Paris Hilton faces a $2 million lawsuit by a New York shoe company that alleges the celebrity partygoer kicked it to the curb and used another company to sell Paris Hilton-branded shoes in Europe.
Antebi Footwear Group L.L.C. filed a countersuit against Paris Hilton Entertainment Inc. last week in U.S. District Court in New York. The claims responded to an April complaint by Los Angeles-based Paris Hilton Entertainment Inc.
Ms. Hilton's suit alleges that Antebi failed to pay at least $1 million in royalties for Paris Hilton shoes that Antebi sold since 2007, court records show.
Antebi said in a 2012 news release Paris Hilton footwear collection shoes were selling for $59 to $195 a pair, and feature a “comfort pad sewn into the inner sole, making every step like walking on air.”
Antebi said it agreed to pay 8% of sales as royalties to Paris Hilton Entertainment.
However, Antebi alleges that it found out last September that Retouch Brands ApS was selling a competing line of Paris Hilton shoes in Europe under the Parisian Parc brand. Antebi said it was tipped off in part by a tweet from Ms. Hilton, saying, “Had an extremely successful business trip to Milan. All the buyers loved my new 2014 collection of @PHpurses, accessories and shoe lines. #YES.”
Antebi is seeking damages of at least $2 million for alleged breach of contract and defamation, based on claims in Ms. Hilton's original lawsuit, according to its complaint.