Call girl in Eliot Spitzer scandal files $10 million lawsuit

MIAMI (Reuters) - The prostitute linked to the sex scandal that forced former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer to resign last month is suing "Girls Gone Wild" adult video founder Joe Francis for more than $10 million for the illegal use of her name and image.

In the lawsuit, filed on Monday in federal court in Miami, Ashley Alexandra Dupre contends that she was 17 and not old enough to sign a legally binding contract when she appeared partially nude in video footage filmed in 2003 by members of Francis' Mantra Films production company in Miami Beach.

On a spring break vacation at the time, Dupre was also drunk when told to sign a video "release" form, according to the complaint, which seeks damages in excess of $10 million from Francis and his co-defendants.

"At the time of these events, plaintiff did not understand the magnitude of her actions nor that her image and likeness would be displayed in videos and DVDs produced and distributed by defendants," the lawsuit says.

"The defendants have profited from the filming, production and distribution and sale of the videos and DVDs," it added.

"Defendants created the false impression that plaintiff has endorsed and/or approves of the graphic sexual content, including lesbian acts, contained in the video, which in reality she does not."

Dupre was identified in media reports in March as the woman named "Kristen" linked to "Client 9," the frequent patron of an upscale prostitution ring.

The New York Times, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, has said Spitzer was the unnamed Client 9 cited in a federal affidavit against four suspected ringleaders of the online prostitution ring. Spitzer resigned on March 12 after the story appeared.

A spokesman for Francis could not be reached for immediate comment on Monday's lawsuit.

(Reporting by Tom Brown; Editing by Eric Beech)