HOUSTON - The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Western Division has issued a ruling in favor of Segler Holdings LLC in its case against supermodel Marisa Miller and Cartel Management, her management company.
Cartel Management is owned by Griffin Guess, Miller's husband.
The Oct. 31 ruling was a unanimous jury decision which found that Miller and Cartel had breached their contracts with Segler. Miller and Cartel were ordered to pay $1 million to Segler. Miller is to pay $300,000 while Cartel is to pay $700,000.
Stew Schmella, a partner at Lanza Law Firm PC, which represented Segler in the case, told The Southeast Texas Record: “We’re extremely happy with the jury’s unanimous decision to hold Ms. Miller and Cartel Management accountable for their failure to keep their promises. Their broken promises had serious financial consequences to our clients.“
The case centered around a 2015 agreement between Miller and Glissin, a subsidiary of Segler. Glissin makes tanning sprays, lotions and related products. Glissin argued that Miller had a contract to act as a spokeswoman for the company and it’s line of tanning products as well as develop her own signature line but she never fulfilled those duties.
"The jury’s $1 million verdict demonstrates the seriousness of those consequences," Schmella said. "Further, the jury verdict reinforces what we all know: written contracts still mean something, whether you are a start-up business trying to get an idea off the ground or a world-famous supermodel.”
Miller is not the first supermodel to face a breach of contract court case. Constance Jablonski, Tyra Banks and Ananda Marchildon have appeared before a judge for contract related disputes.
In addition to Miller, Cartel has performed management duties for Kayne West, Ryan Braun, Josh Baze and Cas Haley along with work for national brands.
Nick Lanza, the lead counsel from Lanza Law, told the The Southeast Texas Record: "We showed the jury a unique demonstrative chart that showed all of the the activities Miller was contractually required to perform, and then a summary of her actual activities performed, which amounted to virtually nothing..... for the $1 million she got on day one of the contract . As a result, the jury was persuaded to find a breach of contact, in a unanimous jury verdict."
Also, on Oct. 14, Cartel Management was sued in San Mateo County Superior Court for false impersonation, defamation and cyber bullying in relation to its management of the Titans of Mavericks surfing event.
Miller and Cartel Management did not respond to requests for comment.