Lawyers spar in Paris Hilton film contract dispute

Paris Hilton leaves court in Miami after day one of her trial. Paris Hilton is accused in a federal lawsuit of not doing enough to promote her 2006 movie 'Pledge This'. The lawsuit seeks more than $8m from Hilton and her entertainment firm. [CFP]

The lawsuit seeks $8.3 million in damages, essentially to recoup the money spent to make and distribute the film. It was filed by attorney Michael Goldberg, a court-appointed receiver for a now-defunct Miami company that was the movie's key investor. That company was shut down as a $300 million Ponzi scheme by the Securities and Exchange Commission, with its operator now living in Brazil.

Weinsten acknowledged that Hilton wasn't pleased with the final cut of "Pledge This!" — which concerns the antics of a fictional sorority at equally fictional South Beach University — but he said she did what she could to plug it. She was paid $1 million to act in the lead role, yet the movie only made about $2.9 million and appeared on just 25 theater screens.

The investors claim it could have done much better as a DVD release if Hilton had done more promotion, particularly in Japan and Europe where she is a huge star.

"It might have made a difference. It would have done better," West said.