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Christian Living

chinaconnection 03/26/09

Frivilous Lawsuit of the Week

Yuan Jiguang is probably one of Liu Xiang's biggest fans.  He even bought a car just because the famous Olympic hurdler endorsed it.  But after getting into a car accident, he plans to sue Liu for about $150 in damages.

Yuan claims that he wouldn't have purchased his car without Liu's seal of approval, and that celebrities need to be aware of the products they're selling.  Granted, even the best-made car can't protect someone from negligent driving, but in his case, the airbags didn't open up when he collided with a truck, causing him to injure his nose.

It's extremely doubtful that Yuan will ever have the opportunity to meet Liu Xiang in court.  Celebrities often endorse a wide range of products from athletic apparel to soft drinks to vehicles.  They might legitimately believe they're promoting a quality product, but chances are, they might not be quite as excited about it if they weren't getting paid millions of dollars.

While this simple fact might burst the bubble of fans who think they'll be able to play golf like Tiger Woods if they wear Nike clothes and Tag Heuer watches, the sooner they find out, the better. 

What would happen if people sued him because they couldn't pay their American Express bills, since he endorses the card?  On second thought, it wouldn't surprise me if those types of lawsuits are coming if they haven't already. 

Do celebrities need to be responsible for what they endorse? Of course.  But at the same time, I highly doubt that Yuan will be getting any money from Liu Xiang any time soon.

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