D.W. Hunter, the great grandson of Anna Short Harrington, the woman who became "Aunt Jemima," has filed a class action lawsuit against PepsiCo, The Quaker Oats Company, Pinnacle Foods Group and The Hillshire Brands Company on behalf of all of her great grandchildren. He is seeking $2 billion, plus punitive damages to be determined at trial.
Hunter alleges that the companies conspired to deny that Harrington had been an employee of Quaker Oats, all the while exploiting her image and recipes for profit, while refusing to pay an "equitable fair share of royalties" to her heirs for more than 60 years.
The claims come on the heels of the defendants allegedly receiving a certified death certificate for Harrington that listed Quaker Oats as her employer. Hunter further alleges that the companies have lied while claiming they could find no employment records for Harrington, or images of her, and yet they had her image deposited inside the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, according to the document.
Harrington took on the role of the pre-existing character of Aunt Jemima in 1935.
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In a word; SCAM. My take is the D.W Hunter is looking to make a quick fast buck, counting on the corperate lawyers will offer him sum to setttle the matter out of court. I suspect, he is betting on PepsiCo would rather give him some money than have the negative RP. It would be amusing to learn how he came up with the sum of $2 Billion. Also note he wants even more, when punitive damages are included. If I am right, then the only thing he deserves is an "accident" before this goes to court.
ReplyDeleteIt would be amusing to learn how he came up with the sum of $2 Billion.
DeleteHis lawyer, I imagine.
Anything for a buck..
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteSo what? Apart from her role as "Aunt Jamima", which she did not create, Her image had no value. She could be easily replaced by any fat black woman with a wrapper on her head. So, her "image" was of no value. It certainly wasn't a unique marketable property.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly wasn't a unique marketable property.
DeleteGood point.
Hopefuly PepsiCo and Quaker wont cave and settle to these terrorists trying to win the ghetto lottery. Im tired of seeing people trying to get money for nothing because of greedy lawyers.
ReplyDeleteDon't think that will ever stop.
DeleteLawdy lawdy! If they get away with this, I'm filing a lawsuit against Freeport-McMorran mining for using copper leaching techniques my grandpa invented while he worked for Kennecott Copper.
ReplyDeleteFreeport bought Phelps-Dodge, who had bought out Kennecott.
Go for it! You can buy your own castle retreat. :)
DeleteNonproductive people with too much time on their hands. Referring to suer and lawyers.
ReplyDeleteDamn! You'd think they have known better. Way back in 1935. People truly are nuts.
ReplyDelete