Jerry & Jessica Seinfeld Sued For Plagiarism And Defamation

An author today sued Jerry Seinfeld's wife for allegedly plagiarizing a cookbook she wrote and also accused the comedian of defaming her as a "wacko" during an interview with David Letterman. In a federal lawsuit, Missy Chase Lapine alleges that Jessica Seinfeld "brazenly plagiarized" from her 2007 book "The Sneaky Chef" in the writing of Seinfeld's own cookbook (both volumes focused on how to prepare healthy meals for finicky young eaters). When news stories appeared detailing similarities in the two books, Jerry Seinfeld launched a "malicious, premeditated, and knowingly false and defamatory attack" on Lapine, the complaint charges. As part of that campaign, Seinfeld went on Letterman's show and described Lapine as "angry" and "hysterical." He then compared her to the kind of "wackos" that had previously stalked Letterman. The comedian then added that Lapine was a "three-name woman" and "if you read history, many of the three-name people do become assassins."

Keep reading and see the 19 page filing

Meanwhile, the Seinfeld spokesperson weighed in:
"There's no truth whatsoever to any claim of plagiarism," insisted Richard Menaker. "We will vigorously challenge this misguided use of the legal system."

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See Jerry's appearance on Letterman (third video clip down)

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See Jessica address the charges on "The View." She said in part, "It must have been hard to see have quickly my book took off."

Comments

[stillfresh]

Title 17 of the US Code says: You cannot copyright an idea. Formulas are ideas and recipes are formulas. But the expression of the recipe, the directions, are definitely protected under copyright law. For example, Coke is a formula -- and that "idea" is in a very safe place. You could say Pepsi "expressed" that idea in its own way. So, if Jessica stole an idea, which in a recipe is the ingredient list, there's a chance the Seinfelds will walk out of court and go out for a nice NY dinner. If Jessica copied word for word the directions -- even just passages -- that's plagiarism, and the Seinfelds could take a big hit.

[Philippa]

His resorting to argumentum ad hominem clearly shows what kind of person Jerry Seinfeld is. The issue is not Lapine's character; it's if there is truth to her allegation of plagiarism. If his wife concocted original ideas, he should just state the facts and provide evidence of her years of research and trial and error.

Missus Seinfeld should recognize that her husband's name and Oprah have a lot to do with her book's success. Would the book have done as well if published under a pen name?

Lapine has another book coming out in April. Now, we know who's the real author, don't we?

[GQTaste]

I hope the women gets everything she asks for. Fuck Jerry, when Larry D. derserves all the credit for making that show what it was. And fuck his wife w/ a big ass dildo for talking shit about a regular women who was defamed on Opra and Letterman! It's funny, her book came out six mouths before, but somehow fuckheads wife was the orginal creator of the cookbook.

[truthyguy]

Jerry: Up the stakes for Lapine - file a counterclaim.

If you don't put these scumbags at risk, they keep on with their frivolous suits.

[Kirin]

I'm on the side of the good Miss Lapine, screw that Jerry whoever and his lying cheating wife. What monumental nerve, to call the authentic author a 'wacko'.

[Pippilangstrumpf]

WOW!!

I think the Court of Public Opinion has spoken!

:)

[frybread]

Jerry Seinfeld and his trophy wife are arrogant, egocentric hacks. Larry David was the true creative for behind "Seinfeld" and his little wife is reportedly a plagiarizer. Great couple.

[Izadora]

To Theda: Agree 100%.

Jerry S = millionaire

James Frey = poor man

MONEY= Power.

Oprah just "hang" small people. The way she

hung James Frey.

I used to be 0 fan but I really lost respect.

ps. Dr. Phil still her friend. The reason that

she never goes to big parties like

weddings, etc.,

because she doesn't wanted to spoil the party

with the attention toward her.

Am I said the correct way? Sorry but English

is my second language.

[LooseSeal]

That's a shame.

[[e-mail]]

If there’s any justice in the world, Lapine will get millions of the Seinfelds money. Jessica is a thief and Jerry is scum, as he proved when he slandered an honest author on national television.

[SCharb]

Well, that filing is absolutely hilarious and filled with holes. It exaggerates a lot, but all these do. (For example, no page citations show quote cherry-picking. Despite the publishing date difference of six months, there is no mention of how long it took both of them to write their books.)

The case will be picked apart.

[skepticfromschenectady]

Mistake #1: Going on Letterman and defaming Lachance. That's not fighting fair.
Mistake #2: Jessica claiming credit for a bestseller when we all know that it was her celebrity pull with Oprah that got her the huge buying audience, not to mention stealing the idea from an unknown author.
Mistake #3: Thinking that gazillions of dollars, a crack legal team, and celebrity entre into the free bully pulpit of late night TV, Oprah, etc. will win his case, is the height of arrogance.
Mistake #4: Seinfeld believing that he was the creative force behind "Seinfeld" and not Larry David.

[realitycheck7]

How arrogant it is for Jessica to say something like; "It must have been hard to see have quickly my book took off."

oh I'm sure that has nothing to do with who you are married to. It was all based on your merit as an author. And of course you did not get extra publicity and special treatment from the publishing house because of your name

[eaglecapri]

Good for the original author! I hope the case exposes Mrs. Seinfeld for the plagiarist that she is!

[egghumor]

Like many of you, I am also a SEINFELD fan, but this has nothing to do with that. From what I can see, author Lapine has a very good case and a legitimate reason to cry plagiarism. Jerry Seinfeld should have really kept his mouth shut and let author Lapine and author (Jessica) Seinfeld duke it out in court. He looks like a real a**hole for using this legit, legal situation as fodder for comedy. Perhaps Lapine will get the last laugh...