Lady Gaga Sued for Scamming Japan Earthquake Charity

By Kiki Von Glinow Posted Jun 27th 2011 11:35AM

From gay rights to disaster relief, Lady Gaga is always at the forefront of activism or charity outreach, but now, one law firm is crying false when it comes to Gaga's Japan earthquake relief efforts.

A Southfield, Michigan based law firm, 1-800-LAW-FIRM, recently filed a class action lawsuit against mother monster for pocketing a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her 'We Pray For Japan' wristbands, benefiting relief for Japan's March earthquake -- proceeds gathered from customers who assumed their money was going directly to Japan.

"I'm suing Lady Gaga simply to hold her accountable for giving the money that she was raising for charity to the cause that she was trying to raise it for," 1-800-LAW-FIRM attorney, Ari Kresch, told Radar Online.

Gaga sold the earthquake relief wristbands for $5, charged $3.99 for shipping and handling and tacked on an added $0.60 in taxes. The only problem? According to the law firm, Gaga exaggerated her costs and pocketed more than just her initial investment in the charity bracelets.

The firm's automated phone message states that they have "uncovered evidence" that not all of the proceeds were in fact donated to relief efforts and that Gaga's initial statements regarding the relief bracelets were "false." The message also urges those who purchased one or more bracelet to join the lawsuit.

So is Gaga guilty of scamming her own charity or is the seeming park bench law firm just hoping to get some publicity out of the suit? Either way, these lawyers are giving Gaga's poker face a run for her money.

Tags: lady gaga

Comments

(86)

Tuesday 28 June

By cardiacbuzz

Vote down Vote up Report this

It's difficult to find good, honest help these days.

By MacD

I have always found her a little strnage, well corrected a LOT STRANGE

By Sonya

Dear "diane"

Do not get mad because Beyonce' aint scamming people like GA GA

Wednesday 29 June

By CiCi

Can't stand this puke woman...she should be called "Lady GagMe"

Wednesday 06 July

By 1800lawfirm

Lady Gaga is not being held accountable because of her sense of style or anyone's opinion of her talent. Her fans deserve clarification. Except for a quick generic statement from her Rep, the Gaga organization has let 6 working days slip by with out an adjustment or explanation on the web site. It appears she was in Japan when this broke a week ago - but no events right now. If she cares we will see a correction this week. Lets watch and wait - join the conversation on twitter #gagalawsuit.

Monday 18 July

There has not been additional explanation or correction from the Gaga organization. Statements from Lady Gaga and the website’s claim that “All proceeds go directly to Japan relief efforts” may have misled the public. It appears a portion of transactions was retained and the cost to ship the bracelets was misrepresented. As well funds from sales taxes on donations were retained and the total donations were artificially inflated by including the portion not given to charity in an effort to solicit additional donations.

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