(NewsCore) – PANAMA CITY, Fla. — A Florida jury of eight women ruled Thursday that “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis was not responsible for causing psychological harm to four women filmed performing sex acts in his popular video series.
The women, who are now in their twenties, had filed a federal civil lawsuit claiming Francis should pay damages for inflicting lasting psychological harm by filming them for his raunchy movie empire when they were underage.
One of the plantiffs claimed she was 13 when she was filmed.
The 38-year-old video entrepreneur represented himself in court but was assisted by a legal team when the judge overseeing the case, US District Judge Richard Smoak, held Francis in contempt of court.
“Smoak ruled after Francis had asked one of the plaintiffs if she was a prostitute, according to the American Bar Association (ABA) Journal. “Smoak had chastised Francis earlier in the trial for his outbursts and unconventional legal tactics, telling Francis at one point: ‘Mr. Francis, shut up. You’re going to have the whole jury hating you.’”
Francis then hired a husband-wife legal team to defend him.
“I am relieved that I have finally been vindicated from these slanderous, disgusting, and now proven false allegations in a federal court by a jury of eight respectful, conservative women,” Francis said in a statement after the ruling.
Though the film mogul declared victory Thursday, he has previously been convicted on multiple counts of tax evasion.
In a separate case, he was convicted on child abuse and prostitution charges after pleading no contest in a plea bargain.
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