The couple alleges that the paparazzi deployed drones and helicopters to take illegal photos of them and their 14-month-old son in the privacy of their residence.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have not escaped the paparazzi since they left the UK; in fact, they are now suing for invasion of privacy for illegal images that they say were taken of their young son in her own backyard.
Former royalty and recent California residents are suing because of “serial intrusions on the privacy of a 14-month-old boy in his own home, and the desire and responsibility of any parent to do whatever it takes to protect your children from this feeding frenzy manufacturing, “according to a complaint filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court by Michael Kump of Kinsella Weitzman.
After retiring from their position as royalty, in part, to escape the UK’s tabloids, the couple and their son moved to a small town in Canada. So depending on the suit, the Daily mail He published his exact location and the paparazzi descended. So they moved again, this time to a gated community in the Los Angeles area. Again, the Daily mail They wrote the address of their residence and, again, the paparazzi came to their house, and this time they are using drones and helicopters.
“Some paparazzi and the media have flown drones just 20 feet above the house, three times a day, to obtain photographs of the couple and their young son in their private residence,” Kump writes in the complaint, which published below. “Others have flown helicopters over the backyard of the residence, as early as 5:30 am and as late as 7:00 pm, waking up the neighbors and their son, day after day. And others have even done holes in the security fence. to look through it. ”
The couple ignored it until they learned that the photos of their son, Archie, allegedly taken in public, were being purchased. Kump says Archie has not been in public, let alone in Malibu, where the photos were allegedly taken. He argues that the images are intentionally mislabeled because the unsolicited photos of a young child in his own home are illegal.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not know who took the photos or who is trying to sell them. So they are suing the John Doe defendants, hoping to uncover their identities and also to alert potential buyers that the photos were taken illegally. They are asking the court to order the defendants to turn over all the photographs and to prohibit them from any illegal conduct and harassment. They also seek compensatory and punitive damages.
“The Plaintiffs have done everything possible to stay out of the spotlight except in connection with their work, which they freely admit is news,” Kump writes. “But the photos in question are not news. They are not in the public interest. They are harassment. only aiming to take and / or sell those invasive photos is to take advantage of a child. “
Kump also released a statement on behalf of its clients Thursday. “The law guarantees all California individual and family members the right to privacy in their home,” the statement read. “No drone, helicopter, or telephoto lens can take away that right. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are filing this lawsuit to protect their child’s right to privacy in their home without the intrusion of photographers, and to uncover and arrest those who they seek to profit from these illegal actions. “
