A & E Television Networks And Lifetime Movie Network Sued For Defamation By Daun Slagle For Falsely Portraying Her As A Prostitute In The Lifetime Original Movie "Happy Face Killer" About Serial Killer Keith Jesperson

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Sep 09, 2014, 02:45 ET

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Daun Slagle has filed a lawsuit asserting defamation and other causes of action against A&E Television Networks, Lifetime Movie Network and other defendants involved in the production and airing of the Lifetime original movie Happy Face Killer. Happy Face Killer purports to be the true story of serial killer Keith Jesperson's murder spree. Keith Jesperson killed at least 8 women between the period of 1990 to 1995. Keith Jesperson is currently serving life sentences for murder in Oregon.

Happy Face Killer (PRNewsFoto/The Lovell Firm)

Ms. Slagle is the only known survivor of an attack by Keith Jesperson. She was sexually assaulted and battered by Keith Jesperson in Mount Shasta, California on April 13, 1990, but managed to save herself and her infant child. After investigating the incident, authorities in Siskiyou County California subsequently charged Keith Jesperson with sexual battery for his attack against Ms. Slagle.

Although a courageous victim, the Lifetime original movie Happy Face Killer falsely portrayed Ms. Slagle as a prostitute who voluntarily performs oral sex on Keith Jesperson in front of her infant child, and who thereafter attempts to extort money from Keith Jesperson by threatening to file a false police report and false charge of rape against Keith Jesperson if he did not pay her money. The lawsuit states "this portrayal is false, egregious and disgusting."

Tre Lovell, one of the attorneys representing Ms. Slagle, summarized it as follows: "This case begets the much larger inquiry as to how much license Hollywood has with respect to impugning and attacking one's reputation, despite all attempts by that person to clear her name and set the record straight."

According to Slagle attorney Bryan Vereschagin: "There is absolutely no excuse for what the defendants did here. As alleged in the complaint, they knew or certainly should have known the truth of Jesperson's attack against Ms. Slagle yet deliberately or recklessly chose to sensationalize the movie for ratings and falsely portray her. It is just wrong. Unfortunately, Ms. Slagle will be harmed for life by their false portrayal of her. We look forward to representing Ms. Slagle to clear her name and obtain justice for her."

Ms. Slagle can be reached through her counsel: Tre Lovell, The Lovell Firm, 1875 Century Park East, Suite 1490, Century City, CA 90067 (310) 275-2100, www.lovellfirm.com; and Bryan Vereschagin, Vereschagin Law Firm, 505 Montgomery Street, 11^th Floor, San Francisco, CA 9411 (415) 834-5434, www.vereschaginlaw.com.

The actual lawsuit can be found at: http://lovellfirm.com/slagle-v-a-lifetime-movie-network/

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SOURCE The Lovell Firm