Jeff Lewis is being naughty again!
Thursday, December 11, 2008 UPDATE: Restraining order granted. Oooooh!
From the LA Times (the bold and brackets are mine):
Ryan, how on EARTH did Jeff talk you into participating in this? You are not a shit-starter; I know you did not do this voluntarily. Did he blackmail you? Drug you? Threaten to have Ann Sacks blackball you? Talk to me, darling.Los Angeles real estate reality television star Jeff Lewis, who is known for his cocksure, confrontational style, has made the neighbors of one of his projects very afraid, they said, and they want a restraining order to keep him at bay. Lewis is the star of "Flipping Out," a Bravo channel show that follows him as he buys, renovates and resells homes.
Terence Beesley and Ashley Jensen, who live next door to a house Lewis is improving on Valley Oak Drive in Los Feliz, said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that the developer constructed a deck at the house that encroached on their property. When they became aware of the encroachment earlier this year, Lewis offered them $10,000 to buy an easement, but their real estate experts concluded the easement was worth $100,000, they said.
Lewis countered during an unexpected nighttime visit to their house with an offer of $30,000 and threatened to make their lives miserable by casting them in a negative light in front of 3 million television viewers, they said in their complaint. Named in the suit is Lewis' partner, Ryan Brown, who the neighbors described as Lewis' "supposedly relatively even-keeled" foil, and Lewis' company, Vicious Investments [!!!]. It accuses the pair of trespassing, property damage and assault, and demands that the encroaching deck be removed. No financial damages were specified.
According to Beesley and Jensen, Lewis' actions at their home are in keeping with his TV persona. Their suit says the show "involves documenting the rude, outrageous, boorish, offensive, mean-spirited bullying by Jeff Lewis of anyone or anything in his way."
Jeff, I will agree to testify on your behalf in exchange for one of those "unexpected nighttime visits." Let me know. Also--if I may offer a little legal advice--I think your attorney should respond with this photo:
And write something like "HELP, HELP!!! It's the cute gay cuddling the widdle kittycat! He's so dangerous! Save us!" Trust me, the case will be dismissed before you can say "I'd like a grande, non-fat, no foam latte at 140 degrees for Jeff."
Thoughts?
Reader Comments (9)
He looks so innocent in that picture! I think Jeff needs a legal defense fund.
Here is Jeff's response...And I think he is totally right, this is a stunt to get more exposure for a D-list actress on a dying show.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laland/
Team Jeff.
His "hair" is particularly wiggy in that photograph.
I'd love to see him in his natural bald state. I'd bet he'd look good, like a young John Malkovich.
Jeff Lewis wears a toupee?! Say it isn't so... I am heartbroken! Is nothing sacred? I just thought he had bad hair...
Going into my corner to sulk:((
This lawsuit should not be going to court, but I would love to see Jeff Lewis in a suit and tie.
Thanks for doing the "other side of the story" or whatever it's called, anon 6:04.
I am all in favor of baldness too. Show us whatcha got, Jeff! (John M was on my Free Pass 5 at one point, btw).
Catherine, mmmm, suit and tie! We need to find a way to get him into court.
I just read about this on my Yahoo page, and rushed right over to see if you knew. But of course you did! I am a team Jeff player too, but perhaps at a distance, maybe a few doors down.
Catherine:
Here are the giveaways:
1. Height of "hair"
2. Density of "hair"
3. Crispness of "hair"line
Oh this is good stuff. How are they gonna spin this for the next season? Love the "Vicious Investments". Wow.