Alleged Brüno Victim Suffered "Life-Altering" Injuries

Update

Alleged Brüno Victim Suffered "Life-Altering" Injuries

Fri., Jun. 5, 2009 12:45 PM PDT by Gina Serpe

Universal Focus

UPDATE: In a statement, Universal says the allegations "are completely baseless. Filmed footage of the full encounter, which took place more than two years ago, clearly shows that Ms. Olson was never touched or in any way assaulted by Sacha Baron Cohen or any member of the production and suffered no injury.

If the Olsons elect to proceed with their frivolous action, we expect each of the defendants to be fully vindicated.

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The woman behind the inaugural Brüno lawsuit is insisting her claims are no laughing matter.

In her complaint, Richelle Olson says she suffered "two brain bleeds" and has been in a wheelchair since being attacked by Sacha Baron Cohen's alter ego during a charity bingo game.

Now her lawyer is making sure everyone knows how bad a shape she's in.

"The actions of Mr. Cohen and those acting in concert with him have resulted in life-altering injuries to my client," attorney Kyle Madison said in a statement. "My focus is her well-being and to secure a fair, just and equitable remedy for her claims."

According to her lawsuit, Olson suffered her injury off-camera. After her alleged struggle with Cohen's fake Austrian fashion reporter, she says in court documents that she collapsed after retreating to another room and banged her head on the floor.

Addressing the curious timing of the lawsuit—two years after the alleged bingo beat-down but a month before Brüno is due to hit theaters, Olson's attorney denies that she was simply trying to cash in.

"This claim is distinguishable from Mr. Cohen's previous lawsuits as a defendant," he said. "I ask the media to respect the privacy of my client and her family during this ongoing and difficult situation."

And rest assured, though Cohen has yet to publicly address the suit, this isn't the final word on the issue.

"As requested, I do plan on addressing the media directly regarding Mrs. Olson's claims in the near future."

(Originally published June 5, 2009, at 8:05 a.m. PT)

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