Suit Filed Over Who Owns Judy Garland’s Face

INDIANAPOLIS —  An Indianapolis group that serves as the business agent for the estate of Judy Garland on Thursday sued Turner Entertainment Co. for comments it made regarding the use of Garland in a national magazine advertisement.

The lawsuit stems from a campaign by Lanier, a business copier company, entitled “Some Names Just Communicate Better Than Others.” In the advertisement, Lanier used a photo of Garland and made reference to her name change from Frances Gumm.

Indianapolis-based Curtis Management Group, an entertainment and sports agency that specializes in controlling the commercial use of deceased celebrities, controls the use of Judy Garland’s name and likeness on behalf of her children--Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joseph Luft.

Curtis negotiated the sale of Garland’s likeness to Babbit & Reiman, the advertising agency for Harris/3M company, which owns Lanier.

In the lawsuit filed in Marion County Circuit Court, Curtis contends Turner, which owns the MGM film library, including Garland’s most famous movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” told Lanier it must pay Turner $50,000 for using Garland’s likeness or face litigation.

Curtis Management’s suit claims that the actions by Turner, based in Culver City, constitute an actionable “interference with business and contractual relations.”

The lawsuit seeks a declaration that Curtis did not violate any of Turner’s rights and seeks an unspecified award of court costs, attorney fees and monetary damages from Turner for its “interference of Curtis’ business.”

“Unfortunately, Turner has the mistaken belief that it owns the right to the name of Judy Garland,” Curtis President Mark Roesler said.

“It was Judy’s wish that her children own and protect this right, and it is our company’s responsibility and intention to see to it that the family continues to control Judy’s name and likeness.”