Actress Melanie Griffith is being sued by a designer for allegedly refusing to pay nearly £14,920 for clothes worn to the Golden Globes 2006. Niklas J Palm, the designer, also claims the actress did not fulfil a promise to mention his name during her red carpet moment. The legal suit claims breach of an agreement and intentional misrepresentation. It further names Griffith’s husband, the actor Antonio Banderas, and their production companies as defendants.
Palm says he submitted a £14,889 bill on 16 January but had yet to receive any money from Griffith. Payments were expected to be made within two weeks of the date of the submitted invoice. His legal suit also alleges Griffith promised “that he will receive publicity that money could not buy, then conveniently forget his name when reporters on the red carpet specifically asked (her) who designed her beautiful gown – taking credit for the gown herself”.
Palm says he met Griffith last August when he dressed her for an appearance on a promotional film for a pilates exercise video. The actress later hired Palm to reorganise her wardrobe, select and pack outfits for her TV appearances and trips to Aspen, New York and Spain. Palm also selected clothes for Banderas to wear when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and to the premiere of The Legend of Zorro. A transaction record shows Griffith, Banderas and their production companies paid thousands of dollars for those services.