Claudia Schiffer’s Cook Book Row

[Elvira]

By Kiran Randhawa, Evening Standard
03/17/2007

Claudia Schiffer has won significant damages after launching an extraordinary legal battle against her former chef. Sophie Michell used a complimentary quote from the German supermodel on the front cover of her cookbook

But when 35-year-old Schiffer saw her endorsement on the book - used without her consent - she employed a legal team, demanding compensation and the book's withdrawal.

Speaking for the first time about the year-long battle, the 24-year-old cook - who was head chef on Channel 4's Fit Farm - said the row had cost her almost £100,000 in lost work and legal costs. She declared herself bankrupt in the High Court two weeks ago.
The two women became close after Miss Michell was employed to cook for Schiffer and her film producer husband Matthew Vaughn, also 35, for two years at their flat in Bayswater.
Miss Michell, who has suffered from ME since she was 14, stopped working for the couple when she was offered the job on Fit Farm in March 2004.
A year later her book Irresistible was published using the quote from
Schiffer which read "We love Sophie and everybody loves her cooking too." It came from a letter she once wrote to Miss Michell's mother, musician Chris Michell.
Angered at the quote being used without her permission, Schiffer employed leading law firm Mishcon de Reya. Sources close to Schiffer point out that her name appears on the front cover of the book in letters as large as Miss Michell's.
She has now received an undisclosed settlement from Miss Michell's publishers Cassell Illustrated - and managed to get the book recalled six weeks after it was published. It is not clear how the book was allowed to be printed with Miss Schiffer's name so large on the cover when it is known she fiercely protects her brand image.
Miss Michell had also signed a confidentiality agreement when first going to work for the supermodel.
The chef claims she had to leave her Chelsea flat and move back in with her mother in Somerset at the height of the legal action. She said: "I'm not getting the work I was.
Claudia was not damaged in this at all, so why she received compensation is beyond me. At one point I didn't think I could cope any more.
"I was at her beck and call for two years and we became good friends. I was a loyal employee. When it all kicked off I was dropped from the regular TV work I was doing. I couldn't afford to live in London any more." She added: "My ME came back with a vengeance. I was under tremendous stress and was off work for six months."
Miss Michell, who began working as a chef aged 15 after leaving £18,000-a-year Wells Cathedral School in Somerset, said her lawyers offered Schiffer half the royalties but were rejected.
"In the acknowledgments I mention Claudia and Matthew to thank them for the time I worked for them but Claudia saw this as another endorsement and was not happy with just the cover being changed," Miss Michell said.
"There was no middle ground, we simply had to do what she asked."
After going to Butler's Wharf Chef School and being nominated Young Chef of the Year in 2001, Miss Michell worked at the Lanesborough Hotel, on GMTV, UK Food and Sky One and has worked for several high-profile clients.
She added: "I've worked hard to get where I am. My mother brought me up single-handedly. I didn't deserve this and I'm very hurt by the whole affair."
A spokeswoman for Schiffer said: "Matters between Ms Michell's former publishers and Claudia Schiffer are subject to a confidentiality agreement." She disputed some of the information given to the Evening Standard by Miss Michell.
thisislondon.com

http://www.thisislondon.com/showbiz/...0Standard&ct=5

[pattycake]

Claudia Schiffer is a cold-hearted b***h! I understand she used her name and all but come on...have some heart.

[Tenaj]

It was a cook book for christs sake! Yeah I'd understand she may be peeved if it was an insider tell all book about personal issues; but a cook book? please.

[Voodoo Child]

I have never been a Claudia fan. Personally I think she is dull and boring.

[Tenaj]

^^ me either. It just pisses me off when "the superior" celebs who have bank accounts that would fund a small country sue when someone uses their name. the word SELFISH springs to mind

[Voodoo Child]

^^ Yep a selfish mole with an outdated hairdo. Not a good combo.

[buttmunch]

Claudia Schiffer is apparently known as the Forest Gump of the modeling industry, so she probably didn't do this on her own. I peg the husband, who most likely feels he needs some sort of compensation for marrying such a dumb ass.