A Manhattan restaurateur who sued a supermodel for one million US dollars (£557,000), saying she intentionally damaged his designer umbrella, has lost his claim.
State Supreme Court Justice Joan Madden threw out Nello Balan's lawsuit over the brolly, said to be worth 5,000 dollars (£2,787). She also fined Mr Balan's lawyer 500 dollars (£278) for filing a frivolous claim and said motions filed were a "waste of judicial resources".
Mr Balan claimed he lent supermodel Le Call his limited-edition leather umbrella designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier and she belatedly returned it to him in two pieces. Mr Balan, owner of the celeb magnet Nello's, sought one million dollars in the lawsuit and claimed emotional distress over the damaged umbrella.
