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Sacha Baron Cohen Sued Over Bruno

Irreverent comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and NBC Universal are being sued by Richelle Olson, who claims that an incident that occurred at a charity bingo event which was filmed for Cohen's forthcoming feature Bruno, left her severely injured.

Olson claims the incident rendered her disabled, as she struggled and tussled with Baron Cohen and the film crew at the bingo tournament, which was held in Palmdale, California two years ago. Olson was apparently trying to snatch a microphone away from Baron Cohen, who was in character as Bruno when she suffered her injuries. In her suit, Olson claims she suffered brain bleeding and now requires a wheelchair and a cane for mobility.

Olson is seeking unspecified damages over $25,000. Borat, the film that made the comedian a star, was also fraught with lawsuits by people who appeared in the film and later claimed that they were both duped and embarrassed by his antics. These claims were thrown out of court when the judge determined that release forms were signed, nullifying filmmaker liability.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
06.04.09