit” (Mult., 6/7).