“Real Housewife” Phaedra Parks files $30 million libel lawsuit
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Phaedra Parks has filed a $30 million lawsuit against Vibe Holdings, which operates Vibe.com, Uptown Magazine, and Augustus Publishing, saying the outlet has published lies about her to generate interest in a book.
The lawsuit, filed this week, demands a jury trial, $5 million in compensatory and $25 million in punitive damages, and retractions.
“While Plaintiff recognizes the importance of the role of the media in reporting on public figures, Defendant and other members of the media are not granted an unfettered right or privilege under the First Amendment to defame public figures by publishing false and defamatory accusations with actual malice,” the lawsuit states. “As a result of its conduct, Defendant crossed the threshold from speech protected by the First Amendment to enter the arena of actionable defamation of a public figure for which they must be held legally accountable.”
The lawsuit lists articles filed about Parks, beginning with a a March 14 one titled “Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Star Phaedra Parks Exposed.” The articles, the lawsuit says, “falsely accuse Plaintiff of being a crooked attorney who knows how to commit crimes, has committed crimes, and knows how to cover up her criminal activity.”
The article is posted on Vibe.com.
The article was followed by others, and then an ebook produced by Augustus Publishing titled, “Lies Of A Real Housewife,” by Angela Stanton. It’s online now and available for download. The description on the Augustus Publishing site reads as follows:
“Brazen, incisive, and outrageous, ‘Lies Of A Real Housewife,’ spans the years of early childhood through adulthood. It’s an illustration of guts, and the determination it takes to overcome tragedies in one’s life. Her story begins at the tender age of five years old when Angela Stanton was raped. She takes us into her survival mode on the streets, and adjustments she had to make in her home life. The author shares experiences of her teen years, growing up in Buffalo, NY. She leads us on a short stay as a young girl in Greensboro, NC. The author, rapper, wife and mother, guides us through her struggles into her early adult years in Hotlanta. By fate, she lives a hustler’s life of crime with none other than ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’s’ own, Phaedra Parks. By a twist of fate, her life crashes sending her on a trip to a darkened place called hell. Urban Author, Angela Stanton, survives to give a raw, revolutionary account of her daring journey to redemption. In her sophomore book, Lies Of A Real Housewife, Angela Stanton opens her past life for public viewing.”
The lawsuit says, “In its entirety, the book falsely portrays the relationship between Plaintiff and Stanton as that of friends and accomplices in criminal activity,” and “conveys a picture of Plaintiff as a crooked attorney engaged in a multitude of criminal acts, who conspires with Stanton to commit these acts, and who then uses Stanton in an effort to escape criminal liability for those acts.”
The lawsuit quotes excerpts from the e-book and articles claiming Parks was involved in various criminal enterprises including forgery and a complicated “federal racketeering scheme” aimed at stealing luxury cars.
“Like a true mafia outfit, we were operating above the law, and I was in an elite network of workers for Phaedra Parks,” reads an excerpt quoted in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says that Parks met Stanton years ago through a past client, but that they have never been friends or close associates. It also notes that Parks is an attorney active in numerous philanthropic endeavors who ”has never been arrested for a crime or charged with any crime” and “has never been questioned by any law enforcement agency or organization about possible involvement in any crime.”
We’ve left messages with both sides seeking comment.
- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com
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96 comments Add your comment
KimZ'sPackage
May 25th, 2012
7:58 pm
They all sound like dime store criminals.
Think again
May 25th, 2012
8:10 pm
Regardless of what anyone thinks of her character, Phaedra has a legal right to defend herself when she is lied about in such a harmful, public manner. To offer opinions that criticize her, as many have, is legally protected. To lie about her involvement in criminal activity is not. It’s as simple as that.
jacqueline
May 25th, 2012
8:11 pm
first I will be the first to say I’m not a lawyer but in my opinion if I was Phaedra I would sue as well simply because they didn’t have her consent on using her name in the book so with that alone she’s very much entitled to something.So to also use her name derogatively on top of that that ’s another case that will bring on monies, she will seek some compensation maybe not totaling up to 30 million but something that will add to her bank account.
'trtainmentatitzbest
May 25th, 2012
8:20 pm
You folks fail to realize that Bravo has to have drama for ratings. Phaedra can be herself without outrageous behavior from being an attorney/mortician and has Apollo the felon who doesn’t even speak.
The others have to act up and maintain ghettoism to keep their paychecks, hence Sheree’s dismissal.
legless pooch
May 25th, 2012
9:11 pm
What about that episode when Phaedra’s client paid her in a wad of cash by her car in the parking lot? That was kind of shady.
another comment
May 25th, 2012
9:29 pm
This Angela looks like she walked on Chipawa Street in Buffalo!!. She surely is a product of Buffalo’s fruit belt. She sure has the gift for lying!. No one gets kicked out of every public school in New York State. She clearly just went straight to Wende. If you are from Buffalo you will get my comments.
I hope Pheadra wins! She was clearly only doing her job defending this career criminal, who is now trying to take advantage of her. Folks with multiple Felonies can’t live with their 5 children in subsidized housing or get food stamps, so she has got to come up with some scam besides the babies for dollars, and public assistance.
The folks Pheadra sued have taken down the video interview!
common sense ain't common
May 25th, 2012
9:38 pm
@ fan of the abnormal: You said that you did a thesis on the 1st amendment, but did u get a good grade?? You clearly don’t know what the hell you are talking about. I’m a REAL atty who studied freedom of speech law. You learn on the 1st day of class that “public figures” as Phaedra identifies herself as cannot recover damages unless there was malice intent. Vibe didn’t write the disparaging book- they just reviewed. No malice against the public figure, no recovery. This lawsuit is just to keep her name in this paper
I believe it
May 25th, 2012
10:55 pm
Did anyone else notice she didn’t deny the accusations in her suit? Only that she’d never been charged, convicted or questioned… Why is this so far fetched? I have to believe that VIBE did some homework and some records exist… I don’t have a problem with Phaedra, but you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas…. 5-4 odds Phaedra has been involved in criminal activity at some point in her “distinguished” career.
‘RHOA’s Phaedra Parks Sues ‘Vibe’ for $30 Million! | Breaking News for Black America
May 25th, 2012
11:55 pm
[...] Phaedra Parks of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” has filed a $30 million lawsuit against Vibe Holdings, which operates Vibe.com, Uptown Magazine, and Augustus Publishing, reports Atlanta Journal Constitution.com. [...]
RHOA, Phaedra Parks, Vibe Lawsuit | Breaking News for Black America
May 25th, 2012
11:57 pm
[...] Phaedra Parks of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” has filed a $30 million lawsuit against Vibe Holdings, which operates Vibe.com, Uptown Magazine, and Augustus Publishing, reports Atlanta Journal Constitution.com. [...]
Urban Author From a Place Called Hell
May 26th, 2012
1:29 am
She needs the money so she can leave a 40% tip at the Cheesecake Factory.
Baller.
Ultra Baller.
El Mongol
May 26th, 2012
2:13 am
Why work for a living when you can use the judicial system to steal what you want. You go gurl…
South side Steve
May 26th, 2012
3:02 am
Apollo the criminal I bet can mow down chicks like I did Kim Z. Yeah, come on.
SteelHeels
May 26th, 2012
3:34 am
Awwwwww, but I like Phaedra.
and the way she dresses. Very nice clothes. 
SteelHeels
May 26th, 2012
3:37 am
Damn smilies.
Vibe Sued by 'RHOA' Star Phaedra Parks for $30 Million | EURweb
May 26th, 2012
4:19 am
[...] Read/learn more at AJC.com. [...]
‘RHOA’ Star Phaedra Parks sues Vibe for $30 Million |
May 26th, 2012
6:54 am
[...] more at AJC.com. Share this:ShareEmailDiggPrintStumbleUponShareReddit Posted in: Headlines Tags: $30 [...]
Vote For Obama Because He's Black
May 26th, 2012
7:15 am
No matter how many Bentley’s,20,000 square foot houses she can buy,she is still wearing a weave,fake nails,has a foul ghetto mouth,and is married to a felon who she supports.
I guess a lot of women in the Atl can relate to her.
Dacualan
May 26th, 2012
7:37 am
Don’t watch RHOA any more – yawn. But, from what I saw of her – this is not surprising. She will make a buck wherever she can find it.
Signed,
“Canned food eating white person”
TooTrue
May 26th, 2012
8:10 am
Live & Let Live…..Everyone has their cross to bear, im sure some of you are perfect so you dont have anything to worry about….I only hope justice is served either way it goes
30307
May 26th, 2012
8:30 am
Defamation is a big deal — especially when it threatens someone’s livelihood. Unless Ms. Stanton can prove that her comments are true, she does not have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning. In order to receive her requested damages, Ms. Parks however must show that she really was damaged to that extent.
Phaedra Parks Of ‘RHOA’s Sues ‘Vibe’ for $30 Million! | Old School 94.5
May 26th, 2012
8:49 am
[...] Phaedra Parks Of ‘RHOA’s Sues ‘Vibe’ for $30 Million! May 26, 2012 0 Comments By Tony B. Phaedra Parks of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” has filed a $30 million lawsuit against Vibe Holdings, which operates Vibe.com, Uptown Magazine, and Augustus Publishing, reports Atlanta Journal Constitution.com. [...]
Mustafa
May 26th, 2012
9:30 am
The woman who sued McDonalds was awarded a verdict in her favor, because McDonalds brewed their coffeee at a inordinated temperature, which their competitors didn’t. The woman was also found negligent, because she was trying to operate her motor vehicle, while trying to open her coffee, which wound up reducing her award.
‘RHOA’s Phaedra Parks Sues ‘Vibe’ for $30 Million!
May 26th, 2012
9:49 am
[...] against Vibe Holdings, which operates Vibe.com, Uptown Magazine, and Augustus Publishing, reports Atlanta Journal Constitution.com.Parks, a high-profile Atlanta attorney who has represented R&B singer Bobby Brown, is suing for [...]
alex pokeinthehole
May 26th, 2012
10:27 am
She needs the cash. She has no clients and no real income. She even tried to get me to hold a check for her for a little ugly bumping. The check still won’t clear!
Justice Black
May 26th, 2012
2:18 pm
@ fan of the abnormal: when did law students start writing these?
South side Steve
May 26th, 2012
4:57 pm
Yeah come on
Kem
May 26th, 2012
6:26 pm
That Vibe interview video has been shutdown. Cease and desist?
$30 Million Liebel Lawsuit filed by “RHOA” attorney Phaedra Parks « Red Carpet Slave
May 26th, 2012
6:34 pm
[...] Well shut the front door! $30 Million Stacks???? See that’s when somebody den done somebody wrong. Now what could somebody have said about the Southern Bell Mrs Phaedra Parks to tick her off ?? Because “Everybody Knows….a lady with stature as Mrs Phaedra Parks will not let such accusations that took place as mentioned in the AJC [...]
nae
May 27th, 2012
11:30 am
Phaedra is not a hoe she can do whatever she wants shes a grown ass woman stop hatin
Madame
May 27th, 2012
10:30 pm
So, basically she wants to own Vibe? They ain’t got no ‘ends.
‘RHOA’s Phaedra Parks Sues ‘Vibe’ for $30 Million! | Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of a Race
May 27th, 2012
11:05 pm
[...] Phaedra Parks of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” has filed a $30 million lawsuit against Vibe Holdings, which operates Vibe.com, Uptown Magazine, and Augustus Publishing, reports Atlanta Journal Constitution.com. [...]
Stella
May 28th, 2012
12:35 am
The interview is still up on vibe.com. You have to search. 1. The only clarification that was made is that Everett and Apollo are not blood brothers. They’re sticking by everything else. I read the book and Phaedra, you gots some explaining to do. The book is the bomb!
BizzyBlanco.com » Chris Brown Claps Back @RazB + Phaedra Parks “Sues” Vibe For $30 Mill and More Bizzy Links….
May 28th, 2012
1:43 am
[...] Attorney at law, reality wife and resident southern belle Phaedra Parks has managed to remain tight-lipped about the recent allegations of Angela Stanton which claimed Phaedra allowed her to rot jail like Miss Sophia from the Color Purple. After Vibe Magazine gave free rein to Stanton to discuss and promote her book, Phaedra is taking matters into her hands by suing the publication [Access Atlanta] [...]
Atlanta Housewives, Phaedra Parks Sues Vibe Magazine for Defamation of Character «
May 28th, 2012
2:09 am
[...] [Newsone.com] Phaedra Parks of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” has filed a $30 million lawsuit against Vibe Holdings, which operates Vibe.com, Uptown Magazine, and Augustus Publishing, reportsAtlanta Journal Constitution.com. [...]
Sugarmommydate.com
May 28th, 2012
2:29 am
Seeking someone for a match? And can not find your type around you? So why not try to meet someone online? Actually one of my friends recently recommended one site to me, which I thought was fantastic, __sugarmommydate, c~0-m __, it’s the place for you to meet someone who can potentially become your perfect match. Take a look, nothing lose if you don’t like.
Lol
May 28th, 2012
6:42 am
I’m glad she’s suing… she’s teaching people a lesson. What that woman/vibe posted about her is completely defamatory and doesn’t seem to be based on fact (plus it’s obvious that it’s just done for their own personal benefit… who the hell is benefiting from their allegations besides themselves?). People are taking advantage, and I’m glad she’s gonna trying to teach these people a lesson.
Crystal
May 28th, 2012
10:43 pm
She seemed this way from the time she appeared on h w o a to me. Every season something pops up about one of them, showing how their lifestyle on reality tv is a lie in reality. I’m pretty sure vibe wouldn’t leap into the frying pan without first checking the temperature first. Who’s to say the lawsuit isn’t part of publicity.
Brooke Scott
May 29th, 2012
8:35 am
to bloodbike..can you learn how to spell before you post, please??????/
emmysmom
May 29th, 2012
9:38 am
Amen, Aaron!
pochie jackson aka wiener;s circle
May 29th, 2012
10:56 am
wow so much hate on here its a shame .
KELLY
May 29th, 2012
4:16 pm
SHE SEEMS LIKE A SNAKE IN THE GRASS TO ME…….. NOT SURPRISED! SHE WAS WAITING FOR A MEAL TICKET SINCE HER CRIMINAL HUSBAND CAN’T DO IT
carla roqs
May 29th, 2012
4:25 pm
you know…honestly…these are fellow humans and no on this blog is God. opinions, sure-voice them. judgement? she only cares what the court thinks. i am opinionated, but this is so bizarre i cannot voice an opinion at all. i just also refuse to judge. whewww
Top Black News Headlines – May 28, 2012 | The Black Report Archives
May 30th, 2012
7:32 am
[...] ‘Real Housewife’ Phaedra Parks files $30 million libel lawsuit [...]
Terri Byrd
May 30th, 2012
9:20 am
Vibe magazine should have done their research before printing that nonsense. Phadra is too smart to let herself get into this kind of mess. Just because you’re crossed pass with some on who is a criminal doesn’t make you a criminal. Phadra is to smart to jeopardize her life and family with organize crime. If she said her and NeNe, then it could be believable or her in Kim, I would have she Kim did it. Kim will do anything for money.I’m just glad she freed Sweety.
bigeasy830
May 30th, 2012
12:38 pm
Get that money, and hopefully your lawsuit will end trashy magazines like this from reporting on trashy pseudo celebs like yourself and lead to the end of all these dumb reality shows. Then, maybe, VH1, MTV, and BET will start playing music videos again, But wait, the only music thats popular is trash like WAKA FLOCKA, GuCCi MANE, LIL WAYNE, DRAKE, NIKKI MANJ and the rest of those young money idiots.