Kim Kardashian Settles Look-Alike Lawsuit Against Old Navy (PHOTO)
Kim Kardashian settled a year-long lawsuit against clothing retailer Old Navy, following claims that the company violated her publicity by using a model who resembles the reality TV star in an ad.
Kardashian had filed the lawsuit against Old Navy in July 2011 and it was dismissed in court on Wednesday after both parties reached a private settlement, according to new reports.
"The lawsuit was resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties," Both parties said in a joint statement according to USAToday.com
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The 31-year-old had accused the clothing retailer of using Canadian model and singer by the name of Melissa Molinaro with intent to deceive th public in to thinking that she was actually Kardashian.
Kardashian's attorney Gary Hecker argued that Old Navy's ad "used Plaintiff's likeness in the form of a celebrity 'look-alike,'" which was "likely to cause confusion, and have caused actual confusion, in the minds of the consuming public as to an association of Kim Kardashian with Defendant's products and services," according to the lawsuit.
Hecker also contended that certain media outlets, including CBS News, and Twitter users publicly identified similarities in both women's appearances.
While terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, it is believed that Kardashian initially estimated her damages to be between $15 million and $20 million.
Molinaro spoke out regarding Kardashian's claims and said that she was pleased with the look-alike comparisons.
"To me it's extremely flattering. She is a beautiful woman…That's an amazing compliment," Molinaro told E! In 2011.
Molinaro's appearance is not the only similarity that she shares with Kardashian. In 2011, around the same time that the reality star sued Old Navy, it was revealed that Molinaro was dating Kardashian's ex-boyfriend Reggie Bush.
Although the pair has since split some critics had previously questioned whether the romance between Molinaro and Bush influenced Kardashian's decision to sue Old Navy. However fans contend that the reality star had moved on from the NFL star long before he developed a relationship with Molinaro.
