PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis is being sued again, this time by a pair of Florida women alleging a sexually explicit video was released without their consent.
In the federal lawsuit filed Monday in Panama City, the two women said they were enticed to board a tour bus sponsored by Francis' production compny with the promise of free clothing, according to an Associated Press report. Once onboard, they allegedly were given alcoholic drinks even though both were younger than 21.
According to the suit, which seeks unspecified damages, the cameramen then coerced the women into exposing themselves and engaging in sexual activities, but repeatedly assured them that they would not use the footage, which has now appeared on two separate Girls Gone Wild DVDs.
The women claim that their consent was either gained illegally, by giving them alcohol, or the footage was used without their consent at all.
Michael Burke, attorney for Francis' Mantra Films Inc., told The News Herald that Girls Gone Wild crews don't serve alcohol on their tour buses and ask women for identification to verify their age.
Francis is currently in a Nevada jail on federal tax evasion charges. Arrangements for his release on $1.5 million bail were being finalized last week when the circuit judge presiding over his Florida case revoked his bond on state charges filed in 2003 of using minors in sexual performances, conspiring to use minors in sexual performances and prostitution.
The Florida judge also ordered Francis held on new state charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of contraband, charges stemming from an incident last month in which Francis is accused of bribing a Bay County Jail guard for bottled water to wash down smuggled tranquilizers.
Francis is also charged in Florida with using minors in sexual performances, conspiring to use minors in sexual performances and prostitution.
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