Actor Michael Avmen Suing After Being Denied Entry to Oscars

http://www.shockya.com/news/2010/04/24/actor-michael-avmen-suing-after-being-denied-entry-to-oscars/

Actor Michael Avmen Suing After Being Denied Entry to Oscars


Budding Hollywood actor Michael Avmen is suing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for $50 million, FOXNews reported on April 22. Avmen is claiming in his lawsuit that he and his wife were on the guest list to attend the Academy Awards on March 7, but when they arrived at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, they were held against their will for six hours.

Avmen said he and his wife were taken to the Academy’s “detention center” and repeatedly questioned about how they were able to get onto the red carpet without tickets. While he is insisting they were confirmed guests, they were accused of lying and trespassing. Therefore, Avmen has listed illegal false imprisonment and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress on the lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, which was filed in Central District Superior Court in California, Avmen also stated he and his wife did indeed receive a tentative invitation to cinema’s biggest night. While he and his publicist never given physical tickets to the event, he still showed up. He believed the Academy would hold their tickets inside the theater, as they did for other actors, including Robert Downey, Jr.

But when they arrived at the Kodak, Avmen said he and his wife were taken by an usher to the hotel’s “resolution desk.” He spoke with the Academy employee with whom he was previously in contact with, but the couple was still questioned. Six hours later, L.A. police arrived and took Avmen and his wife into custody, but no charges were filed against them. While the Academy officials didn’t apologize for the alleged imprisonment, Avmen said the police did.

The actor, who has small roles in the upcoming movies ‘Broken Blade,’ ‘Battle: Los Angeles’ and ‘Straw Dogs,’ also said in a statement that “If I or some ‘REGULAR’ individual acted as the Academy did, we would be in prison right now. I want and will show that these people aren’t above the law.’

Written by: Karen Benardello