Joe Francis Files Lawsuit to Rescind Settlement

Claiming that he was coerced by a federal judge, the founder of the "Girls Gone Wild" video series has filed a lawsuit in California asking that a settlement he signed with three underage girls in Panama City, Florida be rescinded. Joe Francis says in the lawsuit he would never have signed the agreement had he not been incarcerated by the judge.

The lawsuit says Judge Richard Smoak is a former law partner with the attorneys who filed the lawsuit for the girls.

In 2007, Judge Smoak ordered Francis jailed after he blew up during settlement negotiations with the girls' attorneys and refused to settle. He had been ordered to settle by the judge.

In the lawsuit, Francis claims while he was in jail that he understood that he "had no choice but to enter into the settlement in order to avoid further incarceration."

The amount of the settlement was not revealed, but Francis told reporters it was a "fortune." They had been seeking $70 million. Francis makes a reported $29 million a year from "Girls Gone Wild" sales.

At a press conference, Francis said his lawsuit is intended to protect average citizens.

"This fight is way bigger than me," Francis said in an interview after a press conference announcing the lawsuit. "If this stands, this single-handedly undermines the entire civil judicial process in this country."

See Also:
Joe Francis Sues to Rescind Settlement

Background:
The Legal Troubles of Joe Francis

^{Photo: Mug Shot}