Vans Owes Motley Crue Bassist, Jury Rules

A jury has ruled that VF Corp.’s Vans Inc., which makes sneakers for skateboarders, owes Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx at least $600,000 for using his photo without permission in an advertising campaign, Sixx’s lawyer said Friday.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury Wednesday also awarded interest and attorneys’ fees, which could boost the amount to more than $1 million, according to attorney Caroline Mankey. The jury found that photos taken of Sixx -- whose real name is Franklin Feranna -- and professional skater Tony Trujillo at an awards ceremony were used in advertising for Trujillo’s shoe line without Sixx’s permission, she said.

“It was clear that they had used his image, and it was clear that they did not have his permission,” Mankey said.

Vans, which was bought by VF last year for $396 million, markets to 10-to-24-year-olds by sponsoring surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding events as well as the Vans Warped Tour concerts. The company’s sneakers were worn by actor Sean Penn in the 1982 movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”

Vans contended that it had been given permission to use Sixx’s likeness in its ads.

Chris Overholser, a spokesman for Santa Fe Springs-based Vans, didn’t immediately return a call for comment.

The ads with Sixx and Trujillo appeared in magazines including Maxim and Blender as well as in online ads and retail displays.

Sixx is one of the founders of the heavy metal band Motley Crue, which has sold more than 40 million albums. The band, whose hits include “Girls, Girls, Girls,” will start a reunion tour this month.

Shares of Greensboro, N.C.-based VF rose 83 cents to $60.40 on the New York Stock Exchange.