A lawsuit filed by a Holocaust survivor's estate against the creators of Sacha Baron Cohen's new Borat sequel has been dismissed.
Fulton County Georgia Judge Kevin Farmer dismissed the case today in Georgia, where it was recently filed, Deadline reports. The decision came after the judge made reference to several defects in the plaintiff's case, some of which were pointed out by the defendants.
As previously reported, the daughter of Holocaust survivor Judith Dim Evans was protesting the commercial use of an interview between Cohen and Evans, who appeared in the Borat film before her passing.
The lawsuit originally stated Evans did not consent to appear in the comedy and thought the interview was filmed for a serious documentary. Ultimately, the case against the film stated the interview was done to "mock the Holocaust and Jewish culture."
In the wake of today's legal ruling, Amazon attorney Russell Smith said the following:
The lawsuit was dismissed, unconditionally. The lawsuit is over. Sacha Baron Cohen was deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with Judith Dim Evans, whose compassion and courage as a Holocaust survivor has touched the hearts of millions of people who have seen the film. Judith's life is a powerful rebuke to those who deny the Holocaust, and with this film and his activism, Sacha Baron Cohen will continue his advocacy to combat Holocaust denial around the world.
Cohen — who is Jewish — dedicated the movie to Evans. Deadline also reports that the Borat filmmakers helped other family members of the late Evans to create a website in her honour.
What's more, Cohen and Amazon Prime are reportedly working on a way to use unseen footage with Evans, such as via bonus content for viewers to hear Evans tell her story of what happened to her and her family during the Second World War.
Read Exclaim!'s review of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.
Fulton County Georgia Judge Kevin Farmer dismissed the case today in Georgia, where it was recently filed, Deadline reports. The decision came after the judge made reference to several defects in the plaintiff's case, some of which were pointed out by the defendants.
As previously reported, the daughter of Holocaust survivor Judith Dim Evans was protesting the commercial use of an interview between Cohen and Evans, who appeared in the Borat film before her passing.
The lawsuit originally stated Evans did not consent to appear in the comedy and thought the interview was filmed for a serious documentary. Ultimately, the case against the film stated the interview was done to "mock the Holocaust and Jewish culture."
In the wake of today's legal ruling, Amazon attorney Russell Smith said the following:
The lawsuit was dismissed, unconditionally. The lawsuit is over. Sacha Baron Cohen was deeply grateful for the opportunity to work with Judith Dim Evans, whose compassion and courage as a Holocaust survivor has touched the hearts of millions of people who have seen the film. Judith's life is a powerful rebuke to those who deny the Holocaust, and with this film and his activism, Sacha Baron Cohen will continue his advocacy to combat Holocaust denial around the world.
Cohen — who is Jewish — dedicated the movie to Evans. Deadline also reports that the Borat filmmakers helped other family members of the late Evans to create a website in her honour.
What's more, Cohen and Amazon Prime are reportedly working on a way to use unseen footage with Evans, such as via bonus content for viewers to hear Evans tell her story of what happened to her and her family during the Second World War.
Read Exclaim!'s review of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.
