Verne Troyer TMZ Lawsuit

June 27, 2008: Actor Verne Troyer, better known as Mini-Me, filed a $20 million lawsuit against the blog site, TMZ.com. Troyer claimed that TMZ aired portions of a sex tape depicting him and his former girlfriend Ranae Shrider engaging in sexual acts.¹

Fast Facts

1. Suit filed in the Los Angeles district court¹
2. Filed on June 26, 2008¹
3. Seeking injunction to stop the distribution of the tape¹
4. Troyer claims the tape was stolen¹
5. Shrider stated that her video camera was used to make the tape²
6. Kevin Blatt obtained possession of the tape¹
7. Blatt named as a defendant in the suit¹
8. Blatt has sold other celebrity sex tapes including one by Paris Hilton¹

Verne Troyer Fast Facts

1. Born: January 1, 1969
2. Birthplace: Sturgis, Michigan
3. Born with dwarfism
4. Portrayed Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films
5. Married model Genevieve Gallen on January 22, 2004
6. Filed for annulment a month later

Restraining Order

A Los Angeles Federal Court judge issued a restraining order on June 27, 2008, banning TMZ.com from airing clips from the Verne Troyer sex tape and prohibiting further distribution of the tape. TMZ.com complied with the court order and removed the tape from their website immediately.³

Tape Reinstated

July 2, 2008: A Los Angeles Federal Court judge ruled that TMZ.com could reinstate portions of the Verne Troyer sex tape on their website after Troyer's ex-girlfriend, Ranae Shrider, admitted to givingTMZ.com permission to use portions of the tape. TMZ.com reinstated snippets from the tape on their site following the ruling.²

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