ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – Joe Francis, the creator of “Girls Gone Wild,” was in a St. Louis courtroom Monday facing tough criticism stemming from a $5.8 million lawsuit.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, John Medler, said Francis was “hiding money”
and “lying” to avoid paying the judgment.
However, Francis said he is no longer “involved” with the distribution company that owes the $5.8 million.
In 2004, a Missouri woman said an independent contractor for “Girls Gone Wild” lifted her shirt against her will during a taping at a St. Louis bar.
The video was distributed and according to Medler made “millions of dollars.”
Francis created “Girls Gone Wild” and its distribution company.
“I have not been in control for years, and do not know where the money is,” Francis said.
Medler tried to convince the judge to send Francis to jail for not producing financial documents that could help his client collect; instead, the judge set a date of Jan. 24 for a status hearing regarding the documents.
Francis is not required to appear for the hearing.
