DAILY NEWS SLAMMED IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LIBEL AND DEFAMATION LAWSUIT FOR IDENTIFYING THE WRONG WOMAN AS THE INFAMOUS “MANHATTAN MADAM”

On February 6, 2009, Bojana Vuleta, a Queen’s stylist, filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the New York Daily News for falsely identifying her as the notorious “Manhattan Madam” in a February 1, 2009 news story entitled, “Madam’s Slippery Story of Sex Attack.” The Complaint states that the New York Daily News published a photograph of Ms. Vuleta outside her home, but falsely identified her as the notorious Kristin Davis who has been associated with overseeing a high-priced prostitution ring.  The Complaint also alleges that the Daily News falsely reported, among other things, that Ms. Vuleta:

• lied to the police;
• was sexually attacked;
• was incarcerated for commission of various crimes; and
• was drunk and slurring her words in public.

Ms. Vuleta, who has never been involved in any of the above acts and who does not even know the “Manhattan Madam,” has been harassed at her job and in her neighborhood by people who now claim to believe that she is living a double life.  Ms. Vuleta’s image, tagged with the term, “Manhattan Madam,” has spread virally across the Internet, and is now linked with pornography, homosexuality, bestiality, transsexualism, sex toys, and similar topics.

The suit also complains that the Daily News and other news outlets have endangered Ms. Vuleta’s life by, not only publishing her photograph, but also listing her home address prominently in the story.  In previous articles, the Daily News reported that the “Manhattan Madam” was in possession of a notorious “black book,” which listed the names of thousands of affluent “customers.”  Craig Delsack, representing Ms. Vuleta, commented: “This is simply a disgusting and dangerous act of yellow journalism.”  A cease and desist letter was sent to the Daily News and all of the other media outlets directing them to pull the story and to print immediate retractions.  The Complaint seeks $80 Million in damages.

Referring to the Daily News’ article as the “height of irresponsibility and cruelty,” Michael Hiller, also representing Ms. Vuleta, stated that the Daily News’ decision to publish Ms. Vuleta’s home address “effectively invited every angry ‘john’ embarrassed by disclosure of his involvement in the prostitution ring to harm Ms. Vuleta.  It’s nothing short of outrageous.”

The Complaint demands punitive damages against the Daily News, in part, because the paper published another news story on the morning of February 6, 2009, again falsely identifying Ms. Vuleta as Davis, dispite that fact that Ms. Vuleta’s attorneys notified the Daily News editor-in-chief, Martin Dunn, of the paper’s blatant misconduct.