Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Farrell’s gone wild: Actor sues to block sex tape

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - A July 17 trial date has been scheduled in Colin Farrell's lawsuit against an ex-girlfriend who wants to sell their homemade sex tape.

A Superior Court judge on Friday set trial for the lawsuit against former Playboy Playmate Nicole Narain, although lawyers for both agreed to enter mediation to resolve the case before trial. JudgeElihu M. Berle ordered talks to wrap up byApril 20.

Farrell wasn't in court.

His lawsuit names Narain, who was Playboy's Miss January 2002, and two others for allegedly planning to market an explicit 14-minute tape that Farrell contended was never intended for public viewing.

The lawsuit said the release of the videotape would irreparably harm the reputation and career of Farrell, the 29-year-old star of "The New World" and "Alexander."

Earlier this month, an Internet site that purported to be selling access to the tape was shut down for violating a court order blocking the tape's release but graphic stills appeared on another site.

Farrell's lawyer, Paul Berra, said those believed responsible for releasing the tape would be brought into the lawsuit.

Friday, another Internet site offered a tape for downloading that it said may be the disputed tape.