Former Teen-Age Model Sues Agency Founder

By Leslie Simmons
Daily Journal Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES   A former teen model has filed suit claiming that the founder of one of the world's leading model management agencies lured her into a sexual relationship when she was 15.

The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Elite Modeling Agency and its founder, John Casablancas, according to the model's lawyer Raymond P. Boucher.

Boucher would not name his client, now a 30-year-old mother of two living in San Diego. She is identified in the complaint as Jane Doe.

Boucher said Casablancas inveigled the model into a relationship by acting as a Svengali-like figure and making her think she was his muse. When she became pregnant while still a minor, Casablancas arranged for her to have an abortion, the suit claims. Jane Doe 44 v. Defendant Doe 1, BC286674 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Dec. 9, 2002).

"For far too many years, certain adult individuals in the modeling industry have sexually preyed upon underage models," the lawsuit claims.

"All the while defendants knew such vile practices were occurring, and even participated in the practices, yet failed to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of these children and to prevent future acts of molestation," it adds.

The suit, claiming childhood sexual abuse, sexual battery and breach of fiduciary duty among other things, seeks general and punitive damages and medical expenses. The defendants' names have not been made public in the court filing because a court rule requires a judge to first review and approve a certificate of merit from a health care professional that it's probable that the conduct actually occurred.

Included in the filing is a certificate of merit from Helen Grusd, a mental health practitioner in Beverly Hills, who says "there is a reasonable basis to believe that plaintiff, Jane Doe 44, as a child, was sexually abused."

Elite's Beverly Hills office referred calls to its headquarters in New York. Calls made to New York were not returned. Casablancas could not be reached.

Elite represents such supermodels as Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford and books print work for major fashion magazines like Vogue and Mademoiselle. "

These are 13-, 14-, 15- and 16-year-old girls, who are promised the world and told they're the most beautiful things that existed on the planet," Boucher, of Beverly Hill's Kiesel Boucher & Larson, said.

"These men ... control their lives. They could have anyone ... and they're falling all over you. It's a very seductive situation," he added.

Boucher said his client does not want to be publicly identified because she is having a difficult time coping.

"She's not in a position to sit [her children] down and explain what happened," Boucher said.

The lawsuit comes three years after a British Broadcasting Corp. expose on the seedy side of the modeling industry, which contended that teens are often introduced into a world of alcohol, drugs and sex.

The documentary caused the resignation of the chief of Elite's European operations, Gerald Marie, the former husband of model Linda Evangelista. Marie was caught on tape saying he hoped to seduce contestants in the Elite Model Look contest. The average age of the contestants was 15.

Marie contended at the time his comments were empty boasts. He could not be reached for comment by press time.

Following the broadcast, Elite brought a libel action against the BBC. In June 2001, the two sides settled; the BBC admitted it had mischaracterized the agency and made a public declaration that Elite seeks to protect its young models.

Elite admitted that some inappropriate sexual remarks were made by some of its executives. No money changed hands in the settlement, according to news reports.

"This is a part of the industry that it's assumed that it goes on and nobody talks about it," said Boucher, who has brought a number of lawsuits over alleged molestation by priests.

"I guess it's similar to what happened in the Catholic Church - authorities will turn a blind eye," he said.

"They have to be put on notice ... until these young children can be put in a position where they can do or say something about it," Boucher added.

The plaintiff claims she became involved with Casablancas after being signed to a one-year modeling contract with Elite in 1988 when she was 15.

She claims she and Casablancas had several sexual encounters in Japan, Brazil and New York. "

He certainly made her believe she was the apple of his eye; that she was the object of his affection and showered her with gifts," Boucher said.

"But the first time it happened, she was weakened with alcohol. She's around one of the most powerful men in the world and he took advantage of her," he said.

While in New York, the plaintiff learned she was pregnant, the suit contends, and Casablancas told her she would have an abortion. She was driven to the appointment by Monique Pillard, who was then the President of Elite, and Pillard's husband, the suit contends.

Pillard is not named in the suit. She could not be reached for comment.

After the abortion, the plaintiff returned to California and continued to model in Japan until about 1990.

Casablancas has long been in the public eye linked to various youthful supermodels, including Stephanie Seymour.

In 1993, the self-described playboy married 17-year-old Elite model Aline Wermelinger, a Brazilian high-school junior who participated in Elite's Look of the Year contest in Rio.

Boucher said his client is filing suit now because she "thinks it's important that the public realize our young children have been victimized for many years in all segments of society."

He added: "It's time for all of us to step up and do all we can to protect our children from future abuse and molestation."

Boucher said he represents several other former models who may be filing similar suits in the near future.