LOS ANGELES — The porn family feud that played out in federal court this week ended in a draw Friday when a jury ruled that Larry Flynt’s estranged nephews infringed on their famous uncle’s trademark when they launched their own smut business, but did not invade his privacy and were not liable for the substantial attorney fees both sides rang up.
The jury of four men and four women rendered its verdict after a four-day trial.
They listened as Flynt, who was paralyzed when he was shot by a white-supremacist sniper in 1978, sat in his gold-plated wheelchair Tuesday and Wednesday and testified that in the porn business his name stands for quality. His nephews, he said, were besmirching it by putting that name on “trashy” adult movies.
“The junk they publish hurts my reputation, which in turn hurts my revenue,” he testified.
After about three hours of deliberations Friday, jurors concluded that Flynt’s nephews, Jimmy Flynt Jr. and his brother, Dustin Flynt, did indeed infringe on their uncle’s trademark when they produced films with the word “FLYNT” in large capital letters above the titles.
At the same time, the jury rejected Flynt’s contention that his nephews invaded his privacy, a ruling their attorney, Dan DeCarlo, said holds Flynt responsible for all attorney fees.
The nephews launched their own company after their uncle fired them from executive positions at Larry Flynt Publications in November 2007. Jimmy Jr., 37, had worked there for 17 years, starting in the mailroom. His 34-year-old brother had been there 10 years.
