Ben-DutkaYet another lawsuit leveled at Grand Theft Auto V , and this one could hurt a little.
Publisher Take-Two Interactive is being sued by Karen Gravano, the daughter of Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano. She was a recent star of VH1's reality TV show, "Mob Wives," although she's no longer part of the program.
Now, she wants $20 million in compensation and $20 million in punitive damages because she claims Take-Two ripped off her image and life story in GTAV. According to a report in the New York Daily News , here's a snippet from the filed papers:
"Notwithstanding the fact that plaintiff has the utmost respect for the writers and creators of the Grand Theft Auto V video game…her story is unique and is hers to tell."
Gravano claims that character Antonia Bottino is based on her, and she wasn't compensated or credited for the role. Bottino's father in the game is a former Gambetti family mob boss named Sammy (Sonny) Bottino, and he ends up becoming an informant, just like Gravano's father. He actually helped to take down John Gotti, in fact. Bottino also doesn't want her daughter to star in a fictional show called "Wise Bitches," an obvious parody of "Mob Wives."
Gravano's lawsuit says the developers could've just asked for her permission "with relative ease." Yeah, well, let's just say this is a woman who knows where the money is, and that's that.
Related Game(s): Grand Theft Auto V
I hope this doesn't effect the PS4 version I'm waiting for!
I hope this doesn't affect the development of Agent!
I don't know anything about her nor do I care about her story. It seems she knows GTAV made a ton of money and wants some of it and/or get back into a spotlight.
oh gawd, give me a break!
next we'll be hearing ninty is being sued because mario has the
likeness to some real life plumber.
That's pretty thin. If the game had a young blonde slutty actress in trouble Lindsey Lohan shouldn't get any money.
Greed at its finest.
I'll drop her a line. She definitely knows where the money is and when she sets a target she usually finds a way to get her way. I noticed the similarities in the game but don't know hire successful her suit will be. I wonder, Did Weird All Yankovitz have these issues or did he get permission from those he parodied? Soon we won't even be able to say someone's name without paying royalties.
Just shocked this wasn't lindsey lohan again lol
"she wants $20 million in compensation and $20 million in punitive damages" This lady is crazy!!
+ she has the nerve to say "Gravano's lawsuit says the developers could've just asked for her permission "with relative ease."" lol I hope Take-Two Interactive wins the Lawsuit
WOW! Her story is not all that unique. There have been multiple "Mobster turned informant" case's and stories told throughout multiple media formats! In fact, I do believe that it's been in just about every GTA game!
I have a teenage son that wants to act like a gangsta just like Michael. Where's my royalties?
Oh, wait, that's just called life. My bad!
Besides, Sammy the Bull certainly wasn't the first mob informant….if you're old enough to remember "The Vallaci(SP) Papers" back when. Even made a high grossing movie about it.
I'm surprised she's not suing everyone involved in that one too,LOL.
(I don't even remember the character.)
Rockstar carved out a big piece of pie and now everyone wants a slice. Nothing new here.
Incidentally, just got finished setting up my PSN account (PS3 only), so if anyone wants to be mah friend just send me a message letting me know who you are. UserID is Lawless_SXE. You should probably know, though, that the only MP games I have with me at the moment are Spec Ops and Journey so… yeah.
I'd be happy to be your friend but I really don't MP though….
Will give you an invite in a little while.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 2/26/2014 6:51:17 PM
The stupid ***** needs to shut her mouth.
Rockstar should have their own hitman and off the greedy,desperate lunatic.
She has a very weak case
well this isn't the 1st time GTAV has come under fire and are possibly paying out more money to people who just want to cash in on GTAV's success
happy gaming =)
You mean it's possible Take Two paid these people to do such things for more publicity on GTAV?
"possibly paying out more money to people"???
Proof????
If Michael "Shagg" Washington couldn't win his lawsuit over his supposed likeness in San Andreas, then I don't see where this gal has much of a chance. I give hear credit for not asking for $250 million but not a lot of credit. She's probably just expecting a settlement, but I hope she doesn't even get that!
Soooooo she's suing over a story that has been used countless number of times(used so much that in fact it is now cliché) by various media sources? What a dumb…..