Princess Diana’s Estate Sues Souvenir Maker

Comparing companies that profit from peddling Princess Diana trinkets to “vultures feeding on the dead,” the princess’ estate and charitable fund filed suit Monday seeking to block the Franklin Mint from selling unlicensed souvenirs.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, was the estate’s first in this country claiming rights to the late princess’ name and image, said London attorney Jonathan Cameron.

In court papers, the princess’ memorial fund and the executors of her estate--her mother, Frances Ruth Shand Kydd, sister Lady Elizabeth Sarah McCorquodale, and the Rev. Richard John Carew Chartres, bishop of London--contend that the mint has exploited Diana’s death. It allegedly did so by aggressively selling its souvenirs through a false advertising campaign that suggested that proceeds would be donated to her charitable trust fund.

A spokesman for Franklin Mint called the lawsuit “baseless” and said his company had already “committed” $1.5 million to a hospital that was one of the princess’ favorite charities. “We intend to donate substantial sums to other charities in Princess Di’s memory. Franklin Mint is in full compliance with all U.S. and international laws,” he said.

After the outpouring of public grief over Diana’s Aug. 31 death in a Paris car crash, the fund received about $75 million. But “not one penny” came from the Franklin Mint, the court papers state.

The mint, which is based in suburban Philadelphia, is owned by Stewart and Lynda Resnick of Beverly Hills. Shortly before the princess’ death last year, Lynda Resnick paid $135,000 for Princess Diana’s favorite high-collared “Elvis dress” at an auction in New York.

According to the suit, the Resnicks in September sought permission from the estate to use Diana’s name and likeness, but were refused because they would not yield quality control to the trust.

“Having failed to obtain consent to use Princess Diana’s identity and trademarks, the defendants simply stole them and embarked on a campaign to profit from Princess Diana’s death,” the suit contends. The legal papers seek a jury trial, as well as punitive damages.

The estate’s Los Angeles attorney, Mark S. Lee, said the executors decided to sue the Franklin Mint because it was the “most obvious and aggressive” of the companies marketing unauthorized Diana products.