Man Wins $15 Million From Nestle - His Face Is On Taster's Choice Coffee

[matcom]

<snip>

GLENDALE, Calif. -- There's been a big jury award for a man whose image was used for years on jars of Taster's Choice coffee.

Russell Christoff said he didn't know Nestle was using the picture he posed for in 1986 until he spotted himself on a label in 2002.

During the legal dispute, he declined a company offer of $100,000, while the company nixed Christoff's offer of $8.5 million.

Now, a jury in Los Angeles has awarded the model-turned-kindergarten teacher more than $15 million for using the image without Christoff's permission. Nestle said it will appeal.

Why did it take the man so many years to spot his image on the coffee jar? He says he doesn't drink freeze-dried Taster's Choice. As he puts it, "I do beans."

http://www.wftv.com/money/4149665/detail.html

[electricmonk]

1. If he signed a release

When the photo was taken Nestle doesn't need his permission. If the photographer and/or ad agency didn't get a signed release then they screwed up big time. Since it says he was a model it's not like he was minding his own business in a coffee shop when someone snapped the photo and then sold it to Nestle or whoever without telling him.